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I swapped a quick, wide-eyed glance with Ivy.

“Who isn’t?” I asked.

It happened so fast. We were having a somewhat normal conversation, then suddenly, Tina had Carley Gentry’s phone pointed at us. Ah! What if my makeup was messed up?

“When I signal, y’all gonna to say it with me, okay?”

Say what? Oh, the line. Duh.

She held out a hand. “Make me one more, please?”

Ivy was prepared and set a fresh drink in her hand. “There you are, darlin’.”

I squeezed closer to Ivy and Katrina so we’d all be in the shot while a cannonball of nerves drove through my spine. How many followers did this woman have?

Tina made some signal that must have cued Carley because she smiled at the camera. “I’m here at Atlanta’s biggest whiskey expo, y’all. I promised I’d tell you my favorites. Well, this is hands down the best drink here, and I don’t care that it’s not straight. Check out Henley’s New Old Fashioned!”

She toasted the phone and took a sip, then motioned to us as the four of us chanted, “I’d rather be a shot of whiskey than your cup of tea!”

The video had started and finished within seconds, but my nervous system seemed to think we were being chased by a serial killer. A strange bout of laughter overtook my faculties, and Carley winked. She tipped toward me and lowered her voice, saying, “Girls like us gotta stick together.”

I mouthed “thank you” at her as she moved on to the next booth. It didn’t mean anything until she posted it, but giddiness bubbled up inside. Once Carley was distracted, I grabbed Ivy’s wrists and bounced on my toes. “Can you believe that just happened?”

She chuckled. “You’re a natural.”

My gaze snared on a flash of sunlight against sandy hair not far behind her. Leaning against the brick wall, watching us, was Cam. He stared at me without blinking, arms crossed, a slight smile decorating his tempting mouth.

I forced myself to look away and went back to work. Our booth was more popular than ever. We handed out cards and information sheets until we ran out. My pitchers ran dry. The sad oranges sat peeled and uneaten in their bowl. The remaining ice melted.

As everything wound down a couple of hours later, Camden returned to the table, his posture loose, an easy grin playing at his lips.

“Where’d you run off to?” Ivy asked, a hand on her hip.

He shrugged. “I thought it best to let the women present a united front.”

“Or perhaps you thought you might skive off and drink free whiskey with Bennett?”

A pseudo-innocent look came over Cam as he raised both arms, showing his empty surroundings. “Ben isn’t even here.”

Ivy perched her fingers on the table between them and leaned forward. “Bennett is everywhere, Camden.”

Chuckling, he moved around the table to help clean up. “Well, he isn’t here now.”

“Did you see that whole thing with Carley Gentry?” Ivy asked.

“I did.”

“And what do you think?”

His eyes touched on me a moment before he went back to cleaning. “I’m proud of y’all. Feels like things are finally turning.”

“Did your dad see?” I asked, hoping to sound casual.

“He left before she showed up.”

My shoulders fell.

Katrina tossed a few empty bottles into a nearby trashcan. “I’m really sorry, but I have to leave a little early. I only have my babysitter until four.”