Page 28 of Fall at Once

“Ha! I’ll be sure to mention that to her,” she joked as she dialed. “We’ll be okay. I’ll find a replacement as soon as possible.”

“Let me know if you need me to call around too. Thanks, Monica.”

I made my way into my office and sat at my desk. I leaned back in my chair and put my feet up. I needed time to think. I only had a month to get everything ready.

Maybe I should call Madi.

Or not.

She probably had her hands full helping Gigi. The irony was not lost on me here.

But what if she could be the one to save my ass this time?

A lot of the fundraiser was preplanned to cut costs. The timing stayed the same. People were desperate to donate for the tax write-off toward the end of the year. We had a standing reservationat Cozy Creek’s Veterans Hall, and our caterer knew when to expect our call. The only real task was to decide on a theme, activities, something to auction off, and a menu—all of which usually ended up being fall-related—and decorate the place accordingly.

I pulled a yellow ledger pad from my desk drawer and a pencil from the cup.

If it came down to it, I could do it all myself. We could have a chili cook-off or host a poker tournament. I jotted down and crossed both ideas out. Gambling was a terrible idea for a fundraiser, and no one would want to be around the crew if we’d all eaten chili. People would demand refunds for their tickets.

I wrote down ideas as they came to me.

Touch football?

A ride through town on one of the trucks with the lights and sirens blaring?

Auction off slides down the fire poles?

I tossed the pad on my desk.

I could not do this.

We had set a precedent. I had standards to uphold. The Cozy Creek Fire Brigade Fundraiser was a classy event. People dressed up, for fuck’s sake. Who was I to take that away from the town?

I pulled out my cell and called Gigi myself.

“Cole! I was just about to call you. Meet Madi at Tres Chicas,” she ordered me without preamble. “Buy her some tacos and finish convincing her she can do this. I already talked to Monica.”

Relief flooded through me. Gigi was one step ahead of me, andI was grateful. I was also intrigued by the thought of bringing Madi on board. I’d get to see her more often and on my turf. The idea of her knowing what I was all about felt good. I’d save the contemplation about why I felt this way for later.

“Where is it?” Tres Chicas was a food truck that was almost always open. The only trouble was finding it; they parked all over town according to where they determined the taco cravings would be the strongest. For example, it could often be found across from the fire station after a call. We were all shamefully addicted to their food.

Gigi and her friends tried to keep the location updated on the town’s Facebook page, but the Tres Chicas ladies were too fast for that.

“They’re at the end of the street, near the park. It’s Mommy and Me day at the playground. Madi is hangry and stressy. So far today, she’s only had toast—delicious toast, I might add—thanks for helping her out of the tree and feeding her breakfast, by the way. That Kenny is a dang menace; he’s lucky he’s so cute. Anyway, you have to hurry before they move the truck. It’s almost lunchtime at the high school, and you do not want to wait in that line. She’s leaving now! Go! Cole! Go!”

“I’m on my way.” I shoved my phone in my pocket and didn’t hesitate.

“I think I have a solution!” I hollered over my shoulder as I passed Monica’s desk at a run.

“Oh, you do?Youhave a solution? She scoffed. “You’re welcome, Cole!” she shouted to my retreating back.

“Thank you!” I yelled, grinning when she burst into loud laughter behind me.

Chapter 10

Cole

Ibooked it down the street, only stopping once I saw Madi.

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