Page 76 of Not Just Gal Pals

The TimeOut crew spoke to George for a few minutes and then began snapping some photos of Novel Gossip’s interior. Watching George pose behind the counter for a shot, a wave of relief washed over me that it wasn’t me. I did not miss being in front of a camera at all.

“Jenny! Can George make us another milkshake?” Liam asked loudly, sliding out of his chair in a swoosh.

“No, I think one is enou—”

Liam was suddenly weaving through the Novel Gossip tables toward the counter.

“Liam! Come back here!” Blake said, jumping up from her seat and following.

“Where is Liam going?” Ava asked with interest.

Before I had a chance to respond, she slipped off her chair as well and chased after Liam.

Shit.

I could see Blake behind the counter, pleading with someone, presumably Liam. Ava stopped, peered through Blake’s legs, and then set off through the aisles of the bookshop section of Novel Gossip. I started to jog after her, increasing my speed when I realized George and the TimeOut crew were now taking photos at the back of the bookshop.

Passing Blake, I saw she was trying to wrestle a half gallon of milk from Liam, who’d clearly decided since George was busy, he’d take milkshake making into his own hands.

I entered the aisle. At the end, I could see George standing in front of a wall of books, trying to pose for the photos while watching Ava and I run toward her. The TimeOut photographer had her back to us, oblivious to what was going on.

“Ava, no running in the shop please,” I begged, trying not to make a scene. Still running, she turned to look at me and ran directly into a Penguin book display case at the end of the aisle. The adorable penguin-shaped display, full of Penguin classics, did a sickening rock side to side. George ran forward to try to right it. A book flew off the display case and hit the photographer, causing her to jump forward in surprise. George and the photographer collided at the same time the Penguin display case smashed to the ground.

Ava let out an ear-piercing shriek. “I killed the penguin!” she wailed.

Just then, Blake, holding Liam in her arms, arrived on scene.

I looked up at them and did a double-take. Blake and Liam were drenched in milk.

Oh my god. What absolute chaos.

Olivia walked past Blake, shaking her head in amused exasperation. She righted the Penguin bookcase and began picking up all the books. “I’m sorry about this, George.”

“Damn, I think we’re still dripping.” Blake dabbed at Liam’s face with a tea towel, looking back down the aisle, which was covered in milky drips. “When I heard the crash, I was worried someone had been injured. I’m so sorry we’ve interrupted your photoshoot.” And trashed the joint, I thought. Presumably there was a half-gallon of milk spilled behind the counter. Holding Ava’s hand, I helped Olivia and George pack away the remaining books.

George, to my relief, didn’t look too pissed off. “Don’t worry about it. It’ll be easy to wipe down.” She chuckled. “And you did warn me that something like this might happen.”

“Are you both okay?” I asked, looking at George and the photographer with concern, worried they might have injured themselves in the collision.

“I’m all good,” said the photographer, smiling at George, and suddenly my meddling Emma instincts were activated. I wonder if she’s single. I inwardly shook myself. Calm down, Jenny.

We made our way back to the cafe section of Novel Gossip, where we found Mrs. Harding on her hands and knees behind the counter, mopping up the spilled milk. Blake and I rushed over to help, and Olivia ushered the twins out of the cafe, on a mission to take them back to the playground to tire them out without causing any more property damage.

Five minutes later, the floors were clean, and peace had descended back on Novel Gossip. Back at our table, just the two of us now, we leaned back in our seats.

“You know, I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of this,” I said, smiling at Blake.

“Of ruining George’s photoshoot and causing general chaos?” Blake grinned, raising an eyebrow.

I laughed. “No, not that. I mean our life here. The close-knit community, our families, each other.”

“Well, I’m glad to hear it, because I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of it either.”

Blake held my gaze, leaning forward to squeeze my hand, and the desire to U-Haul it immediately had never been so strong.

EPILOGUE

18 MONTHS LATER