Page 41 of Shit Happens in Ivydell

Zara just posted something. She’s awake, too. I wonder if she’s thought anymore about seeing Ivydell in person. She was probably just typing her random thoughts with no serious intent, but I wouldn’t mind if she came to visit before I left. Might be nice to have someone at home who would get it when I talked about this place.

And I am undoubtedly going to talk about it until people are sick of hearing it. Some of them will think I’m making up parts of my stories, the way I always thought Mom and Gran were.

Zara probably already thinks I’m crazy for being here. Soooo . . . it probably won’t make anything worse if I bring it up again.

Hey, I was serious when I said you should come check out Ivydell.

Why are you awake? Where’s your desert dude?

Sick. And not in the mood for a nurse.

Oh, he’s one of those people.

Yeah. Wanna meet him?

Stop tempting me. I’ve met me. I might just show up.

You could come for the festival.

When is it?

First weekend in April.

I don’t have any plans.

I’m looking up the closest airport. I’ll get back to you.

I’d probably drive. You drove it.

It’s nine hours.

So? I can drive nine hours.

She’d drive nine hours to visit me in the middle of nowhere? Holy shit. We might be better friends than I thought. Well, damn. What else have I missed?

Jensen

Hard Labor

Cujo’s front tire stopsa few feet from the wheelbarrow I’m standing over. He shuts off his bike but doesn’t dismount. “Damn. Breaking rocks in the hot sun. Is this your penance?”

“I’m not breaking rocks. I’m mixing concrete.”

“Making me some new shoes? You plan on pushing me out of a boat?”

“Not today. But I’d sleep with one eye open if I were you.”

“No. If you were me, you wouldn’t be worried at all. What’s the concrete for?”

“For the sign. Ivy made it. Apparently,Jojohelped.” I cock an eyebrow when I look up at him.

“You trying to bait me into knocking that smirk off your face?”

“I’m just trying to stay busy.”

“Let me know when you’re done. We’ll get some fishing in before you decide to pave the roads.”

“You buy a boat, by any chance?”

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