Page 20 of Rowdy St. Nick

“Okay, so, I’m on the shoulder talking to Lucas on my Bluetooth. He says he can get me a tow, but I’m still in the middle of nowhere.”

“You couldn’t call someone?” Dad asks.

“Not really. Most of the Uber drivers aren’t working in that area on Friday night. Plus, they’re not willing to come out when they’re about to get busy in downtown Heartsville. Everyone else I know was at work too.”

“Of course they were.” Jordan says and shakes his head.

“Then my phone cut out. I couldn’t get the service back.”

“You didn’t walk all the way down to work, did you?” Mom is still worried.

“No, she was saved by a cowboy!” Lucas can’t help himself.

“You were?” Mom’s eyes are wide.

“Yeah, okay, I was rescued by a cowboy. I started walking, and he saw me while he was on his horse. He offered me a ride back to the ranch where he works so I could use their land line.”

“No fucking way. You got onto a horse?” Jordan is downright scandalized.

“I did,” I continue the story. “He gave me a ride back, tipped his hat to me, and then I went and used the land line, ate a sandwich, and Allie picked me up.”

“So, you just went to work after that and…. did what you do?” Jordan asked.

“Yep. That’s it. That’s the story. Now gimme my keys, Lucas.”

“Fine, fine. Here you go. Take them.”

I put the keys in my pocket, and Mom goes on serving the roast. For them, this is like early dinner, and they’ll probably have something light later. For me, it’s lunch, and I probably won’t get a chance to eat again until like 4am.

Mom sits down and looks over at me, “So are you seeing this man again?”

“Mom!”

“What? You never go out on dates, only thosebookings,” she prods.

“You mean my job?”

“Yes, if you want to call it that.”

“Well, they’re the ones who pay me,” I shoot back.

She takes a bit of the roast, and we all take that as a cue to dig in as well. Mom’s roast is totally worth the interrogation. After a moment, Lucas starts in again where Mom left off.

“You never answered Mom.”

“Fine, yes, he’s taking me out to dinner tomorrow night,” I admit.

“Oh really now?”

“Yes, really.” I look down, hoping she will drop this.

“Where’s he taking you?”

“I don’t know yet.”

“Is he picking you up?”

“I think so. I didn’t ask,” I answer with as short and to the point answers as I can.

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