Gigi lets him go and beams at the crowd.
Logan’s opened the gift now. His face turns red immediately. He holds the quilt close to his chest and walks back and forth on the stage, looking out into the crowd.
I step behind Daddy.
Gigi walks closer to Logan. “You love it?”
Logan nods and continues to look out. Daddy shifts to say something to Mama, and that’s when Logan spots me. I look away immediately, right into the questioning eyes of my mother.
“You made that for him, didn’t you?” she says in her best attempt ever to speak in a whisper.
I don’t answer her.
“Macey!” She reaches past Daddy with her hand, but I pull back, and she misses me. “Why would you just give the quilt away to Gigi like that? That wasyourwork, baby, not hers!”
Daddy puts his arm around her and whispers something in her ear, and she shuts up.
* * *
By the time all the presents have been opened, I’m leaning against a large oak tree for support.
“Party’s over, darlin’.” Daddy looks over at me from where he’s standing with Mama beside a neighboring tree. “You okay?”
“I’m doing fine.”
I glance across the way at Logan and Gigi as they chat with her parents on stage. Presents and wrapping paper cover the ground around them. “Ben?” I say.
He steps closer, joining me underneath the oak. “Yeah?”
I jerk my thumb in the direction of Logan and Gigi. “What did you mean when you said something’s off with them?” I ask him in a whisper.
Ben turns and looks with me. Logan’s leaning back from Gigi’s arms as she reaches for him, almost like he’s…
“He’s not into her.” Ben’s voice is so certain I flinch.
“He’s going to marry her,” I say stubbornly. “Of course he’s into her.”
“You think so? Watch this.”
Before I can ask him what he’s talking about, he whistles loudly.
Logan turns his head at the noise, and Ben nods at him.
Logan’s gaze shifts immediately from Ben to me.
His eyes hold on mine. He keeps the eye contact for so long that I’m squirming. I grit my teeth and squeeze my thighs together, and I don’t stop staring at him the entire time.
When he finally drags his gaze away, I’m on fire.
And Ben’s bending over in laughter.
“Shut up,” I say to him quietly. “You’re making a scene.”
“Right. ‘Cause you and Logan aren’t doing that all on your own.” He puts his hand to my forehead. “Just as I thought. Burning up.”
I let out a deep breath and pivot away. “Come around this side of the tree so I can’t see him. Please.”
“Fine, but…”
