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None of the reaction emojis were appropriate because I have too many feelings from this chapter. You’re too good!

I sit down and notice they’re all looking at me with worried expressions. “How’s he doing?” “That was brutal, tell me he’s okay,” and “Holy shit.” Are all said in rapid fire succession. The exact moment my mouth went dry. Jay is understandably terrified. Loren getting hurt seems to be his deepest fear, and even worse he’s far away and can’t take care of him right away. I do wonder what Loe is like when he’s hurt. Would he allow Jay to baby him? These two… two steps forward with the goofy sex and joking about marriage, one step back with Jay’s fear. Side note — so nice to see Seamus. Kinda love seeing him mope when we only saw things from Matt’s perspective in Boss Nanny.

mfw everyone hates me

That’s so funny, because that’s the face I make when it dips below 78°.

I really tried to hold back as everyone talked about their weather. But…. It’s 85° today, I’m wearing my sunnies, lounging in my back yard, listening to dance music circa 2009 and anticipating mangos and sticky rice for dessert. Days like these I love California. Summer is nothing but triple digit misery in this part of the state though, so I’ll get my comeuppance soon.

😍 so pretty!

Look, it’s not our fault you’ve got limited rhyming options… East Coast beast coast — it is the coast where people get ripped AF. Beast mode babyyyyyy! East Coast feast coast — ever been to a shrimp boil? Delish! East Coast yeast coast — we’ve officially crossed into weird rhyme territory. I guess this could allude to the perfection of New York bagels…?

I grew up on a really foggy stretch of the coast and love it soooo much even though it’s not the palm trees and beaches a lot of people want. I live over an hour inland now and I miss the beach. Those pictures were gorgeous! Dreaming of the next time I can read/write for a few hours by the water. West coast best coast always and forever!

Your first trip with a new SO is always a make or break situation and we can definitely see some tension here. Jay really wasn’t being fair asking Loren to quit climbing, and I don’t think that will get better without Loren telling him how important it is to him. The way it stands now with him holding back his feelings and quietly cancelling his annual climb with Dev is a recipe for resentment. I know a good story needs conflict, and this is so, so well done and realistic…. Buttttttttt you hate to see it folks. Part of me just wants that happy ending right now! Obviously I’m not an idiot the happy ending will be so much more satisfying after MrsG puts us through the wringer. At least there’s lots of cuteness in this chapter too. The two of these goofs are trying to get along and treat each other right, even though they aren’t perfect at it. Can’t wait for the next installment!

Garjah clearly has pressing business he wants Essell to attend to… in their quarters. Maybe Bouncer should give Ases the ship tour… I’m also curious what Ases looks like when he shifts, and how much it affects his personality.

HAAAA! Let us know when you get to Chapter 24… I left a comment with all my feeling for Caleb there.

I have to admire an author who is willing and able to yeet her character off a cliff on a whim. I get wayyyy too attached.

If you can’t let your freak flag fly here, then where can you? 😅

This sounds like a threat 😂

Oh stahhhhp you! (never stop i eat it up)

Whelp, if anyone wants to know what it feels like to peak, I can tell you. Because I’m FAMOUS and I got a surprise cameo in a Mrs. G story. Bwahahahaha I won’t be extra about this AT ALL.

Thank you for sharing your perspective as a professional. It’s so hard to write about mental health and abuse and treat them with the seriousness and nuance required. Your insights here are so valuable! I’ll be thinking about this for a long time.

Fuckkkkkkk what a heartbreaking chapter. I have to admit I expected some petty jealousy to provoke a fight for the sake of drama. I didn’t expect to see Loren open up, and Jay to show nothing but love. This story is so sweet and sad. Parents who would do something like that to their kid… I can only hope there’s real retribution in the after life. It’s sad that it’s so believable. I do wonder if Loe will bond with Seamus over shitty parental figures. My heart feels too much to keep commenting. Beautiful chapter as always G!

So we’re really going with the most immature pronunciation of Ases’ name, aren’t we.

I frowned over my shoulder. “Ases is my friend. He would never put me in danger.” Doesn’t Essell know you should never say never when you’re a main character?!

“Then I wouldn’t be able to ask you about it. Whatever you’re doing during the day, I don’t want to learn because I watched it online. I want you to tell me all about it.” “Technically, you’d listen to me tell it if you watched my stories.” I shake my head. “I don’t want the version that thirty-seven million other people get.” His face flushes and a small grin pulls the corner of his lips. “You’re insufferable.” “You like it.” Effing cute. I love how this little interaction totally sums up their personalities and dynamic. Jay is one of the few people who only cares about Loren off camera. And now that we are seeing how important his privacy is to him, I think that means a lot to Loren.

Why did I start this and what am I doing with my life?! As an act of community service I present this as a palate cleanser:

Look, there’s room in the movement for people with different types of weird belly buttons, but you’re right. If she isn’t showing solidarity then she really should go. Unfortunately I’m already running the “Bouncer for President” campaign over in the comments section for Cia’s story Ancalagon. I simply cannot commit to leading a revolution within PWUBB. Mayyyybe if anyone else in the comments would fess up to being in the club we could do it together. Thank goodness this site doesn’t have customizable user flair, or I’d be labeled as “in-betweenie weenie” forever more.

I’ve shared TMI and now I have regrets! But…. In for a penny, in for a pound. I’ve always called it an “innie-outie” which isn’t catchy at all. I’ll have to bring it up at the annual meeting of PWUBB (People With Unusual Belly Buttons, obvi). Karolina Kurkova is the president but to be frank, she just doesn’t understand the point of view of those of us with innie-outie BB’s. She doesn’t even have one at all! So I don’t know. More advocacy is needed around this issue.