Page 3 of Hot Chicken

“Nice to meet you, Matt. Hope to see you ’round.”

I head toward the counter next to a glass case full of various food items and feel my stomach grumble as I’m hit with the aroma of fried chicken. Living in a mountain town in North Carolina, home cooking is a staple. For the scent of these gas station offerings to cause me to salivate says something.

Bending forward, I peruse the options. There are perfectly prepared pieces of chicken, both on and off the bone, macaroni and cheese, green beans, collard greens, buttery biscuits, baked apples, and an assortment of pies. Hell, they even have banana pudding here. As my eyes travel to the back of the display area, I find I’m drooling for an entirely different reason. A set of shapely calves, thick thighs, and the hottest backside I’ve ever seen is bent over before me. This girl is leaning into the oven while her tiny cut-off shorts ride up her ass, causing my dick to twitch.

Sweet Jesus, is she on the menu?

As if on cue, she stands to her full height. She’s probably five foot five, with generous curves in all the right places. Those perky tits have to be at least a C cup, if not more. They’re perfectly proportioned to her rounded hips and trim waste. Her thick auburn hair is pulled up in a messy bun, covered with a hair net. Yet, I can’t help picturing it tumbling down her back toward that fantastic ass.

Shit. I don’t remember anyone in Candy Cane Key looking like this when I lived here.Well, maybe one girl, but she was just that. A girl. This one is all woman.

I barely finish my thought before said stunner spins to face me. While I stand here with my mouth hanging open at the beauty wielding metal tongs, I’m met with penetrating green eyes. She gives me the once over as if this happens all the time. This curvy girl has my mouth watering when it suddenly hits me.

Wait. Do these guys come here for the hot chicken or the hot chick?

Chapter 3

Ellie

Holy crap. It’s him. Matthew Hightower.

I bite the inside of my cheek and silently beg my heart to stop racing before I pass out and land face-first in the loaded mashed potatoes.Although, there are worse ways to go.

Holding my metal tongs tightly in my hand, I take in the man in front of me. Because there’s no doubt the boy I knew is all grown up. My high school crush is here in the flesh. He’s still as beautiful as ever with his big brown eyes, dark hair, high cheekbones, and chiseled jaw. But now he has dark stubble covering his once clear face and colorful tattoos peeking from the neck and arms of his T-shirt.

Matt was always in great shape. He was a star soccer player and hung out with a lot of the jocks from school. But the physique he’s sporting now makes the days of Christmas High look like child’s play.

Yes. Christmas High.Who were the founding fathers that came up with this stuff? You manage to graduate as a Christmas High Comet just to be forced to endure attending North Pole University. The damn mascot is a polar bear. No, thank you. I may not have been able to escape this town, but the upside to not being able to afford to go to college… I didn’t have to suffer that nonsense.

“Hi.” His voice cracks as if he’s parched.Well, it is hot out there.“I’ve heard a lot about Elliot’s cooking. I’m working with my brother and his construction crew, and they sent me to get the works.”

There’s a lot to decipher in that sentence. Yet the main thing that comes to mind:

He has absolutely no idea who I am.

Then again, why should he? If it weren’t for the way he and his friends treated me, I would’ve assumed he didn’t know I was alive back then.

Yet I still can’t help appreciating him in all of his glory. How is it possible that the boy of my teenage dreams is even hotter than he was back in the day? Doesn’t matter. The fantasies I once had for Matthew Hightower turned to nightmares at his callous words. I’m not the shy, self-conscious girl I used to be. I’ve grown up. I’m mature enough to know I don’t need to pine for someone who treats me with disrespect.

And my self-esteem isn’t the only thing that developed. My late growth spurt distributed my curves in a more flattering way. I’m still not the likes of the beauty queen he dated back then, but I’m fine with my appearance. And so are plenty of men who come sniffing around… and not for hot chicken. But I have no one to impress but me. And I’m perfectly happy with the way I look.

Turning to grab a couple of large cartons to pack the food for his order, I take some slow deep breaths to calm down. I’m irritated that I still find him attractive enough to make me so nervous after all of this time.

Come on, Ellie. Don’t you have any pride?

Chapter 4

Ellie

Ten years earlier

“Matthew Hightower. I have a bone to pick with you.” Jennifer’s voice is like nails on a chalkboard. She’s a rude, nasty mean girl, but her voice is cringy all on its own.

I open my locker and fish out my geometry textbook. I have no idea why I have to study this. When on earth will I ever need geometry? While these other kids all compete for college scholarships, I’ll be stuck in this holiday-themed town for the rest of my life. Tourists coming from far and wide to visit an island dedicated to all things Christmas. All I’m wishing for is a winning lottery ticket, so Pops and I can live a better life than the one we’re living now.

Okay, and maybe a date with the school’s star soccer player.

“You were supposed to call me last night after you got home from practice,” Jennifer whines.

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