Page 52 of Frosted and Sliced

“Pih, pih, pih.” Georgie put her lips together and puffed air through them. What other mouth noises could she make? Why had she never tried before? Mouths were fun.

“Mouths are not fun,” Brody snapped. Apparently she’d said that last part out loud, too.

“You’re saying everything out loud. Stop talking,” Brody said.

He is so obnoxiously bossy.

When Brody narrowed his eyes on her, she realized she’d probably said the last part out loud, too, but it was funny. It was all so funny. So she was barely hanging on, so she had an internet “boyfriend,” so her best friend in the world was an invisible weirdo who lived in her attic. It was kind of hilarious, when you thought about it.

Brody sighed and rested his hand on her shoulder. “Georgie, whereisBurke?”

“I don’t know,” Georgie said. Oh, no, was she going to cry?

“No, don’t cry. You won’t be able to fix your face in time for your open house,” Brody said.

He is so bad at saying comforting things.

Brody sighed again. “I know, you’re right. Come on, let’s try and fix this. I am usually good at fixing things.”

He is the best at fixing things.

Brody gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze. Apparently she was still blurting her inner monologue.

He led her through the throng of people to Elyse and Cotton, who had loaded their plates at the buffet and now stood off to the side eating and talking, lost in their own little world. Brody musthave called to them because they turned with a smile that faded to concern as Brody and Georgette approached.

“What’s up?” Elyse asked.

“Georgie accidentally got drunk,” Brody said.

“Oh, no,” Cotton said. He knew she had zero tolerance for alcohol.

“Oh, no,” Elyse echoed. She scanned the area around them. “Where’s Burke?”

“The question of the hour,” Brody said. He sounded irritable, but that could either have been because he was annoyed by the man’s absence or didn’t like him. “We need to get her back to her inn and make sure her open house goes off right.”

I should tell them everything is ready to go because I’ve spent the last few weeks making sure it’s all perfect so people will like me.

The three of them stared at her and then Cotton said, “Apparently everything is ready to go.”

“And of course everyone likes you,” Elyse added.

“Ayuh, she doesn’t know she’s saying things out loud,” Brody said.

“You are so sweet,” Georgie said, consuming Elyse in a swallowing hug. “When you marry Cotton, I’ll make you the best cake ever.” Elsye froze, but Cotton chuckled.

“I’m partial to chocolate,” he said.

“I know,” Georgie said, poking his shoulder.

“I’m partial to trying to salvage this event,” Brody said, herding them toward the door.

Always rescuing me, Georgie thought. At least she thought she thought it, but she must also have said that part out loud when Brody gave a longsuffering sigh again and shepherded her toward the exit.

They were the first to arrive at her inn. “Honey, we’re home,” Georgie called. She felt vividly cheerful for someone who was about to crash and burn in front of the entire town.

“This place looks spectacular,” Cotton blurted, pausing to take in the decorations.

“I know, isn’t it amazing?”

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