She shrugs. “Maybe this is all my mama’s dream, anyway. Or her nightmare.” She laughs. “One way or the other, I think it’s hers. I can’t stop it now, anyway. There’s too much at stake to back out.”
“Gin, no there isn’t.” I slow even more and turn to look at her. “You can still change your mind. You can always change your mind.”
“Nickel and I texted all afternoon.” She smiles. “He sends me chords for songs I like to play. I’m learning so much.”
“That’s great. So maybe—”
“But my daddy just called me to say how proud he is of me for sticking with Dave.” She kicks her white sandals into the dirt path until they scuff. “He’s very traditional. He believes a mother and father should always stay together for the sake of the kids, no matter what.”
“I understand,” I say as we follow Logan’s flashlight through the dark wooded path. “But that’s not always realistic.”
“We’re all fishing tonight.” Logan opens the pail of bait and hands me a pole and line as we reach the water. “We’ll see who can catch the most. I’ll start the bonfire up. Blake, you want to get the chicken ready for the grill?”
I catch the first catfish. Ginny cheers, and I reel it in, happy with myself. Logan catches one next, and he puts his fish next to mine in the bucket.
I catch two more even though I feel myself fading.
“Dave!” Ginny shouts. “Get off my line!”
Dave laughs as he tries to dislodge Ginny’s line from her pole by poking at it. Ginny swats at him, and the two of them start laughing.
Blake calls to me from the grill, and I put down my pole and go help him.
It feels nice to be here without Gigi around. It feels just like it’s always been—even though it’s not.
When Blake disappears back to the truck for more charcoal, Logan and I sink down together on the grass.
“So I sold a painting today,” he says as he digs at the ground with a stray stick.
I sit up straight and stare at him. “You did not!”
“Yeah, I did.” He grins. “To a gallery in San Antonio. They’re doing an exhibit featuring Hill Country artists.”
“Oh, my God, your first sale—that’s so amazing!”
He nods. “I hope it won’t be my last.”
“Was Gigi so proud of you?”
He nods slowly, and a strange look passes over his face. “She was. But you know, she doesn’t really get it. What I went through to get here.”
I hesitate for just a second before I reach over to hug him. He hugs me back, and I keep my arms around his neck. And everything’s fine and platonic—until Logan moves his arm and touches my hip by mistake. I bite my lip and try to breathe and remember my name. I can feel his hot breath on my neck, and I can smell his cologne, and a stab of lust hits me right between the legs.
Crash!
“What the hell?” Logan pulls back and turns around.
I look behind us toward the trees. I don’t see anything at first, but then a flash of light gets my attention.
Jon and his camera are lurking behind a tree.
“You’ve got to be kidding—” I say just as Logan’s phone buzzes and sufficiently distracts him.
“Gigi just texted—they’ll be here in five minutes.”
He starts typing her a response.
“Okay, I’ll be right back,” I tell him as Blake returns and calls to Logan to get off his butt and help him with the grill.
