Page 65 of His Curvy Distraction

It was a point of pride for me. But it wasn’t about my pride anymore. It was about the kids I was helping to serve. If I refused help from others, I was going to have to accept that I couldn’t do as much for the kids as I wanted.

And I wasn’t willing to do that.

“Thank you,” I said to Derek. “That would be really helpful.”

“You’re welcome,” Derek said.

James nodded, as though he understood how hard that had been for me, then he put his safety glasses and earplugs back on and went back to work cutting the tree into pieces.

15

Omar

I was looking forward to my date with Natalie but was not happy we needed to wait another week. When she was done with the work at the campground, she was exhausted and her ankle was sore.

If she lived alone, I might have picked up dinner and gone to see her, but she had a roommate, and that would have been awkward.

So, I had to wait.

Sunday night, I needed to get out of my house. I went for a drive on Saturday, but it didn’t take away the unsteadiness I was feeling. I needed to be around people.

Once more, I found myself walking into O’Kelley’s and seeking out Hudson.

“Evening, Omar. What can I get you?” Hudson asked when I took a seat at the bar.

“Are you always working?”

Hudson chuckles. “It just seems like it.”

I smiled. “Can I get a burger and a beer?”

“On the way.”

Hudson poured my beer, then left to put my dinner order in. I sipped my beer and looked around the bar. Groups were scattered around the room. Some played pool, others lined up at the darts boards, and many more pulled tables together and expanded their group.

I sat alone.

A few people waved or said hello, but no one approached or invited me to join them.

It hadn’t bothered me before, but the closer I got to my re-election, the more I saw how much I’d separated myself from the town. I loved MacKellar Cove, but I wasn’t really a part of it.

Maybe that would change with Natalie.

She was showing me pieces of the town I had never paid attention to before. The families, the kids, the need. Even the others close to my age, I felt more of a connection to the men on Thursday night after admitting to them that I had a thing for her.

The irony was I thought she’d ruin my chances at re-election, but she seemed to be the best thing for it. And that was before she defended me and shut down the reporter who wanted dirt.

“Here you go,” Hudson said, sliding a plate in front of me. “Need anything else?”

I shook my head and focused on my food.

“You doing okay?” Hudson asked.

“Yeah. All good.”

Hudson hesitated for a minute, watching me as I tried to keep it together.

“Actually, no. I’m wondering if I’m really what’s best for this town. Maybe someone like you should be mayor.”

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