Girl Get Rid Of That Jerk by Melissa Johns

Allison gave a quick, "Okay."

Willow's husband was crouched by the stove, feeding the fire. Brooklyn, meanwhile, was off to the side, entertaining Willow's two-year-old son, Harry.

After finishing up with the veggies, Allison glanced over her shoulder and caught sight of Brooklyn and Harry playing together. She raised an eyebrow and grinned. "Wow, Brooklyn, I never pictured you as someone who actually likes kids."

Brooklyn always had that icy vibe about her-sharp, distant, not exactly the warm and fuzzy type. Liking kids just didn't seem like her thing.

With a completely straight face, Brooklyn dangled a superhero toy in front of Harry. "He's kind of entertaining," she said flatly.

Allison: "..."

Willow and her husband: "..."

The whole room seemed to freeze.

Silence.

The kind of silence that makes you want to crawl under the table.

laugh and turned to Willow. "Sorry about her. Seriously, don't

twitched, half amused, half confused. "Your

ever hangs out with kids. It's

round table. Just as they were

glanced at the screen. "It's a number from Oak

Maybe. Just

picked up. "Hello? Can

Willow looked up at Allison. "Yep, she's here with

the phone.

second she spoke, she heard a relieved sigh on

her ear-warm, a little rough around

trying to reach

could say

didn't answer any of my texts. I was going crazy. I even called Olivia and Sabrina, but they didn't know where you were swung by your office, and they told me you went to Havenbrook to see someone named

the floods in Havenbrook. I've been freaking out. Allie,

chewing on her lip. "I'm fine. My phone just... fell in the

Joshua didn't say anything. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and a little hurt. "You couldn't borrow someone's phone

only fell in last night. It hasn't even been a full day -not even twenty-four hours! How was I supposed to know you'd be blowing up my phone?