Page 7 of Beneath Cherry Blossom Memories

“How was the show?” she asks once I’m far enough away.

“Good. The turnout was killer, but mainly for the other guys.”

“They came for you too. Don’t sell yourself short.” Another yawn.

I feel bad for calling, but I didn’t get a chance to earlier, and I love my sister. “I’ll let you get to bed.”

“No, no, it’s fine. I’m just—” Her yawn is so loud it makes me do the same.

“They’re contagious,” I laugh.

“Sorry. But I’m serious. Your band is great.”

I shrug out of habit. “Did you and Deke get up to anything good today?” I change the subject.

“Lots and lots of poopy diapers. Delilah puked on him. It went right into his mouth.”

A string of laughter bubbles out of me. “Was he holding her up like Simba again?”

“Yesss.”

“Sounds like he should’ve known it was coming.” I glance over my shoulder, feeling like I’m being watched, but there’s no one back here. “But, I gotta get back. Kelly’s gonna kick my ass if I miss her pit analysis.”

“Pit analysis?”

Tucking my hair behind my ear, I lean against the wall. “Yeah. Every show, she has us all sit down and go over howmetalor not the mosh pit was. It’s an ordeal.”

“And clearly important.”

“Yeah.”

“Well, thanks for calling, Fe. I promise it’ll get easier.” I can hear the shrill wail of her daughter through the line. “Shit, she’s ready for the boob.”

“Go, go. I’ll text you later.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too. Happy Anniversary.”

I hang up as I hear her tell Delilah to hold her horses. Veronica is a great mom already. She’s older than me by a few years, and even when we were kids, she babied me. Mom says she would swaddle me when I was a toddler. I guess she’s just got that maternal bone, like people say. I’m happy for her and Deke; they have been trying for a kid for a few years. Jorge jokes that we don’t need any more Sawyers in the world, but Darien keeps pumping them out left and right. I’ve already got three nephews. Two of which are twins.

Against my will, I think about Eli. I think about that day.

“She’ll get pregnant,” Eli whispers in my ear.

I smile at my sister on the dancefloor, having her first dance as a new bride.

“He’s gonna breed her.” The smile drops as I gawk at him.

“Why would you say that?” I hiss, tugging him away from my Great Aunt Lucy, who looks ready to faint.

I take him out of the tent in my parent’s backyard and weave through the few people standing nearby. Once we are at a safe distance, I take a good look at him. He went to the bathroom before the dances started, and now his eyes are glossy and bloodshot.

“What’s wrong with you?” I pry.

Eli gives me a crooked smile, shaking his head and blinking at sunset. “Nothing.”

He’s been acting weird all fucking day and now he’s being vulgar around my family, some of them are old as shit who aren’t used to hearing that stuff. I fold my arms across my chest. “Are you high?”

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