Page 158 of While You Were Trending

I get backto the apartment after running into town to talk to a guy about being a blacksmith for a day, and everyone’s waiting for me.

No, not everyone.

Adelaide’s not here.

Neither’s Shade.

Or Lavender, which makes sense, since it’s a school day.

But everyone else—from Heath to Pip and all of the full-time residents here—are camped on the patio under the porch, arms folded, waiting.

Fuuuuuuuck.

I look at each of them in turn, even Heath and Cricket’s cat, who’s on her leash, and their chickens, who are all gathered in the corner of their pen closest to us, squawking ominously.

When I glance at Ginny, my heart thumps so loudly I’m surprised it doesn’t make an audible sound.

She’s biting her lip and hugging a soft blue shawl around her shoulders. “Did you do it?” she asks bluntly.

I have no idea what she’s talking about, but my mouth goes dry and my pulse tries to set an Olympic record as worst-case scenarios go through my mind.

Leaked video.

Rumors.

Lies.

Secrets exposed.

Her mother knowing something she shouldn’t.

The wine.

Oh, fuck.

Did someone sabotage the wine?

“Much as I hate to say it, that’s not the look of a man who did it,” Olivia murmurs.

“Hate to agree with you, but I do,” Heath replies.

The cat hisses at me and the chickens cluck louder.

“You eat a bad turnip, son?” Pip asks me.

Mabel pulls a familiar envelope out of her back pocket and waves it at me.

“Oh, shit, is it counterfeit?” I say. “I left my marker. Didn’t you test it with the marker?”

“Itold youhe didn’t do it,” Ginny says to Mabel.

“Maybe he’s a good actor.”

“Do you know how hard it is to fail screen tests as a professional athlete? He failed them at least a half dozen times for sponsorship opportunities.” Ginny winces and looks back at me. “Sorry.”

I’d smile, but I’m still having a panic attack about something being wrong with the money. “Truth’s the truth,” I tell her.

“So how’s it work that he’s doing documentaries?” Dori asks.