Page 11 of Hot Chicken

“You headed home soon?” Jo asks.

“Yeah, not too much longer. I needed to place an order for supplies before I left.” I also wanted to come up with the menu for the festival. It needs to be something I can mass produce quickly and have prepared servings ready to distribute. I likely will only have Jo and Charlene to help me out, and as they’re both social butterflies, I can’t count on them staying in my booth for long.

“I’ll see you in the morning, Ellie. Roger’s here. I’m meeting a few of the guys for dinner at The Wild Shrimp.”

“Oh, that sounds yummy.” It’s merely a dive bar, but I’d kill to have someone else cook and clean up for a change.

“Don’t stay too late.”

“I won’t. I need to get home and check on Pops. Have a good time, Jo.” I finish my list of inventory to order to make sure we don’t run out of any of our popular food items before heading to the backroom to grab my bag. Reaching into my pocket, I give my gratitude rock a light rub and say a silent prayer of thanks for this job. It’s served us well so far. But that prize money is calling my name.

Hopping into my beat-up Ford pickup truck, I turn the ignition and head for home. Sia belts out “Unstoppable,” and I crank up the volume, singing at the top of my lungs as if no one passing by can see how ridiculous I am.

I try to imagine life after winning that prize money. I’d have enough to secure several months rent in the tourist district. I’d even have enough to get the mobile home’s roof repaired if it isn’t terribly expensive. I beam at the thought and proceed to sing a little louder.

I’m about two or three miles from home when I notice billows of smoke erupting from the front of my truck. What the heck?Looking at my dash, I discover the car’s temperature gauge is pointed squarely at the H. It was a sweltering day, but that’s never caused this before.

Steering the car to the side of the road, I pull the toggle to unlock the hood and jump out. I carefully lift the hot, heavy metal as thick black smoke engulfs me. Spluttering as I attempt to wave the thick fumes away, I place my hands on my hips in disgust. So much for roof repairs. Bending over the engine, I laugh to myself to keep from crying. What do I actually think I’m going to find in here? I don’t know a thing about cars.

In the distance, I can hear a car pulling up behind mine and assume a local has stopped to see if they can help. For the most part, this town is like that. Lending a hand if they see one of their own is in trouble. Because you never know when your day may come. Or days, as in my case. I feel like my days of needing help are always coming.

Chapter 13

Matt

Putting my truck in park, I step out to see how I can help. I barely make it to the front of the vehicle before I recognize a shapely ass in a pair of worn denim shorts bent over the engine of the car. As if reassuring me that I do, in fact, recognize the ass in question, my dick decides to perk up.

Yeah, yeah. I know.

“Hey.”

Ellie jumps in surprise. Thank goodness she’s not tall, or she might’ve smacked her head on the hood. I thought sure she’d heard me pull up.

“What happened?”

“I don’t know. It started spewing smoke everywhere, and the temperature gauge was running hot.”

I can relate. This girl has my motor constantly running hot.

“Hmmm. I’ll be the first to admit I’m not big on car repairs. It’s a shame Jo isn’t here, huh?” I look over and find Ellie has gathered her long hair and is holding it up against her scalp to cool the back of her neck in this scorching heat. A few beads of sweat trickle down the column of her throat, and I have to inwardly chastise myself for wanting to lick them at a time like this.

“Yeah. But he had dinner plans tonight. And he rarely goes out. I really don’t want to bother him.” She looks at her watch and grimaces.

“Is there somewhere you need to be?”

“I was running later than usual tonight as it was. Now this. I just wanted to make sure Pops ate before bed. He has to wear oxygen all of the time now and gets so tired after trying to make something on his own that he no longer wants to eat it.”

“I can drive you. I’ll drop you off and come back to look at your car. If I can’t figure out what’s going on, I’ll get it towed to Jo’s. He can look at it in the morning.”

Her face falls.It sounded like a great plan to me.

“Honestly. I don’t live far. I’ll grab my bag and head home. My farm is right down the road. I can call to get the car towed once I get there.”

“You’re not walking home. It’s late, and my truck is right there.” Is she so repulsed by me that she’d rather walk several miles than get in my truck? Does she think I’d try something? “You look exhausted.”

“Thanks.”

“Ellie, you still look beautiful.”

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