Page 5 of While You Were Trending

I ignore her as much as I can ignore a woman who’s leaning more heavily on me by the second.

“Everything okay in here?” I ask Ginny.

It’s clearly not.

Ginny looks at her mom, then at Pip, then back to me, expression guarded. “Would you please go get my brother?”

No. No, let me help you.

I move Freida’s hand off my ass and try to manipulate her into sitting down. Key word beingtry. “Your brother?” I repeat to Ginny.

“Ten? Tennessee? About this tall, curly brown hair, likely trying to talk half the guests into doing kegstands and the other half into an orgy?”

I don’t want you, Declan.I want my brother. He’s a useless ass, but he’s still better than you.

It’s the right thing for her to say.

She shouldn’t want anything to do with me.

I shouldn’t want anything to do with her.

I’m still tight with Alex.

She’s still the woman who ruined his wedding.

“One day my baby will be a grandma,” Freida sobs on my shoulder while I once again pull her hand off my ass.

“Come back down here if you want to smash a sand blob,” Pip says. “Look. I got one right here.” She shakes her fist in the air like she’s beating something.

And yes, I do meanthat kindof beating andthat kindof something.

“I know your brother,” I tell Ginny as I finally manage to make Freida sit down again. “I’ll go get him.”

“Noooo, don’t leave me,” Freida sobs. “Everyone leaves me. My baby is leaving me.”

“Ginny’s your baby,” I correct.

“But sheembarrassesme.”

Fuck this. “You’re embarrassing yourself.”

“Caro’s pretty. I’m pretty. Not Ginny. Ginny has pimples and ugly teeth.”

I swat her hand away from my ass for a third time as she reaches up for it, then take a step back. “What kind of a dick parent says something like that?”

Ginny’s head whips toward me.

“Everyone says it.” Freida goes onto her hands and knees and crawls after me.

“You’re her fuckingmother. Do better. And sit down. You’re being a goddamn nuisance.”

“You’re getting on an Ottoman cruise ship?” Pip says.

Ginny’s staring at me with wide, wary eyes as her mother sobs harder.

“Everyone judges me,” Freida wails. “After all I’ve been through.”

“Sit. Down,” I order as the damn woman chases me on her hands and knees. “Stay.”