Page 33 of Beachside Kisses With My Enemy

Mom used to say that food nourishes more than the stomach, and—even though it’s just an ordinary Monday and my food isn’t anything Michelin-star-worthy—I hope I’ve done that for somebody today.

I finish up with the grill and check my watch. Darn. Not quite enough time to run home and shower before my meeting in The Green Robin kitchen with Lucy and Thomas. I’ve been double and triple checking my watch all day. Once again, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about Lucy.

It’s become a terrible habit.

But ever since our interaction at home two nights ago, I keep picturing the way she looked, all lit up by the glow of the stars. She was dressed casual like always—a sweatshirt, jeans, and sneakers, her hair pulled back with a tie—but her expression was different. It wasn’t filled with rage or disdain.

No. This expression was guarded. And yet, almost wistful at times.

I can’t even put my finger on it, but it made me sad. Made me wonder if things would have been different between us if I’d never left. What would have happened if I’d stayed after my parents’ funeral. If I’d listened to her.

If I hadn’t listened to my dad years before that.

What would happen if I chose to stay now.

But I can’t even contemplate that. Dale is counting on me to come home in August to work on opening the second restaurant. My restaurant. And if Dad was here, he’d be counting on me to leave too. To not get stuck in a small life. A normal life.

He always wanted big things for me, and big things are finally happening.

Of course, I need to get my creative mojo back first. Because despite many attempts, I’m still no closer to a new recipe. So far, nothing I try has turned out right. It’s like my brain has forgotten how to be creative, if it ever was. Maybe tonight’s meeting will help with that. We’re planning to discuss and try out a few recipes for the festival, and being around other food people can sometimes motivate and inspire.

I’m just hoping my truce with Lucy holds up. Since our little chat on Saturday night, I’ve only caught glimpses of her coming and going into the restaurant from my food truck window, so haven’t had a chance to test out our tenuous agreement.

There’s a knock on my back door and I frown. My window’s locked and the sign is flipped to Closed, so it should be clear the truck is shut down for the night. I trudge toward the door and swing it open. Jordan’s standing there, a pizza box in his hand. “Hey.” He holds it up. “Have you eaten?”

Wow, that was nice of him. Or was it? I smirk. “Did my sister send you?” She said something the other day about me not having any friends in town. I told her I was busy working, and that she was the only friend I needed.

“Guilty.” Jordan has the good sense to look chagrined. “To be fair, I had to work late, and Ryder’s hanging out overnight with his grandparents, so I didn’t have anything else going on.”

I hop down from the truck and land in the grass. “Thanks for the offer, man, but I’ll need to take a rain check. I’ve got a festival subcommittee meeting in a few.”

“Ah. No problem. I’ll just see if Marilee wants to hang out.” His eyes light up at the mention of my sister. Dude is so far gone. I wonder if my sister knows. He nods toward the truck. “How are things going since our last chat?”

Guess that was only four days ago. Feels like a lifetime. “Better, I think. Your suggestion to help out on the committee is much appreciated. Seems to have gotten people warmed back up to me, so that’s good. The last few days of business have picked up. And I’ve had a lot of customers use the fifty percent-off coupons I handed out. All in all, it’s on an upward trajectory.”

Which is more than I can say for The Green Robin. I really didn’t mean to overhear Lucy’s conversation on Saturday night, and I hate that my presence has cut her profits by such a drastic amount. But I know it won’t last forever. My truck will only be here for a few months, and then any customers I’ve “stolen” will go right back to the Robin.

“That’s great, man. Super stoked for you. Told you things would work out.”

“Yeah, it’s been good.” I check my watch again. Time to go. “For real, I want that rain check.”

“You got it, man.” We fist bump before Jordan tugs on the brim of his baseball cap and walks away with his pizza.

Meanwhile, I lock up and head over to the Robin, which is dark inside. Lucy said she’d prop open the side door to the kitchen, so I walk around the side and into the white space where she and Thomas are standing side by side at the large white island, their heads bent over something.

They look entirely too cozy.

I have no right, but something in me just protests.

I clear my throat. Thomas jumps and turns, but Lucy just straightens without facing me. Wonder if she’s as annoyed at Thomas’s attention as I am. Or if she’s just taking her time in greeting me because Marilee’s call for a truce is hard for her.

Thomas holds up his hand for a high five. His hair looks shorter than it did the last time I saw him, and he’s got it gelled within an inch of its life. “Welcome to Team Foodie.”

I slap his palm—probably harder than necessary—and smile just a little when he shakes out his hand like it hurts. “I like the sound of that.” Then I saunter to the counter and stand beside Lucy, lowering my voice for her ears only. “Evening, Sunshine.”

She peeks at me, then glances down at a notebook with our food ideas scrawled in it. “Flake.”

Her tone is monotone, devoid of any emotion. What’s going on with her tonight? Another bad few days at the restaurant? But I thought her BOGO coupon idea had merit. Maybe she hasn’t started handing them out yet.

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