Page 31 of Novel Problems

George would usually be getting ready to open at 8 a.m., but she was still sleeping peacefully on the armchair. I didn’t want to disturb her—not after she’d stayed up half the night to help me.

To my surprise, now that I wasn’t sitting and signing my name over and over again, I was feeling more awake. I started to get the café ready to open as quietly as I could, transferring the cookies from the airtight container they were stored in overnight into the display case, filling the coffee grinder with beans, and unloading the dishwasher.

I was just debating whether I should wake George when the front door opened again, and a tall, attractive man in his twenties with short black hair and dark brown skin walked in. I was about to tell him that the café wasn’t open yet when I spotted a key in his hand.

He blinked and then grinned. “Hi, I’m Ben.”

“I’m Hannah, Novel Gossip’s newest employee.” I smiled, letting out a relieved breath. I’d been so stressed about Ben reappearing and blowing my cover, but now I didn’t need to worry.

“That’s great! Welcome aboard.” Ben grinned and then looked around. “Where’s George? I messaged her earlier to let her know I’d be in.”

I nodded toward the armchair, and Ben raised his eyebrows as his gaze fell on George.

“I had a bit of an emergency that she helped me withlast night. I was just thinking I should wake her before we open,” I explained.

Ben’s grin widened. “I’ll let you do the honors, and I’ll go dump this.” He patted his backpack.

I walked over to George and peered at her. She looked so peaceful and relaxed. I didn’t want to disturb her. But I didn’t think she’d be comfortable with her customers seeing her sleeping in the café.

I placed my hand gently on George’s shoulder and gave her a small shake. “George,” I murmured. She turned her head, muttered something, and then slumped back into the chair.

“George,” I said, louder this time, accompanied by a more vigorous shoulder shake.

George’s eyes flickered open. She looked around groggily.

“It’s almost eight a.m.,” I said gently. Her eyes opened wide and stared at me.

“Shit!” She staggered up.

“It’s okay,” I said reassuringly. “Ben is back, and I’ve got everything ready to open.”

“Oh, thank god.” She focused her gaze on me. “But what are you still doing here? You should be in bed.”

“I’m fine, seriously. I think I’m running on adrenaline right now, but I’m feeling good. Why don’t you go take a shower, and Ben and I will hold down the fort?”

George looked at me sternly. “Seriously. Go home, Hannah.”

She looks hot when she’s stern. I wouldn’t mind her bossing me around a little.

“I’m staying here until you’ve had a shower, at least,” I said firmly.

“Anyone want a raspberry-and-white-chocolatemuffin, fresh out of the oven?” Ben appeared, holding a tray full of delicious-looking baked goods.

My stomach rumbled. “Yes, please!” I said, using all my willpower to resist sprinting over and grab two.

He looked us up and down and grimaced. “And a round of coffees perhaps? You two look like you need it.”

Eager to avoid more looks like the one Ben had just shot me, I decided to go to the restroom to check that I didn’t look too bedraggled.

“A coffee would be amazing, thank you! I’ll just be a second.” And with that, I hurried off to see what damage a night of frantic writing and book signing had wrought on my face and body.

As the cold water hit my face, it struck me just how lucky I was that George reacted the way she did to my breaking and entering and my revelation. It could have so easily gone the other way. And just how much stress I could have avoided the past few days if I’d just told George up front.

I stared at myself, face dripping wet, in the mirror.

In the manuscript I was working on, I’d decided to transform my main character Esmae from being passive and lacking in agency to taking charge of her own destiny.

I made a vow to my reflection in the mirror.

---