CHAPTER TEN

Kyle—

We're an hour into the lunch rush, and word of mouth has evidently spread about my chicken chili and cornbread. And my homemade onion rings are a big hit. There's a line ten deep.

I'm glad because I know I can't be open for dinner, thanks to Melissa and Harley setting me up on that damn blind date. I mean, the girl is beautiful, but I've never been great at hitting on women, and making small talk with strangers isn't at the top of my list, either.

Sutton is helping me, and when I look over, she's reaching for her phone.

"Give me a minute, okay?" She heads toward the door.

"Where are you going? We have a line."

"I know. Isn't it awesome? I'm going to grab a couple of pictures and post a video. It'll only take a few minutes."

I roll my eyes. "Hurry."

I keep up with the orders, but also continue to have one eye out the window. Sutton takes a few selfies with the camera over her head, getting the line and food truck in the shot. When next I check on her, she's doing a video, interviewing some people in line.

After about ten minutes, she comes back inside.

"I got some great stuff. They really love your food. Word is starting to spread. I can't wait to get this posted." She's staring at her phone, her fingers moving over the screen.

"Do you have to do that now? I could use your help."

"Just one more second…" Her second takes more like sixty seconds before she finally slips her phone in her pocket.

The line doesn't die down for almost an hour, but I can't complain. We're raking in the dough—at least enough to keep the bills paid this month.

When we get a breather, Sutton slips her phone out and scans it.

"Oh, my God."

"What?" I snap.

"The video I shot? It already has a ton of views. This thing could go viral. Wouldn't that be amazing?"

"Sure, but that's like lightning striking. There's no way to control it."

"I get that, but it's still fun to hope."

Once the lunch rush is over, I start shutting things down.

"What are you doing? We're going to have a crowd tonight. I just know it," Sutton insists.

"I appreciate your enthusiasm, but I've got that date to get to."

"Oh." Her faces falls. "I forgot about that. Sully's right?"

"Yeah."

"But I did all this marketing. People will show up."

"I can't do anything about it."

"Do you want me to run it tonight?"

"Alone? No way."

"Why?"

"It's not safe. I don't want you out here by yourself. What if somebody tried to rob you?"

"You really are a glass half empty guy."

"Looking out for you doesn't mean… You know what? Just forget it."

"Do you not trust me to run it?"

"I'm sure you could. For me, it's the safety issue, that's all."

"Well, I guess it's nice to know you think I'm capable."

"Of course you're capable. Why would you think otherwise?"

She shrugs and won't look at me.

"Sutton, what's wrong?"

"You want the truth?"

"It would be nice, yeah."

"Maybe… maybe I don't like the thought of you going out on this date."

My chin pulls to the side. "Why?"

She shrugs again.

"You're living with Rafe, Sutton."

"I know who I'm living with, Kyle."

"Then I guess you have no business commenting on my dating life."

"I guess I don't."

"But it bothers you?"

"What if she's a nut-bag?

I huff a laugh. She's adorable. "A what?"

"What if she's a crazy lunatic?"

"Why would she be a crazy lunatic?"

"Maybe she's got twenty snakes at home or a tarantula. Ever think about that? What if she eats soap or chews with her mouth open? What if she keeps bees in her backyard? She might even be a hoarder." Her eyes widen. "What if she's a prepper?"

"Did you get too much sun today? Because the only one sounding like a lunatic is you."

"I'm just looking out for you. Isn't that what we do for each other?"

"Sure."

"I'm just sayin', if you need an escape from your date, call me."

I grin. "Hopefully, that won't be necessary."

"Right. But if she's got a bunch of weird piercings and starts talking about UFOs and Big Foot, text me. I'll come rescue you."

"Um, you saw her picture. She doesn't have a bunch of weird piercings."

"Because no one in the dating app world ever posts a picture that looks nothing like them."

"That's sarcasm, right? Because I really don't know what people in the dating app world do."

"Good luck. Have fun. Bye."

"Now you're pissed."

"Nope. Everything's fine. I'll close up. Go enjoy your date."

"I will."

"Good."

"Are we having a fight?"

She throws a wooden spoon at me, and I climb out of the trailer to take down the sandwich board sign and start closing up. Obviously, I'm not leaving Sutton here alone.

I spot her texting and five minutes later, Rafe pulls up to pick her up.

She climbs out of the truck, and we barely speak.

"Bye, Sutton."

"Bye," she throws over her shoulder in a hurry to climb on behind Rafe, who barely lifts his chin at me.

I stand, watching them disappear down the street.