Page 45 of Not Just Gal Pals

“Rude.” I glared at her. “Amanda’s cake also tasted incredible, thank you.”

George ignored my retort, taking a sip of her coffee and then leaning forward. “So, how did your date with your gal pal go?” She winked.

“Gal pal? Seriously, George?” I raised an eyebrow.

“Well, I don’t know what to call her. You said she wasn’t your girlfriend.” She had a point. I wasn’t exactly sure what the correct label was either.

“Well, your bagels and cookies were a hit, thanks. But it rained, and Jenny twisted her ankle.” I sighed, still annoyed at myself for getting carried away making out with Jenny and losing all sense of time and place. If I hadn’t lost control like that, I would’ve noticed it was getting late and the clouds were coming in, and Jenny wouldn’t have gotten injured. “Luckily it happened right near the end of the trail, so we got ice on it quickly and could rest it. Jenny texted me this morning to say it was feeling a lot better, which is a relief.”

“At least Doctor Mitchell was there to ensure the correct medical treatment was applied.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks. Flashbacks to Saturday afternoon had been torturing me for the last two days. I never thought I’d be into role playing, but I’d found it incredibly hot with Jenny. Although, to be honest, I’d find anything involving Jenny incredibly hot, especially if it involved teasing her nipple with my mouth or making her moan with pleasure.

“Why are you all red and awkward-looking all of a sudden? Did you two…?” George leaned forward and wiggled her eyebrows.

“No comment,” I said firmly, my face still burning.

“Sorry, I was being nosy. I’m just really excited for you.” George sat back in her chair. “But things are going well? You’re happy?”

“Yeah, maybe too well.” I grimaced.

George snorted. “Come on, there’s no such thing as ‘too well.’”

“I’m just worried I’m setting myself up for failure. This is meant to be a casual, fun fling, but I’m not sure I know how to do flings.”

“Hmmm. I guess going on a strenuous hike with a romantic picnic doesn’t scream casual fling.”

I sighed. “Yeah, maybe that wasn’t the best idea. Until Grace, I was a serious-relationship person, and since her, I’ve been a no-relationship person. I’ve never dated someone knowing there was an end date on it. What if I start getting really attached to her?” I chewed on my lip. What if I’m already attached to her? The whole point of my ‘no relationships’ policy was to avoid the heartache I’d experienced after multiple breakups. “I think I got a bit carried away on Halloween and rushed into things without thinking it through properly. This can only end badly, right?”

“Well, a lot of people just go on a couple of dates, realize the other person isn’t for them, and part ways amicably. That’s not exactly ending badly. Maybe that’s what will happen with you two?”

“Hmmm.” I stabbed at the cake with my fork absentmindedly. “It just doesn’t feel like that’s where we are heading.” I looked around to check no one was within earshot and lowered my voice. “I really like her, George. I can’t stop thinking about her, wondering what she’s doing... We’re getting along so well I just can’t see us going on another one or two dates and breaking up. This feels real. Bizarre and totally unexpected, but real.”

“That’s exciting!” George looked genuinely thrilled. “Well, maybe you won’t break up. Maybe Jenny will extend her stay, or you guys could do long distance until you work something out.”

I pressed my mouth together, shaking my head. “I’ve invested so much time, effort, and money in setting up the clinic, and I love it here. I can’t imagine living in Los Angeles, dealing with all the traffic, pollution, not being able to see my family whenever I wanted… And Jenny couldn’t move here. There’s not exactly a lot of work for an influencer in Sapphire Springs.”

George studied me intently, leaning over her coffee on the table. “Well, it seems to me you have two choices. You can either break things off now, or you can keep going and see where it takes you. The benefit of option one is that you won’t get any more attached to her, but from what you’re saying, that ship may already have sailed. The con is that you may miss out on a lot of hot sex and always wonder what might have been. With option two, of course there’s the risk you’ll get even more attached to her and find it tough when she moves back to LA, but at least you’ll enjoy her company in the meantime. Or you both might realize that things aren’t going to work out and break up amicably.”

I sighed. I already liked Jenny too much to just end things and move on with my life without some serious pining.

“When you put it like that, it seems like a no-brainer. You’re right. The ship has already sailed, and if I don’t pursue this, I’ll probably always wonder how it would have ended.”

George’s eyes brightened, and she sat up straight. “Excellent. Well, in that case, can you please ask your unlabeled beau to drop in so I can personally thank her and give her a coffee on the house?”

I narrowed my eyes. “What are you thanking her for?”

George grinned. “I got a call yesterday from TimeOut New York. They’re planning an article on winter weekends away in the Hudson Valley and want to feature Novel Gossip. Apparently, Jenny’s posts on Halloween caught their attention.”

“That’s awesome! Just don’t get so popular you have no time to chat with me when I drop in, okay?”

“Blake, I promise I’ll never get too busy to see you.”

I took a final bite of cake and sat back in my chair. “Jenny’s specialty appears to be helping other people out. Saving Amanda’s bachelorette party and wedding, helping get you a write-up in TimeOut, and now she’s also offered to talk to the mayor and do a fundraising event for my uninsured patients.”

“Oh, that’s a great idea! I know how much that’s been stressing you out. You know, you two are a great match, what with you helping sick people and all Jenny’s good work. Maybe you can become famous lesbian philanthropists.” George’s eyes twinkled.

I snorted. “Have you been listening at all? Jenny’s leaving in three months. And she’s not a lesbian; she’s bi. And also, to be a philanthropist I’m pretty sure you need to actually be rich.”