Page 77 of Finding Storm

“Where are you? You’re not home. Mom’s already been there to check. We’ve been worried sick!”

“I’m … somewhere.”

“Where?” she pushes.

That’s Belle all over. Doesn’t take no for an answer. Gets it from Jake.

“I’m out of LA. I just need some space.”

Silence.

“But you’re okay, yeah?”

“Yeah, I’m okay,” I tell her.

“Mom and Dad are worried about you.”

“Tell Tru and Jake I’m fine.”

“Why do you do that? Say their names like that? It’s like you’re trying to tell yourself that we’re not really your family. We are. So, suck it up.”

She’s so fucking smart sometimes. She knows when I’m doing shit before I even realize.

“I know you’re my family, Belle.”

“So, start acting like it then. Family doesn’t up and run when shit gets hard.”

“Family doesn’t lie to each other either,” I snap.

I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose with my fingers.

“Dad told us,” she says quietly into the phone. “Me, Billy, and JJ. He told us what happened. He feels real bad, Storm.”

I drop my hand from my face. “I’m sure he does.”

“They all do. Dad, Uncle Tom, and Uncle Denny. They made a mistake, not telling you about your dad. But ignoring them isn’t going to help either.”

I sigh. “It’s not that easy, Belle. When you’re older, you’ll—”

“Don’t give me that crap. I’m not a kid.”

“You’re fourteen.”

“I might be fourteen, but I’m more mature than you are.”

Can’t argue that. It’s true.

“I’m just not ready to talk to them, okay? I just need a bit of time to sort my head out. Tell them not to worry. I’m fine. And I’ll be in touch at some point.”

There’s a pause.

“Okay,” she acquiesces. “And don’t worry about that journalist. Dad’s handling it.”

Of course he is. That’s Jake. Always fixing things.

I clench my teeth, grinding them.

“Storm?” Belle says when I don’t speak.