Page 55 of Banter & Blushes

GUITARS & SANDBARS

KACI LANE

CHAPTER 1

TIFFANY

Iflip the sign to closed and shut the window on the food truck.

“Genesis, did you update our hours on socials?”

“Huh?”

Genesis and I met in college. I was studying culinary arts, and she was a self-proclaimed sixth-year senior, having changed her major more times than I can remember. She is both the best and worst thing that happened to my business.

When she ignores me for well over a minute, I turn off the radio. Genesis sings a few more lines of Kenny Chesney before turning around.

“Did you update the hours for the week on our social accounts?”

Her eyes grow big as quarters. I palm my face. “Genesis! You had one job.”

“I’m sorry.” She throws her hands in the air. “You gave me so many different times, I couldn’t keep up.”

“I wrote them down.” I point to the large note written in permanent marker on the refrigerator. “And I texted them to you.”

She winces. I sigh and reach for my phone. It takes me all of two minutes to post this week’s hours. Then I open the door to a family outside browsing the menu.

“They never close this early,” I hear one of them say.

I shake my head and approach them. “Hi, we’re working different hours this week.” I point to the sign opposite the menu. Yet another place Genesis could’venoticed the times. “Sorry for any inconvenience. The hours are now posted on our social media too. I can get you some coconut crisps for your trouble.”

“Thank you. That would be great. My mom was wanting to try them.”

An older lady smiles.

“Meet me at the window.” I smile and hurry inside, then raise the window. I hand the man three wrapped packages of coconut crisps, my popular concoction of coconut cookies with a crispy bite.

“Thank you. How much?”

“On the house.” I push back his hand holding up a twenty.

My stomach pins against the countertop as the truck jerks forward. The family stares in shock as I bounce back against the wall and the window slams shut.

“Genesis!”

“One on the dot, boss. That’s what time you said we were leaving.”

I secure the window latch and make my way to the front of the truck. She smirks from behind the wheel.

“Now you’re remembering numbers?” I plop down in the passenger seat and buckle up.

“It’s easy to remember one number, especially when the one number is one.”

“Maybe the free cookies will make up for our lack of customer service.”

Genesis says nothing as she fumbles with the radio.

“Slow down, we’re going to miss the turn.”

---