Page 12 of Pretty Wild

My eyebrows draw up.

“Oh! It doesn’t,” she assures me. “It’s just that good.”

“Okay, I’ll try it,” I reply, hoping I’m not making a mistake. I can just read the headlines now.Reality Show Star Drinks Crack Tea in Front of Children.

No, they’ll probably tell the world I was giving it to them with a smile on my face.

“I’ll go grab it for you and give you another second to look at the menu,” Ellie says, taking off behind the counter.

I browse the menu, taking in the salad options listed, but my eyes betray me. The specials board at the front of the diner proudly boasts bacon-wrapped meatloaf as one of today’s offerings. There’s also a summer Cobb salad, which is what I should definitely order, but I can’t help but stare at the top option, written in bright-blue lettering.

“Do you need another minute?” Ellie asks, placing my sweet tea on the table.

“Well,” I start, scanning the salads to make a selection. “I had a big breakfast, so I should probably stick to a salad.”

Ellie nods in understanding. “The summer Cobb salad is pretty good. It has fresh avocado and candied pecans and cranberries on the top, but if you’re open to another suggestion, get the meatloaf. It’s famous and so good. We usually sell out and Saulnevermakes it on the weekend, but he’s filling in today. Otherwise, you’ll have to wait until Monday to get it and it’s usually gone fast.”

My vision returns to the board, where the special is posted. Bacon-wrapped meatloaf, mashed sweet potatoes, and fresh green beans, and suddenly, I find myself requesting that particular special over the salad.

Ellie grins widely. “You won’t regret it,” she informs me. “I’ll get your order put in. Let me know if the tea is okay, or if you’d prefer something else.”

Once she walks away to the kitchen, I pull out my cell phone. Usually, the first thing I’d do is check my social media pages, but that’s not what I’m going to do. In fact, I deactivated them Wednesday, following the season finale of my reality show Tuesday night.

A night I’ll never forget.

I swallow over the lump forming in my throat and take a hesitant sip of the sweet tea. I’ve heard of it, of course I have. Even a city girl like myself would recognize tea on the menu, though it’s usually unsweetened where I come from. People who live in LA and work in the industry don’t add extra sugar to anything, tea included.

But the moment the sweet, iced drink hits my tongue, it’s like an explosion of flavor. It’s like summer in a glass, and I take a long drink from the straw. “Holy shit,” I mutter, staring down at the contents of the glass.

“Right?” Ellie sings as she walks by, delivering steaming plates of food to the booth beside mine. After dropping off the plates, she pauses where I sit. “Told you. Like crack in a glass.”

“It’s delicious,” I say, preparing to take a photo of the amazing drink to post on my socials.

Then, it hits me. I’m not doing that anymore.

I’m taking a month away to collect my thoughts and to find myself. That’s where my focus needs to be, not on posting photos of the most delicious sweet tea ever brewed for my millions and millions of followers. That singular post would cause a flurry of online activity, including the trending of the popular drink and a rush of patrons to flock to the very diner I featured in my post.

A cold chill sweeps through me.

The last thing I want is to cause nice people like Ellie to have to deal with the fallout of my followers inundating the town. Sure, there might be some financial profit from their onslaught of visitors, but I’ve witnessed the dark side of it too. The online trashing of businesses, people, and everything in between. Going viral has its benefits, but you have to be ready to deal with the negatives too.

“Here ya go,” Ellie returns, her cheery smile present as she places a plate in front of me.

“Oh my God, there’s so much food,” I whisper, taking in the heaping slab of meatloaf, more than generous scoop of mashed sweet potatoes, and mountain of buttery green beans.

Ellie chuckles. “We don’t like to send anyone away hungry.”

“I guess,” I mutter, wondering how I’m going to eat even half the food on this plate. “This is more than I normally eat in a day.” Probably two days, honestly.

“Oh, honey. Stick around here for a few weeks. We’ll fatten you up.”

My eyes widen as I gape back at the server.

My shock causes her to laugh and bat her hand my way. “Oh, I don’t mean literally. Though, I’m sure we can definitely help if you’re looking to put on a few pounds. Between us and the bakery, we’d be set.”

I think about the cinnamon roll I had this morning. “Calories don’t count on the weekend.”

Ellie laughs. “You met Jillian. We went to high school together. Her treats are sinful, but thankfully, calories don’t count on the weekend.” She winks before adding, “Holler if you need anything.” She heads off to check on others, leaving me alone with my mountain of food.

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