Falling Down(100)

"Oh my, that was awesome. Where were the paparazzi when that was happening?"
"Can you imagine that on Entertainment Tonight?" Sera asks. "Yes, ma'am"
"Dude, not even funny," Ben says. "We've been on there more times than we care to count and each time they've dragged us through the mud."
"Wow, really?" Meggie asks.
"Yep," Jesse tells her.
"Who'd you piss off?" I ask him.
He shrugs. "I dunno. No one that I know of. Why?"
"They're one of the only media groups that doesn't talk shit about me."
"True story," Sera says.
"Bet it doesn't stay that way for long," Ethan says with a frown.
"You'd think after today, with all the information we spoon fed those vultures, that they'd be more accommodating."
Xander snorts.
"I even offered to discuss things with them. Me, discuss my private life with the freaking press. I referred them to Irene who would set up a meeting if they wanted the true facts."
"That's just it, Luciana," my dad says. "They don't want the true facts. True facts are boring and don't make drama which doesn't make for good press which doesn't make good sales."
Cage grunts in agreement as he tips back his beer for a drink.
"Well, I tried. I went out there all professional and shit and gave them everything but what position Jesse and I were in last night and what color my lace boyshorts are."
"Lace boyshorts are hot," Xander tells me, wiggling his eyebrows.
"Lucy," my mother scolds.
"Mama, come on. It's the truth and you know it. Do you see anyone hounding Jesse or any of the guys from Falling Down for being manwhores? Did they go after Jesse after the night in the club? No and no. They came after me. Why do you think that is?"
"Because you're a good girl and you were fornicating with a bad boy in the middle of a dance club," Joey says from the doorway.
"Joey!" I walk to him and give him a hug. "How did you manage to get away? I thought you had a night shoot?"
"Amanda got sick from the heat," he says with disgust.
"Amanda Digby?"
He nods. "She's ridiculously simple-minded. She sat outside today, in the more than one-hundred-degree weather, thinking just because she had one of those large umbrellas that blocked the sun that she was immune to the heat."
"Um… the sun maybe but not the heat," Sera says.
"Exactly. Idiot woman," Joey says hugging Sera as I perch back on Jesse's lap.
"Want a beer?" Meggie asks.
"Holy shit! Meggie!" Joey shouts, lifting her in the air and twirling her around. "It's great to see you. What are you doing here?"
"I'm in Blush with your sister, Sera, Jace, and--"
I cough loudly and Meggie winks at me.
"That's great," Joey says. I introduce him to Jesse and the guys, he greets our mom and dad and Cage.
"Joey."
"Yeah?"
"I've got a bit of a surprise for you."
"What's that?" he asks.
Trace steps out from behind the bar where Joey wasn't able to see him--we'd planned this out earlier. Joey's eyes go huge.
"No f*cking way!"
"Joseph Russo! Language!"
"Sorry mama but it's Trace f*cking Styx!"
"Joseph!"
"Mama, you might just ignore the language for a little bit because he's going to be fangirling and likely swearing in his excitement. You know how he gets," I tell her.
"This is true. I'll ignore him."
I give her a look. It's not easy ignoring my brother. He's loud and boisterous in a party setting.