Page 57 of While You Were Trending

“I will forget I knew her name,” I say.

More scrutiny comes my way.

If Ginny still turns to oatmeal walnut chocolate chip cookies when she’s stressed, they all likely suspect I don’t hate her now.

I spread my hands. “I just want to do my shit and get back on the road.”

It’s not the full truth, but it’s what I need to want to do.

“Did you post any of the videos of her at that wedding?” Mabel asks.

“No.”

“Did you share them?”

“No.”

“Privately?”

“No.”

She studies me harder.

Dori’s resting her arms on the iron railing above, watching.

Cricket’s eyes bounce between Mabel and me.

And the silence lingers.

“She’s been through enough,” I say as Flow whimper-whines and nudges my hand again. “I don’t want to hurt her. Or make this any harder on her than it has to be.”

Mabel glances at Flow.

Then at me.

Goosebumps creep up my spine.

Possibly telling Mabel how well I used to know Ginny was a mistake.

“Good,” Mabel finally says. “Because we’re big fans of malicious compliance around here when we need to be.”

“Message received.” They’ll make my life hell within the boundaries of the contract we have if I push anything the wrong way.

Shade hustles back through the door with two lights and a second camera. “Make yourself useful and set one of these up,” he says to me.

“You always make the talent work?” I reply.

“Talentis debatable.”

“I like you,” Cricket says to him. “Don’t make me regret that.”

Shade grins at her. “Who sent you video of Freida Rhodes getting attacked by chickens and then deleted all of my copies?”

She grins back. “Keep earning brownie points, and I’ll keep liking you.”

Honestly?

I like him too. Dude amuses the shit out of me. Reminds me of my brother.