Read Online The Way Back Home by Alecia Whitaker - Free Book Online

matter-of-factly. “There’s no way you’ll lose this one, so forget what you just saw and be gracious.”
    Bonnie clearly agrees. She grabs my arms and shakes me from side to side, smiling big and trying to pump me up. “You’ve always wanted a Moonman!”
    I throw my phone back into my purse and frown. Yeah, I wanted to win, both for me and for Bonnie, but at this point, it’s not like anyone will even care.

8

    â€œP OST -VMA S IN da limo!” I shout, holding up my iPhone to get a quick video of the whole Open Highway team. Turns out winning really did boost my spirits.
    â€œI can’t wait to text this to your mom,” Bonnie says as we pull into In-N-Out Burger and she takes a picture of the neon sign. “She always goes on about me eating this garbage. It’ll kill her.”
    â€œOh, let’s take a selfie then,” I say, leaning over. “Really rub it in!”
    â€œAnd get that Moonman in here!” Bonnie says, holding my award up between us.
    Like I imagine most kids do after their prom, we all file out of the limousine dressed to the nines and make our way across the parking lot to the greasiest and yummiest fast food joint on the planet. Once we’re inside, my bodyguards stay close as people scream and stand up from their tables, their camera phones already held up high. I feel like a jerk when our group heads straight for the counter and the restaurant manager asks waiting customers to scoot over for my entourage.
    â€œHi, may I please have a cheeseburger, fries, and a strawberry shake?” I ask the guy taking my order. He looks a little flustered and it’s super cute. “And then whatever all these people behind me want, too. I’ll cover it.”
    â€œSo the people, like, in tuxes and whatever?” the cashier asks, confused.
    â€œNo,” I say, scooting over to gesture to all the people we cut in line. “Well, yes, but also,
all
these people. Anybody behind me right now. I’m buying their dinner.”
    â€œHell, yeah!” some dude shouts, giving his buddy a high five. “That’s what I’m talking about!”
    Troy takes care of settling the bill, so while we wait for our food, I walk around the restaurant, taking pictures with fans and signing a few napkins. It’s nice to have this mini-celebration, especially since I’m missing out on a ton of fun VMA after parties. I have a show in Toronto tomorrow night, and we have to get to the airport.
    â€œNumber thirty-nine,” the cashier calls. I look over and see greasy bags appearing on the counter and know it’s time to roll.
    â€œI’ll grab ours,” Bonnie says. “You go ahead.”
    I wave to a few fans as I make my way out of the restaurant with my bodyguards and am a little surprised when I see Dan and Anita in a heated argument near the limo. They completely stop talking when they see me, so I give them space and climb in, not in the mood for drama anyway.
    One by one, the rest of our group trickles into the car, and we start chowing down on burgers and fries, the party atmosphere still in full effect. The radio is blasting, and everybody is talking about their favorite acts of the night (conspicuously leaving out the Kayelee Ford spectacle, which I appreciate), but after a while, I start to wonder why we aren’t back on the road.
    â€œWhat’s taking so long?” I ask no one in particular.
    â€œI don’t know, but I need some air,” Bonnie says. I crack my window, and she does the same on her side. That’s when we hear the shouting.
    â€œThis is ridiculous!” Dan yells.
    â€œUh-oh,” I say. “That doesn’t sound good.”
    Somebody lowers the music in the limo and everybody, including myself, cranes their neck to see. It looks like Dan is arguing with Troy now, while Anita is on her phone nearby. She holds a hand to her other ear to block out the guys and looks as