Page 61 of Not Just Gal Pals

Jenny pulled out the food and set it on the stovetop while I ran around opening the windows and turned on the exhaust fan to help clear the kitchen of the smoke.

“Do you think the chicken is edible?” I eyed it dubiously.

With some difficulty, Jenny sawed a piece off. That was not a good sign. When it was cooled, she popped it in her mouth, chewing vigorously. “Nope. It’s more like chicken jerky, just without the flavor.”

I shook my head, chuckling.

“Pizza?” Jenny asked, smiling.

I nodded. “You’ll be pleased to hear I bought cereal for breakfast tomorrow. Even I can’t screw that up.” And with that, I pulled her in for a side hug with one slightly sore arm, using the other to bring up the pizza menu on my phone.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

JENNY

“What?!” Amanda stared at me, her eyes and mouth wide open.

Half of Novel Gossip stared at Amanda because she’d just shrieked at an ear-piercing pitch and volume. It didn’t help our table was in the middle of the busy cafe, in prime view and hearing of all the patrons.

“You’re telling me that, in the three weeks I’ve been gone, you hooked up with Blake and now you two are dating?”

I sighed. I’d delayed telling Amanda the news because I’d predicted this reaction. And hearing about her honeymoon in Hawaii was much more interesting than being cross-examined about my confusing feelings for Blake. But now we’d finished brunch and were onto our second coffee, I couldn’t put it off any longer.

“Well, you were the one going on about how great she was. In fact, I’d gotten the distinct impression you were trying to set us up. And it’s just a casual thing, since I’ll be moving back. It’s not a big deal.”

The only problem was, it didn’t feel casual or like not a big deal. Unlike the other casual relationships I’d had—which typically involved catching up at the most once or twice a week and spending most of the time in bed—since our visit to the sculpture park, we’d seen each other almost every day.

Almost every day for two weeks.

And yes, we were spending a lot of time in bed. A lot of very enjoyable time in bed. But we were also doing a lot of other activities that felt very...couple-y, if that was a word. Watching holiday rom-coms on the couch, hanging out at Novel Gossip with George. For god's sake, I’d even agreed to sign up for the Turkey Trot as an excuse to spend more time with her. I did not mention that fact to Amanda. She knew how I felt about jogging.

When Blake joked about giving Walter exposure therapy to overcome his aversion to us making out, I’d wondered whether exposure to Blake might cure me of my attraction to her. But unfortunately, it was having the opposite effect. I’d had a lot of exposure to Blake recently, and it had done nothing to dampen my feelings toward her.

“I mean...I was, but I didn’t think it would actually work. I thought you’d sworn off casual relationships?” Amanda narrowed her eyes.

“I had…” I squirmed. “But things just...happened. There’s mutual attraction, we get along surprisingly well together, and you abandoned me, so I had nothing else to do…” I fake pouted.

Amanda shook her head, but her eyes twinkled. “Oh no, you’re not going to blame this on me.”

I put my hands on my hips, feigning outrage. “Excuse me. This is one hundred percent your fault. If you hadn’t asked me to help Blake with the bachelorette party, then had the wedding on a romantic farm and sat us together, and then left me to my own devices for a few weeks, I am confident Blake and I would never have hooked up.”

Amanda’s face broke into a grin. “Well, all I can say is I hope you and Blake fall madly in love so I can claim all the credit at your wedding.”

I snorted. “Okay, that’s definitely not going to happen. As much as I’m enjoying being back in Sapphire Springs, there’s no work here for me. Serena’s been trying to get me new sponsorship deals since I came here without any success.”

My lack of income was beginning to weigh more heavily on my mind. While Mom and Dad were generously letting me live rent free with them, and subletting my apartment in LA was covering my rent there, my bank account was starting to look very sad. My follower numbers had dropped since the Melanie93 video and were now perilously close to 2.7 million. If I dropped below that, then the Whamz promotion would be off, and I’d be completely screwed. Even if it went ahead, it was only $10,000, which wouldn’t keep me afloat for long.

I glanced over at George, who was behind the cash register, handing a smiling customer a book and their receipt. I’d thought about asking George for a job to tide me over, but I worried she’d feel obliged to help me out, and it probably wasn’t worth her while to train me when I was leaving in January.

Amanda stared at me expectantly, so I continued. “And it’s not like Blake could move to LA either. She’s clearly committed to her medical practice.”

And she likes to fly alone.

“It’s interesting how all your reasons why things won’t work out are practical matters, and you haven’t rejected the possibility that you and Blake might fall madly in love.”

I glared at her but let it go. Knowing Amanda, denying it would only encourage her. Better to change the subject entirely.

“Oh! I forgot to mention. I’m helping the village board run a fundraiser to create a Sapphire Springs Medical Fund on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend. I’ve already asked Maya if her drama students can give a performance—for entertainment and also to encourage their parents to attend. Do you have any other ideas for ways we could get the students involved?”