Page 127 of Own the Eights Maybe Baby
“At least we’re on the same creepy wavelength for thoughts one has before a baby shower.”
He opened the door to the shop, smelling the familiar sweet scent of hardback books and freshly baked muffins, then spied Talya and Simon at the register, making googly eyes at each other.
Despite being head over heels andepicallyinto one another, they were hardworking kids, and Georgie had hired them on for the summer.
“How are sales?” he asked as the teens blushed and straightened up.
“Epic sales,” Talya answered as Mr. Tuesday ran behind the counter to curl up in his dog bed.
Simon nodded. “Totally epic! This is the first lull we’ve had all morning.”
Talya pointed toward the children’s area. “Becca said to send you back when you got here. We can keep Mr. Tuesday with us.”
“But first, we had something made for the baby,” Simon added.
“You didn’t have to get us anything,” Georgie said, but Simon’s grin only got bigger.
“We wanted to, and it’s also from my grandma. She actually came up with the idea.”
“Here,” Talya said, passing a small gift bag across the counter.
“We hope you think it’s epic,” Simon added, sharing a look with Talya, as Georgie pulled a tiny baby onesie from the bag, then pressed the small garment to her heart.
“Epic, right?” Simon said, almost laughing.
Okay, he’d gotten used to theepictalk, but today they seemed to be pouring on the epic sauce a little heavier than usual. Simon was still his best high school student, knocking out daily early morning workouts at his gym. From all the time he’d spent with him, he knew the kid could come up with at least a few other adjectives.
“Totally epic! You two are so thoughtful,” Georgie answered, flipping the shirt so he could see it, then pointed to the lettersE-P-I-Cembroidered across the front.
Now he was the one pressing his hand to his heart. Dammit, he was a brick house of a guy. Brick houses did not cry over sentimental gifts.
He sniffled but pulled it together. “It’s an epically thoughtful gift. Thank you.”
Georgie brushed a tear from her cheek. “And please, tell your grandmother we love it,” she said when Talya gasped.
“What is it?” Georgie asked.
“Becca said not to make you cry. She wants that to be her job,” Talya replied, worry marring the poor kid’s features.
Georgie laughed. “It sounds like her.”
“They’re all set up in the children’s story time area,” Simon said.
“There aren’t any toddlers in there, are there?” Jordan asked.
Talya chuckled. “No, not today. We promise.”
He mimed wiping his brow. “Thanks for holding down the fort during the shower and keeping an eye on Mr. Tuesday.”
“Have fun,” Talya called as Georgie took his hand, and they wove their way to the children’s story time area.
She held up the little shirt and admired it as they walked. “I did not expect to be so emotional today.”
“Just remember to cry for Becca,” he teased as the story time room came into view and…
“Wow!” Georgie said, taking the words right out of his mouth.
“It’s something else in here, isn’t it?” Barry called from the far side of the room with his camera trained on them.
