“And when you say something she doesn’t like? Why in the world would you trust this woman? She—”
“Can we talk about this later?” Ben interrupts.
They’re both quiet for several seconds. I creep away from the door and pull on my clothes.
“We’re still not giving you a heads-up about things coming up on the podcast!” Paige calls suddenly.
“Understood!” I yell, and decide not to tell her about Ben asking my permission to post that clip from Maya.
Listen for the Lie Podcast with Ben Owens EPISODE SIX—“NINA”
After what we just heard Lucy say about Nina and Matt, I went through some of my old interviews where people mentioned her. I found something really interesting. Here again is Colin Dunn, in our very first interview.
Colin:????????????Of all of Savvy’s friends?
Ben:???????????????Yeah. Which ones did you know well?
Colin:????????????Not really any of them. They’re all older than me, so we weren’t in school together … Oh! Nina. What’s her last name? Branson?
Ben:???????????????Garcia. She changed it back to her maiden name after she got divorced.
Colin:????????????Oh shit, she was married?
Ben:???????????????She was at one time. She’s divorced now.
Colin:????????????Oh, okay. Cool.
Ben:???????????????But you knew her?
Colin:????????????A little, yeah.
Ben:???????????????But not well enough to know she was married with kids?
Colin:????????????Oh shit, she has kids too?
Ben:???????????????Two.
Colin:????????????Damn. Okay. Good for her. Oh no, wait. I think she did mention a kid once. Huh.
Ben:???????????????How did you know Nina?
Colin:????????????We hung out a couple times. Just, you know. As friends.
I was unable to get in touch with Colin again to confirm a suspicion I had—which is pure speculation on my part, by the way—so I went to Joanna Clarkson for the scoop.
Joanna:?????????Nina and Colin? Like in a romantic way?
Ben:???????????????Yeah. You ever hear anything about that?
Joanna:?????????Hmmm … that boy sure does get around, doesn’t he?
Ben:???????????????He does seem to be popular.
Joanna:?????????Listen, hon, I don’t think I should be confirming any rumors.
Ben:???????????????But there were rumors? About Nina and Colin?
Joanna:?????????There were a lot of rumors about Colin. Who can say which ones are true?
Ben:???????????????Colin did tell me that he knew Nina.
Joanna:?????????Hmmm. Well. Do with that what you will.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
LUCY
Are you free for a drink?
Emmett’s text comes as I’m finishing up work for the day in Mom’s office, and it sends a flash of guilt up my spine. I never responded to his last text, and now Ben has released an episode in which I imply his girlfriend was sleeping with my husband. And then Ben implied that she was also sleeping with Savvy’s boyfriend. Years before Emmett, but still. He’s probably not having a great day.
I respond that I’d love to, and an hour later I’m sitting across from him at a slightly shady bar off the highway. I’ve never actually been to this bar, even though it’s been here for years. I always assumed it was full of truckers who’d stare at my ass.
I was correct, turns out. Large men in cowboy hats gawk openly at me. An ancient country song plays softly over the speakers. It’s peak Texas in here.
Emmett’s at a tiny table in back, a full beer in front of him. He takes a sip as I approach, and then makes a face as he sets it back down.
I laugh. I can’t help myself. He’s just really cute sometimes, in a little-boy way. I’d forgotten that. It had made him seem a little goofy when we were kids—not the kind of guy I wanted to date—but it’s endearing now.
He looks up and a smile flickers across his face. “Hey, Lucy.”
“Not a good beer, I take it?” I slide into the seat next to him.
“I don’t actually drink much. Not a fan of the taste. But it felt like the thing to do today.” He takes another sip and grimaces again. I hold back my laugh this time, since he seems miserable.
I raise my eyebrows in question, and signal to the bartender that I’ll have the same as him.
“Is this my fault?” I ask.
“No. Well, not exactly.”
“The podcast?”
He sighs. “I hate that fucking podcast.”
The bartender delivers my beer to the table. I take a drink. Emmett’s looking at me expectantly, like I might agree, but I don’t actually hate the podcast.