Page 113 of Last Call

“Maybe.”

“Not maybe. Definitely. If you don’t want to freeze your ass off taking pictures in a snowbank, that’s fair. But don’t roll your eyes at the idea just because you think Dave’s trying to throw you a bone. He asked because he wants you to be part of something he’s excited about.”

Billie let out another sigh.

“And he’s not the only one who’s said you should sell your art. You’ve heard that a dozen times.”

“It’s a hobby,” Billie said. “It’s always been a way toescapework. I’m not sure I want to turn it into a job.”

Fallon hadn’t expected that answer.

“See?” Billie added. “You don’t always know what I’m thinking. Iwantto help you and Dave. If shooting some photos for your marketing stuff helps, I’m in. But I don’t want to make my escape hatch my day job.”

Fallon nodded. “Just make sure you tell Dave that. He’ll understand.”

Billie groaned. “I know. I will.”

“Tell him,” Fallon repeated.

Billie nodded again.

“Gwama!”

Fallon turned toward the voice. “Come to think of it, maybe it’s better if you stick to teaching.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because I don’t want to lose my free babysitter. I doubt Dave does either.”

“You’re a pain in my ass, Fallon.”

“Gwama!” Owen came racing up.

“Are you excited for your party?” Billie asked.

“Yep!” He grabbed her hand eagerly. “Come see!”

“What am I coming to see?”

“I got Gwama a toad!”

Billie and Fallon froze, exchanging a glance that said everything:Who is holding the toad?

“Mom or Andi,” Fallon muttered, already scooping Owen up as she broke into a run toward the porch with Billie a step behind her.

Billie and Fallon reached the porch to see Andi crouched low, arms outstretched like she was trying to talk the toad off a ledge.

“Ihadit,” Andi hissed. “I had it in my hands!”

“Look!” Owen beamed.

The toad, evidently uninterested in being part of anyone’s show-and-tell, chose that moment to leap—directly onto Riley’s bare foot.

Riley looked down. Blinked. And then let out a high-pitched, full-volume scream that could’ve shattered glass.

Billie doubled over in laughter.

Fallon nearly dropped Owen. “It’s atoad,Riley!”

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