Page 81 of Novel Problems

“I’m sorry,” I said to George as we did a walk of shame back to Jenny, Blake, and Walter. “I didn’t think my bribe would be so effective.”

George laughed. “It certainly worked. You got him across the stage, although he was moving so quickly I suspect all the judges saw was a flash of color. But I think we both know he never had a hope of winning anyway,” she said with a twinkle in her eye.

“Well, it was certainly a dramatic return to the stage after a fifteen-year plus absence.”

George’s face clouded. “Oh shit, I didn’t even think about your history, babe. I hope it wasn’t too upsetting.

I smiled. “It’s fine. It was very different being up there with you and Max. And we all know who the center of attention was just then, and it wasn’t me.” I looked fondly down at Max.

When we reached the others, George wrapped her arm around me and gave me a squeeze. Max collapsed back onto the ground and snored all the way through Walter winning the parade.

After the awards had been handed out, we made ourway to a red-and-white striped tent where the pie contest was about be held. After winning the contest for the past two years, George had been appointed to the judging panel. Based on the number of pies on the long banquet tables, the pie contest was very popular.

George’s eyes widened as she took in the amount of food before her.

“It looks like I’m going to be here a while. Rather than watch me gorge on pies, do you want to go wander around and come back in half an hour?

Two hours later, George, Blake, Jenny, Olivia, Amanda, and I were relaxing on two tartan picnic rugs, a blues band playing in the background. I was devouring a German sausage, which I’d been craving ever since the pet parade incident, while George, who’d sworn she’d never eat again after the pie winners were announced, had almost finished a serving of barbecue ribs and cornbread. I grinned at her, fingers sticky with barbecue sauce, as she devoured them with relish.

I washed down the last bite of sausage with a gulp of cider and leaned back on my arms, letting my body relax. Since dogs and fireworks didn’t mix, we’d dropped off Walter and Max back at home. Now it was evening, and the strength had faded from the sun’s rays.

“How are you doing, gorgeous?” George asked, wrapping an arm around me.

“Good. Perfect, actually,” I said, turning my head to smile at her.

Today had been perfect. I’d sent the rest of my manuscript off to Michael this morning, FaceTimed Barb to fill her in on recent events and let her know that George and I were planning to visit in August, worked a shift at Novel Gossip, and then spent the rest of the day enjoying theFourth of July celebrations. And now, here I was, lounging outside with George and my friends on a beautiful summer evening.

As we sat together on the picnic rug, another stunning yellow, red, and purple sunset appeared and faded, and then the fireworks, launched from a barge on the river, propelled bursts of vibrant colors into the night’s sky. Star bursts, circles, and showers of light exploded around us, and I couldn’t help squealing with glee. I snuggled closer into George. A perfect ending to a perfect day.

The words that I’d been wanting to say for some time now suddenly became too urgent not to express.

“Hey, George,” I murmured.

“Mmm?” George hummed softly in my ear.

I looked up at her. A mixture of nerves and adrenaline rushed through me at the thought of what I was about to say.

I took a deep breath, and then let the words come out. “I love you.”

Her face burst into a smile as bright as the fireworks we’d just watched and any worries I’d had about how George would react vanished.

“I love you too,” she said, giving me slow, tender kiss.

I melted into the kiss, savoring her soft lips on mine.An even more perfect ending to an already perfect day.

As George and I walked home, hand in hand, George leaned close to my ear. “When we get home, I’m keen to give you an intimate pyrotechnics show with a hopefully explosive finale,” she murmured.

My heart full, I laughed, tilting my head up to kiss her again. “Don’t you need a license for that? But I’m not at all averse to ending the night with a bang.”

EPILOGUE

TEN MONTHS LATER

HANNAH

“Oh, I’ve missed this.”

“Me too.” I closed my eyes, enjoying the gentle bobbing of the water and the sun’s warmth on my skin.

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