Page 67 of Kyle

“Go,” I tell him. “I’ve got this. Besides, it might mean some publicity for us.”

“Maybe you should talk to her. You’re better than me at this stuff.”

“It’syourtruck. Go. Hurry.”

He unties his apron and tosses it. “Fine. I hate this stuff, you know.”

I make a face, and he finally puts a grin on, then steps from the trailer.

About twenty minutes later, he comes back in, and we finish the line.

“Thanks for covering for me,” he says with a strange look on his face.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

“Nothing. News about the festival travels fast, I guess. They had heard reports about how I gave away food to those in need.” He suddenly cocks his head. “Did you post about that?”

“Who me?” I put a hand to my chest. “I may have posted a shot of the line waiting in the rain and mud.”

“She must have seen it. Apparently, it’s spread all over the internet. She wanted to interview me about the situation up there from my perspective.”

“That’s great.”

“She said they’re always on the lookout for feel-good stories to share, and what I’d done was encouraging and uplifting for a lot of people. It’ll be on the air tomorrow night.”

“Wow. This is great news. Aren’t you happy?”

“I guess.”

“Maybe it’ll help business.”

“I hope so. I need to make up the money I lost at the festival.”

Just then, TJ walks to the window. “Did you say you lost money?”

“Hey, brother. Yeah. I came out in the negative.”

“Well, that sucks.”

The line has died down, and I see Gigi behind TJ. I wave to her, and Kyle notices.

“Why don’t you go take a break?” He shoves a container of freshly made onion rings at me. “Here. Go have a chat.”

I’m not sure if he’s trying to get rid of me so he can talk MC stuff with TJ, so I accept them. As I step out of the truck, I hear TJ ask him a question.

“You tell her about yesterday?”

I turn around, and Kyle stares at me like a deer caught in the headlights.

“What about yesterday?”

“Nothing,” Kyle snaps.

TJ sticks his grinning face in the window. “He took care of that slime ball for you. The one with the photos.”

My eyes widen, and Kyle throws a spatula across the grill. “You need to learn to keep your mouth shut, asshole.”

TJ grins. “I knew you’d keep it to yourself. She deserves to know.”

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