Free Sons of Mayhem 3: The Full Force by Nikki Pink

joked.
    The joke fell flat. I felt her shoulders tense and suddenly the awkward hug became impossible and I stepped back, looking down at her confused. Her expression was fierce.
    “I’m an adult, Ava. You’ve got to realize that. You’ve got let me make my own mistakes now. You can’t stop me growing up.”
    Anger flooded through me. “Look at you! Look at where you are. Look at what happened. Like hell I won’t try and protect you.”
    “Maybe if you didn’t keep mothering me so much I wouldn’t have done it!”
    Self-doubt appeared as it always did for any parent -- or foster parent -- when they’re accused of causing their young charge’s distress. The confidence of carefully considered decisions shattered in an instant of accusation. Was she right, was this actually my fault I wondered.
    “Lily,” I said, my voice wavering, “please, I only want what’s best for you. I’m trying hard, I really am. Since Mom and Dad passed it’s just been us. I’m not that bad am I?”
    She shook her head. “You’re not bad. I’m sorry. But you’ve got to let me grow up, you know? You can’t keep treating me like the thirteen year old I was. That’s not me anymore.”
    “But look at what happened. You’re in hospital for God’s sake!”
    “You’re right, I messed up. But it won’t happen again. I promise.”
    She had a fierce look in her eyes, like a lion cub trying to show off its hunting prowess by angrily jumping on a blowing leaf and clamping it between its claws. No, I thought, looking at her again. Not a cub. Not anymore. A young lioness with her first kill instead.
    “So what the hell happened? What were you thinking?”
    “Si said he was going to have one last night of partying. One last hurrah before he quit the drugs, and the drink, and everything…”
    “Si?”
    “Yeah, Si. The bassist.”
    “And you fell for that shit? He’s a goddamn rockstar who eats groupies like you up for breakfast then spits them out when he’s finished with them.”
    Her eyes flashed with anger and she repeated the line that’s been said by a thousand, a million, a hundred million young girls before her, “He’s different , I’m telling you. We’ve really connected.”
    “Hon, this is exactly it. He isn’t different. You can’t fall for this shit. Please, trust me, this is why I want to mother you so much. You’re naive, Lily. He’s probably shooting smack with two other groupies right now.”
    She hugged a pillow tight against her chest. “You’re wrong Ava. You’re wrong. Si’s not like that.”
    I just shook my head. How could she be so stupid? She got good grades in school, but it looked like I’d raised an idiot in the real world. How could I have fucked up so bad, I wondered. Listening to her defiant talk I suddenly didn’t feel so bad about leaving her here the night before.
    I became aware of the disinfectant smell of the hospital that had been lingering the whole time. I hated it, always had. It was time to get out of there before it made me sick.
    I tried to brighten the mood by giving a smile but it was so tight and false it probably came out more like a sneer or grimace. “Let’s talk about it later hon. Come on. We’ll do your paperwork and then get some breakfast. Denny’s or IHOP? I passed both on the way in…”
    She stared at me hard for a second before her look softened. “IHOP,” she said softly.
    I smiled and held her hand. She knew I didn’t like IHOP, but I’d let her win this round.
    “Let’s go.”

15

Lonnie
    “ H ere you go . That’s the list for the next week of shows. Venues, addresses and times,” Chad said as he passed a neatly printed page on crisp white letter paper.
    I looked at him in some surprise. Just three hours earlier that guy had been completely fucked up. Now he was acting the consummate professional, no hint of his earlier binge visible on his wrinkl-free tanned face.
    “Cheers. Coming to the meeting?” I asked.
    He shook his head. “No.