“Yes.”
“Amethyst, please, no,” Gina says desperately.
“He is going to find out. The private detective is coming tomorrow.” Amethyst looks at her and then looks at me. “You’ve had plenty of time, and obviously you haven’t told him. And while you want to tell my story, well, I can tell yours.”
“Amethyst, please,” Gina says.
“I still don’t know what’s going on.” I take a step toward the two women. Amethyst presses her shoulders back and holds her head up high.
“I like Gina. I think you are a wonderful young woman. But my first loyalty will always be to the Waverlys. Hunter, Gina is a reporter. And she’s not here just to write your grandparents' story. She’s here to get the story of her career. Aren’t you, darling?” She looks over at Gina. “A certain birdie told me that you work for theWhisper Cove Guardianand that you’re actually here trying to get a story on Hunter.”
“What? No. This is not true. You don’t work for the newspaper, do you?” My heart freezes, and Gina’s face pales.I know in that moment that everything is true. Gina is a reporter. I told her everything. She knows everything about me, and she didn’t tell me anything. “Gina?”
“I was going to tell you.” Her voice breaks, and then her phone starts ringing, the tone that indicates that it’s her sister. We all just stand there in silence as she looks at the screen.
“You can answer it,” I say.
“No. I need to explain to you, Hunter—” The phone stops ringing, and then it starts again. She lets out a deep sigh. “Hunter, please.”
“Can I just ask you this, Gina? Are you a reporter for theWhisper Cove Guardian, and did you come here to write a story about me? Those are the only two answers I want right now.”
“Let me explain.”
“I don’t want your explanations. I want the direct truth. Answer me.”
“Yes,” she says softly. “I’m a reporter. And yes, I came to write a story about you. But let me explain.”
Her phone starts ringing again, and she squeezes it in her palm. I brush past her and Amethyst and leave the library.
“You need to answer that,” I say. “And you need to pack up your bags. I’m going out, and when I get back, I don’t expect to see you again. I’ll tell my grandparents why you’ve left.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Gina
“Yes?” I’m annoyed and can’t hide the irritation from my tone as I answer the phone. “What is it, Tina?”
“Gina, I need you.” She’s crying, and as much as I want to be hard and tell her to figure it out herself, I know that I can’t. She’s still my sister.
“What is it this time? What’s going on?”
“It’s Garth.”
“What did he do? Are you okay?” I say quickly, nervous. If he hurt my sister, I will kill him. I will literally kill him.
“He’s been in a car accident, and he has been arrested. He was driving drunk, and I’m stranded. Can you come and get me, please?”
“Can’t you call Mom and Dad?” I say, because as much as I want to be there for Tina, I’m still hurt. Dreadfully hurt and scared, and I need to talk to Hunter. To explain. I can’t believe Amethyst told him. It was so much worse coming from her.
“I’m sorry. Okay? I’m really sorry. Please come, Gina.”
“This is literally the worst time for me, all right? Tina, everything is just falling to shit, and I just?—”
“Please. I’m sorry. You’re the only one I want right now. You’re the only one I know who will just be here for me and understand. I know I need to make some decisions. I know this is not a good situation to be in, and I’m sorry. I’ve been lying to myself, but it’s been hard. I just always feel like I wanted to be the perfect daughter and have the perfect life because everyone admires you for being someone who marches to the beat of her own drum. You don’t care what people think about you, and you’re living your best life. And I just thought that what?—”
“What are you talking about?” I say. “Youhave the perfect life. You’re so much better than me. You’re beautiful and?—”
“You’re stunning, Gina, and you have the best friend.”
