“Let’s go to the bookstore before we do the tour,” Ros said, linking their arm with mine. “I’m betting you’ll like it.”

Ros was right: I loved the bookstore.

In the first place, there was a literal tree in it. In the second place, it was small, but their selection was incredible, the best combination. So many good books by authors I hadn’t heard of, and then the books by authors I knew but hadn’t realized they’d written other stuff, and as my stack grew, a bookseller noticed me and gave me a few different recommendations based on what I was reading, and I just about died of happiness.

“I want to live in this place,” I said.

“Same here,” said Touchstone, who loved to read as much as I did.

“I knew you’d like it,” said Ros.

“You should ask if they’re hiring!” I said. “And then I can use your discount.”

“This would be a good job for you, not for me,” Ros said with a smile.

Touch and I hunted feverishly for books in the twenty minutes before the next Lovesick Falls tour began. Though I truly could have stayed in the bookstore forever, I eventually crammed the books into my mini backpack, and we walked out into the sunshine to catch the tour, only to run into Phoebe and Audrey. Audrey held an iced coffee in one hand and was walking a unicycle beside her, her curls swept up into a messy bun; Phoebe was wearing a black denim jacket that had faded to the perfect shade of gray, the kind that came only with consistent, ritualistic wear.

“Oh, hi!” Audrey said, and she seemed excited to see us, or at least to see Touchstone. “You guys left so quickly last night. I’m so sorry. Things got totally out of hand.”

“Jess Orlando,” Phoebe said, rolling her eyes. “Classic.”

“What are you talking about?” Audrey said. “Jess did nothing wrong. Dennis started it. Called her a dyke.”

“Yeah, did he also start the bazillion other fights she’s gotten into over the past few years?” Phoebe shook her head. “Dennis is a dick, but Jess is pugilistic at best and an asshole at worst.”

“Good word,” I said.

“Asshole, or pugilistic?” said Phoebe.

“The latter,” I said.

“I’m on Jess’s side,” said Audrey. “And Jess’s brother is the asshole.”

“A whole family of assholes, then,” said Phoebe.

“Their Christmas card must be quite something,” said Touch.

“Ros was talking to her,” I said.