Page 111 of Take This Heart
Erin and I pause our laughter and stare at Juju.
“Juliana!” Erin says, covering her mouth. “I don’t thinkI’ve ever heard you say anything rude in your life, but that…that wasrude. Really, really rude.” She leans over and squeezes Juju’s hand. “I’m so proud of you.”
Juju makes a face when she looks at me. “Sorry. That wasn’t nice at all. But he wasn’t hurt…bad…so it’s okay to say that, right? I mean, Jackson doused him with the fire extinguisher, so…” She lifts her shoulder.
I snort. “Maybe once Camden is here full-time, you guys can make some sort of peace with one another.”
Juju bites the inside of her lip. “Doubtful. He stopped by the cafe when he came into town this time and had the audacity to say he preferred Caribou’s coffee.”
Erin and I both gasp.
“That is…hecouldn’thave meant that,” I say, horrified.
“That’s what he said.” She sighs. “I know we’re supposed to be loyal to Caribou since it originated in Minnesota, and it’s fine, but?—”
“You originated in Minnesota too and your coffee iswaybetter than Caribou,” Erin says.
I nod. “It’s true. Before I moved here, I always missed Kitty-Korner when I went back home. I can’t believe Camden said that. I’m so sorry.”
“Thanks, guys. And you don’t need to be sorry for him. I handled it. I told him he could take his Cross Fox espresso and shove it up his snobby, uptight ass.”
I can’t help it, that cracks me up. I’ve never heard her talk to anyone like that, not even Camden, and he’s the only one she clashes with.
She looks at us, a huge crease between her brows. “I didn’t mean it,” she says earnestly. “I love Caribou. Cross Fox is my favorite from there—in the Honey Lavender Espresso Shaker. I was just…so…mad.”
“We need to unpack this,” Erin says, just as my phone buzzes.
“Sorry. I leave my sound on all the time now in case my dad needs me.”
“Don’t apologize. We understand,” Erin says.
I frown at the phone and pick up Kevin.
“Everything okay?” Juju asks.
“Tully texted that I need to get over there right away.” I’m already on my feet and they get up too, helping me with my shoes and purse.
“Let us know if we can do anything to help,” Erin says.
“And just…that you’re all right.” Juju scrunches her nose. “At least I hope everything is all right.”
I hug them quickly and rush home.
CHAPTER THIRTY
DAYS OF OUR LIVES
MILO
I’m working on the east side of the pavilion when I hear something. I walk around and see Ava holding a gas can, her arm swinging back like she’s winding up to pour it against the pavilion. And then to my horror, she does.
“What the hell are you doing?” I roar.
She startles and drops the match I didn’t see her holding and a flame flickers. I jump into action, running to the nearest hose and dragging it over. I douse the flames, but they’ve multiplied in the time it’s taken me to get back, the smell of smoke sharp and bitter in my throat. My shirt sticks to my back as I shout for Siri to call 911.
I give the address to the dispatcher and she says help is on the way.
Smoke billows around me, but in a few minutes, I manage to put out the fire. I’m nervous that it’d take very little to start another fire though, with all the gasoline she poured.
