Page 133 of Forty, Flirty & Fall Inn

But I’m already heading back through the restaurant, phone pressed to my ear, already calculating logistics.

Connor follows, probably to report back to the intervention committee.

Daniella picks up after one ring.

"Dani.I need you to cancel everything for the next week...Yes, everything...No, I haven't been drinking...Much...Look, just trust me."I swallow.“What do you know about animal adoption laws in the state of Washington?”

Connor blinks.“Animal adoption—What the hell are you getting yourself into?”

I lower the phone.“I’m getting myself into a fucking mess.”

I used to think love was a liability.

Now I’m starting to think it’s the only asset worth risking everything for.

I grin, feeling energized for the first time in weeks.

Jesus, I’m such a mess right now.

And for once in my life, that's exactly what I'm aiming for.

25

INTERVENTION.EXE

SAGE

Thanksgiving Thursday came way too fast.

Standing in my parents' kitchen, I do my absolutely best to make an edible gravy while my mother hovers like a culinary helicopter, occasionally reaching in to "fix" things that aren't broken.

"You need more flour," Mom says, adding flour to my perfectly good roux.

"It was fine."

"It was thin."

"It was—okay, it was thin."I whisk harder, taking out my frustrations on innocent turkey drippings."But I would have figured it out."

"Of course you would have, sweetie."She pats my shoulder while simultaneously stealing the whisk."Just like you figured out that Luke situation."

"Mom."

"I'm just saying, you had such a nice thing going?—"

"Mom."

"—and now you're making rage gravy."

I look down.

The gravy is indeed being whisked with a bit of violence sprinkled in.

"It's not rage gravy.It's...intensely mixed gravy."

"If you say so."She takes over completely, nudging me aside."Why don't you go help your father with the table?"

"Because he doesn't need help.He's been setting that table for thirty years."