Page 48 of While You Were Trending

Who could she have been if she hadn’t had to prove her worth to the people who should’ve accepted and loved her for who she is?

Mabel steps beside me as Ginny’s red raincoat bobs through the vines, getting closer and closer to the house.

“Are you the leak?” she asks.

“No. Never.”

“Why’d you say it was you?”

“Fuck knows Freida wouldn’t admit it was her. Thought she’d leave faster if she could go tell the press it was me.”

She blinks once behind her glasses. “Hmm.”

“I hate her.”

“You hate Ginny?”

“No.” I swallow theneveron the tip of my tongue. She wouldn’t believe me any more than Ginny would. “I hate Freida.”

She continues to study me, as if that’ll make me break and confess everything.

“Is she leaving?” I say instead.

Mabel almost smirks. “Did you know she’s allergic to chickens?”

“You set them loose?”

“I would’ve if I’d thought of it first.”

Ginny reaches the house, and I watch as she darts up the porch steps and disappears into it.

She’s safe.

She’s where she’s happy.

Good.

“I need a solid reason that we should let you keep filming,” Mabel says.

I sigh and rub my chin. “I make a mean oatmeal walnut chocolate chip cookie.”

She tilts a sideways glance at me, blinking quickly as she studies me harder.

And then—then there it is.

The soft “Oh” of understanding.

I can’t look Mabel in the eye. I want my dog, but Flow’s in doggy daycare today. “I wouldn’t hurt her.”

She doesn’t answer, but instead glances back at the barn, then nods once to me. “Don’t leave. I need to talk to my family.”

I don’t care if they tear up my contract.

I just want Ginny to be okay.

10

GUARDIANS OF THE WINERY