You see?”
“You could have more back-up copies.”
“You give me the diary and the interview, and I’ll give you my word that I won’t send them to my editor. And I don’t go back on that.”
I fidget.
“You’d be protecting Mr. Wild again you know. But this time, you’d be losing him forever in the process. And if you refuse, you protect yourself and potentially get what you want, which is a breakup between Gigi and Logan.”
I know. But I also know that I care about Logan far too much to ever sell him out or let him take the fall for pictures that nobody else would understand. Logan didn’t cheat on Gigi. And I would never ruin their relationship by letting those photos go public.
“I won’t discuss my father’s drinking, any of my siblings’ personal lives at all, or my parents’ relationship. I will talk only about myself and my life. And I will give you Vivian’s diary under one condition—that I sit next to you the entire time you read it. It never leaves my sight.”
“Good enough. Do we have a deal?”
“Yes,” I say. “I’ll grant you the interview.”
Chapter Ten
Skip pumps his fist. “Awesome!” Then he pauses. “You know, I have to admit I’m surprised. With the way you look at Mr. Wild, I thought maybe you’d want the chance to see him single again.”
I just shake my head in disgust and give my last stipulation. “No cameras, no Jon, just you. You can interview me tonight, and tomorrow you come by The Cowherd, and I’ll give you Vivian’s diary.” Minus the torn-out page, because once Mama tore that out, she and I agreed it was no longer public history but had become a private matter. And private matters are best left private.
Skip tells Jon he can go home, and we watch him disappear up the hill and into his car. I take three deep breaths to center myself and lead Skip down to the fishing hole.
He hurries next to me along the edge of the woods toward the one section of the creek that empties into the lake. The moon is barely visible tonight, but the stars are out.
“This is real small town, huh?” Skip says in a hushed voice. “It’s so quiet and dark.”
That’s why I love it here. And why you are ruining the peace.
I head quickly in the direction of laughter and voices, and the darkness is broken by a bonfire and fishing poles.
Down by the water, Logan’s teaching Gigi how to fish. He has his hands around her pole from behind, a sight I would rather not have seen. Her sisters are giggling and pointing at the creek like they’ve never seen natural water before.
I go sit down on the grass with Ginny, Dave, and Blake, and Skip joins us.
“You should see this,” Ginny whispers to me. “Gigi and her sisters are acting like they didn’t know where fish come from—it’s like they think all food just magically appears on your table.”
“Hi, Macey!” Gigi drops her pole to wave. “Your blueberry pie looks so delicious!”
I smile. “Have as much as y’all want.”
“Gosh, I hate cooking,” Gigi says. “I don’t know how you stand it, Macey.”
“Macey’s an amazing cook,” Logan says.
Ginny clears her throat and jabs my side with her elbow.
“Not me.” Gigi giggles. “My mother always orders out. It tastes just as good as homemade if you ask me.”
“Well, that’s because you haven’t had Texas barbecue before.” Blake stands up and goes to check on the grill. “Just about ready, folks. Come eat up.”
“Hey, what’s he doing here?” Logan stares at Skip, who’s stuck to my side like an appendage.
“Are you still helping him with the Darcy Legend?” Ginny says. “Doesn’t he know enough by now?”
“Apparently not. Skip, help yourself to some food.” I grab some chicken and a bun, slather on barbecue sauce and some onions, and then sit back down on the grass.
Skip plops down next to me and Ginny and rambles on about how much he loves a good barbecue. I try to ignore him by staring out at the flowing water and cypress trees leaning over the creek.
Gigi plunks her ass down right in front of Ginny and me and looks at us intently.
Does she expect us to initiate girl talk or something?
I look back at her in silence and try to think of something to say but come up empty.
“Gigi, are you ready for your big day?” Ginny finally asks politely.
Gigi closes down her expression, and I look at her