Page 81 of Kyle

We’re about two hours in when Brandy calls me to the front door.

“Yeah, sweetheart. What do you need?” I see there aren’t any customers at her podium.

“There’s a woman outside who wants to talk to you. She gave me this.” Brandy hands me a folder. For a split second, my heart races and my hope soars that it may be Sutton out there. But she wouldn’t be leaving a folder. I flip it open. Inside is a Five Forks Award Winner certificate and a yellow sticky note that reads,Suitable for framing. I expect to see this up on the wall in a prominent position ~ Food Truck Tina.

“She’s waiting outside?” I ask.

“Yes.”

I step through the door and see her.She greets me with a smile, and I extend my hand.

“Tina? I’m Kyle. I finally get to meet you face-to-face.” I hold up the folder. “You changed my life with this, you know?”

She grins. “I’m so happy to see all your success. It really does my heart good. I saw on your social media page you were opening a brick and mortar, and I had to see the place for myself. I’ve been meaning to interview you. Maybe you’ve got a minute for that?” She holds up her phone.

“For you, anything. In fact, come inside. Lunch is on the house.”

“First this,” she says, and turns on her phone and gets the two of us in the shot.

“I’m here today in San Jose with Kyle. Most of you may remember him as our latest Five Forks Award winner. Well, I’m happy to say Kyle has found a permanent home here in San Jose at San Pedro Square on the corner of West Santa Clara. ButKyle’sisn’t quite accurate anymore, is it?”

Then she points to the sign on the brick wall.

I stare at the new signage. “No, I suppose not.”

“Why’d you change the name?”

“I named it after my lost love—the woman I foolishly let get away.”

She gets a shot of the sign, then looks at the camera. “You heard it here, folks. The inside scoop.Sutton’s Placeis named after his lost love. Sutton, honey, if you’re out there, you’re letting a good one get away.” Then she leans to the camera and whispers, “Don’t be a fool.”

She pulls back. “So, Kyle, what’s on the menu today?”

I tell her our menu and specials, and once again she leans to the camera.

“Did you hear that, peeps? Two-dollar margaritas! I’m in heaven!”

She’s funny and bubbly, and I love her immediately.

“Come on in, darlin’. I’ll set you up right.”

She looks at the camera and fans her face. “He called me darlin’. And he’s got a beard and tattoos. Ladies, take my advice, and make a beeline down here.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Kyle—

Sunday after closing, I invite my brothers to the restaurant to help me celebrate. We push a bunch of tables together to form one long one.

One prospect scurries around the table, passing out shot glasses to everyone, and another prospect follows behind with a bottle of whiskey.

I stand at the head and lift my shot in the air. “I want to thank each and every one of you for pitching in and making this place a success. Thanks to all of you, it only took six weeks to get the place open. And you all made opening day a huge success. We’ve had a hell of a first week. I couldn’t have done it without you. Truly.”

“Yeah, even though Green scared away more people than he wrangled in,” Shane ribs.

“Hey, I did a bang-up job, shithead. You want to stand out on the street and sweet talk the girls? Go ahead. Maybe take your shirt off while you’re at it.”

“Brothers. Everyone contributed.” I focus in on Shane. “And you can have a shift next Saturday.”

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