Chapter 14: (I’m Just a) Cheeseburger in Paradise
Contains spoilersOverview
Jo endured an embarrassing telepathic cross-talk with "Sasha" while showering, confirming their link could transmit singing and stray thoughts. Later, Jo met Georgia "Gigi" Simmons at Citrus, the new restaurant by hometown chef Iwan Ashton, where they briefly reunited with Iwan and his girlfriend Clementine "Lemon." Jo tried to probe Gigi about a possible engagement to Mitch, but Gigi deflected with nostalgia and the conversation was interrupted by courses and a gift lemon pie from Iwan. The chapter closed without resolution on Gigi's status, while Jo remained sensitive about her private connection with Sasha.
Summary
The next morning, Jo had a difficult day with mother Wyn, prompting Georgia "Gigi" Simmons to invite Jo to try Iwan Ashton’s new restaurant, Citrus. While Jo showered to get ready, a Renegade song played on Jo’s phone and Jo suddenly heard an unfamiliar vocal line, realizing it was Sasha singing through their telepathic link.
Jo addressed Sasha, and the two bantered awkwardly when Sasha realized Jo was in the shower. Their thoughts bled into each other comically as Sasha tried to suppress inappropriate imagery; Jo, mortified, told him to get out of her head. The link went quiet after the exchange, and Jo’s father briefly checked on her after hearing her talking. Jo left with residual shampoo in her hair and deleted her playlist out of embarrassment.
At Citrus, set in a renovated church with stained glass and chandeliers, Jo joined Gigi. They discussed chef Iwan Ashton’s recipes before Iwan, sunburned and cheerful, stopped by their table, congratulated Jo on her success with Willa Grey’s song, and greeted Gigi.
Clementine "Lemon," Iwan’s girlfriend, approached while adjusting a watercolor painting, and Iwan introduced her to Jo and Gigi. On hearing Jo wrote Willa Grey’s song, Clementine enthusiastically praised it and jokingly offered to fight the man who inspired it. Iwan offered to choose their dishes and comped their meal before he and Clementine hurried out to catch a flight.
Watching them leave, Gigi noted how happy Iwan seemed. Jo, suspecting that Mitch might have proposed to Gigi, asked if Gigi wanted to settle down with Mitch if he asked. Gigi avoided answering directly, straightening her silverware and recalling how she, Jo, and Mitch once pretended to tour the world as kids. Jo replied that it was lucky they were still friends despite overlapping relationships.
During the conversation, Sasha briefly surfaced in Jo’s head, teasing that Jo was meddling. The moment to press Gigi passed as appetizers and the main course arrived. The meal ended with a surprise lemon pie from Iwan and a note assuring it was not too sweet, and Jo did not return to the engagement topic.
Who Appears
- Jo (Joni Lark)
protagonist/songwriter; experiences an embarrassing telepathic exchange with Sasha and later meets Gigi at Citrus; tries to broach Gigi’s possible engagement.
- Georgia "Gigi" Simmons
Jo’s best friend; invites Jo to lunch, reminisces about childhood dreams, and deflects questions about settling down with Mitch.
- Sasha
telepathic stranger; sings along to Jo’s music in her head, banters awkwardly, briefly reappears during Jo’s lunch as Jo probes Gigi.
- Iwan Ashton
hometown chef; greets Jo and Gigi at his new restaurant, composes their meal, congratulates Jo, and departs for a flight.
- Clementine "Lemon"
Iwan’s girlfriend (new); adjusts paintings in the restaurant, praises Jo’s song, jokes about defending Jo, leaves with Iwan.
- Jo’s dad
checks on Jo after overhearing her talking in the bathroom.
- Mitch
Gigi’s boyfriend; absent but discussed regarding a possible proposal and settling down.
- Wyn
Jo’s mother; mentioned as having a bad day with dementia, prompting Gigi’s invitation.