Page 123 of The Holiday Fakers
“If I’m back in Hideaway, then it’s definitely a yes.”
Billy fist pumps, then grabs my hand again. “Let’s go get cookies. And if Mom doesn’t let you have two, you just needto say you feel weak or something.” He shrugs. “That’s what’s working for me.”
I shake my head as I smile. Being around Billy reminds me of Ethan and me growing up.
“Come on!” he shouts, and I follow him back downstairs.
“Mom! Did the reporter call yet?” Billy demands as soon as we’re in the room.
“Well, it’s not that easy to get in touch?—”
“And Brody wants cookies,” he interrupts. “He’s feeling weak.”
Judy’s eyes move to me in confusion. “Oh, well, in that case?—”
“Very weak,” Billy continues, then makes the mistake of winking at me.
Piper snorts with laughter, and Judy’s expression turns from one of alarm to understanding.
“Okay, Billy,” she says. “If that’s the case, then maybe he needs to try the Christmas ones.”
“Yesss!” Billy fist pumps again, then runs full tilt toward the kitchen, Lucky following.
“I’m sure the reporter would love to interview Billy,” Judy says to Piper and me under her breath, “but she won’t be very happy when he insists he saw everything from Bigfoot to a polar bear.”
She looks over her shoulder to make sure Billy’s still out of the room, then continues. “He just won’t let it go.”
“What if Piper films me interviewing him?” I suggest. “I could then send you the footage for him to watch.”
“Would you mind? That’s very generous of you.”
“Not at all. It’ll be the best interview I’ve ever been involved with.”
She smiles warmly. “It can’t be easy being in the public eye.”
“It’s not, but it’s not all bad.”
Billy comes running back into the room, a plate held in both hands, piled high with cookies.
“Hey, buddy, I’ve had an idea,” I say to him. “I think that reporter might be a bit too busy to pop by, so why don’tIinterview you?”
His eyes light up. “Will it be online? For everyone to see?”
“Er …”
“Could you do that?” Judy mouths.
“Well, I could edit a little film and put it on my social accounts, if your mom agrees.”
Billy swivels on the spot, not noticing a cookie flying off the plate, to be caught mid-air by Lucky. “Mom? Please?”
“We’ll see.”
“Yesss!”
He hands the plate of cookies to her, now no longer important, and launches himself onto the couch, patting the space next to him.
I hand Piper my phone, and Judy pulls up a chair opposite us for Piper to sit on.
