Page 71 of While You Were Trending

“Hey, Pip, do you know what this forklift needs?” Cricket says from the cab. “It needs a bumper sticker.”

“Like one that saysFuck Dean?” Pip says.

“I mean, if you still want his name on things. I was thinking something more likePip’s Big Equipment.”

Pip pats her jeans. “Dammit, ladybug, why do you always have good ideas when I don’t have my phone on me? Don’t start that thing without me. I’ll be back.”

I glance up at Cricket as Pip hustles out of the barn.

She’s good.

She’sreallygood.

I’d bet half my bank account Pip doesn’t know she just got tricked into leaving the barn.

After convincing Freida to leave yesterday too.

“Don’t say it,” Cricket says to me. “Don’t even think it. Pip’s nothing like Freida, no matter what kind of show she puts on for you here.”

Confirmed.

Cricket played her.

I shrug. “People are complicated.”

“I hear you ambushed Ginny last night.”

Should’ve seen it coming.

Of course the women talk about everything.

Shade swings his camera to focus it on me.

“Put it down,” I tell him.

He grins. “Maybe it’s for posterity.”

“I didn’t ambush her. She tripped over me,” I tell Cricket.

“I meant with telling her you like her.”

“Liked. Past tense.”

Shade coughs one of thoseliarcoughs.

“Freida figured out we’re filming a documentary, so she canceled her spa trip and we need to figure out how to work this fork truck and then hide it before she shows up,” Cricket says.

“Motherfucker.” I turn toward the door. “Does Ginny?—”

And then I stop.

Stop hard.

Turn back around.

Cricket grins at me. “Oh, wait, I’m confused. Caro was going to go to a spa today, but she decided she didn’t want to waste a minute of her honeymoon away from Mike.Shecanceled her spa day. Not Freida. My bad. Oh, and it was Rachelle in town who found out about the documentary. They’re all girls. That must be why I’m confused.”

I stare at her.