Page 75 of Kyle

Hal lowers the camera, and there’s a smattering of applause from people gathering on the sidewalk.

“Look, I’m sorry if I didn’t give you the reaction you expected. This is a little crazy, you know?” I mumble.

“No problem. You were great.”

“This is insane.” I stare at the zeros on the check.

“People will surprise you with how generous they can be,” she says. “I’ve found that out in this business.”

I put the foam check in the back of the truck and sign the documents she has.

“You should receive the payment in the next couple of days.” Amy sticks her hand out, and I shake it.

“Thanks, Amy. And thanks for doing the story on my food truck the other day. It was all you that got this ball rolling.”

“You’re welcome. I like when a story has a happy ending. Good luck, Kyle.”

I watch her sashay off, her cameraman in tow.

The sound of a motorcycle draws my attention, and Rafe backs his bike to the curb.

I sit on the step in the back door, my boots on the pavement. “What are you doing here?”

He climbs off and walks over. “I wanted to talk to you. You got a minute?”

“Yeah.” I lift a thumb to the check leaning against the counter. “Channel Five News was just here. Look what they did.”

He frowns at the board, and his eyes widen. “What the fuck? They gave you all that money? For real?”

“People saw the story they did the other day about the trouble we had at the festival. The station got a bunch of donations for me. Can you believe that?”

“What are you going to do with it all?”

I rub a hand down my jaw. “I don’t know. I haven’t had time to think about it.”

Rafe lifts a chin to it. “Guess that’s enough to start a restaurant, if that’s what you still want.”

“Yeah, probably.” I long to talk about it with Sutton. “Where’s Sutton? Why isn’t she with you?”

“Your help left town.”

“What?” I frown.

“She left this note.” He digs a folded piece of paper out of his pocket and hands it to me.

I snatch it and quickly open it, my eyes scanning over the words, a frown deepening my brow.

Rafe,

I hope you and Kyle can work out your rift. Never forget how important family is. You two were the best of brothers, and I hate if I had any part in destroying that.

I think you and I both know this relationship isn’t going anywhere serious, so I’ve left town.

I wish you all the best.

Sutton

My mouth drops open. “So, what are you doing here? Aren’t you going after her?”

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