Derek’s words drifted through my ears: Something juicier. Would getting kicked out of Lickety Splits for asking too many questions count as juicy?

I had to face the reality that unless I delivered complete and satisfactory material in a week, my contract with Tea would be voided, I could kiss the full-time gig goodbye, and Derek would never take me seriously again.

Maybe it was time to go home. I needed to be there for Kate. I missed my mom. I even missed the city—with its unlimited dining choices, “never sleeps” mentality, and spin bikes. If it weren’t for Finn, I’d leave tomorrow, but he was the only bright side in all of this. God only knew when I’d get laid again once I got home.

Unless…

What if we made it more than just a fling?

Because my day had been shitty, I allowed myself the rare daydream about what it would be like to be part of a couple, in a committed relationship with someone I genuinely liked. With my flexible hours at the café and gym, I could spend a night or two a week in Pleasant Hollow. And he could come back to the city on weekends like he’d done for Oktoberfest. It could totally work. It wasn’t straight out of a Hallmark movie, but two city folks falling in love within the confines of a small town was no less of a small-town romance than if one or both of us lived in said small town.

I shook my head. The time for daydreaming was over. I grabbed my phone and walked to the window.

When Mom answered the phone with “Hi, Squirt,” tears built up behind my lids. I blinked them away. Enough.

“What’s up?” I asked her.

I planned to confess all, but there was no need to lead with it.

“Nothing much. Just on my way to happy hour. Mama needs a glass of wine or three.”

I smiled at the thought of my mom enjoying her Friday night. “Who are you going with? Is it a date?” She’d had a first date the week before that had gone well. For one thing, he’d actually shown up.

She laughed. “It’s not a date, although I have one of those tomorrow. Tonight is work people. Former work people, to be more accurate.” Her voice fell. “It was Carla and Rosa’s last day.”

I gasped. “What? Both of them? Why?” Carla had been one of the nurses in Mom’s practice for as long as I could remember. And Rosa had been the phlebotomist for at least five years.

“They were laid off. Well, Carla was encouraged to retire early.”

I could tell she was trying to be upbeat even while delivering bad news. I sat on the edge of the bed. “Oh no. That sucks. Please send them my love.”