Page 34 of Jack Raider

“I’m more concerned she rated my performance. Was that a good thing or a... ‘concerned citizen’ kind of thing?”

Eloise set the plate of pancakes in front of me. “She’s gonna tell the whole town.”

“Perfect,” I said, grabbing a fork. “Let them know the new guy survived his first enema and lived to have pancakes.”

“Jack,” she said, cracking up again, “you’re the weirdest thing that’s ever happened to me.”

“Right back at you, Doc.” I took a bite and grinned. “Best Friday night and Saturday of my life, so far.”

14

Eloise

The townof Pine Creek had roughly two thousand residents. By dinner, I was convinced at least fifteen hundred of them knew Jack and I had gotten naked in my shower.

We stepped into the diner around six o’clock, and the aroma of fried chicken, fresh biscuits, and fresh-baked peach pie immediately hit me.

Mrs. Grigsby, who taught second grade and always wore a cardigan regardless of the weather, did a full double-take from her booth. Hank, the owner, lifted one thick brow from behind the counter. And Doris, our waitress and full-time town gossip, nearly dropped her tray when she spotted us.

Jack leaned close to my ear and whispered, “Why does this feel like we just walked into a courtroom and the jury’s already made up its mind?”

“Because they have,” I muttered. “Mable called someone.”

“She calledeveryone,” Jack said. “I saw a pigeon fly past the truck with a scroll tied to its leg.”

I shot him a look, but I was grinning. There was no hiding from this. Not in Pine Creek. Especially not when youreighty-two-year-old friend accidentally FaceTimed a full-frontal moment.

“Table for two?” Doris chirped a little too brightly. “Or should I grab a towel and a change of clothes?”

Jack smiled like he’d been training for this. “We’ve both dried off, thank you.”

“Oh, I know.Everyoneknows. The video quality wasn’t bad for a phone in a sink.” She winked at me. “You got yourself alooker, Eloise.”

I sat down hard in the booth. “This is so embarrassing, but I’m glad we are getting it over with. My business will be so busy, with everyone wanting to look at me to see for themselves that I still look the same.”

Jack slid in across from me, barely suppressing his laughter. “It’s fine. They’ll forget.”

“No, they won’t. This town still talks about the time Earl’s goat got into the church and chewed off Pastor Jim’s robe.”

Jack chuckled. “Tell me more about that goat. He sounds like my kind of guy.”

Doris dropped two menus on the table and whispered behind one, “Was it love, or just… steam?”

Jack leaned in and said, straight-faced, “It was spiritual.”

I kicked him under the table.

Across the room, old man Carter raised his glass at me and mouthedAtta girl.

Jack took my hand across the table, thumb rubbing slow circles over my knuckles. “For what it’s worth… I don’t regret a thing. Except maybe not putting a sock on the camera lens.”

I laughed, then groaned and hid my face. “We’re never living this down.”

“Oh, I’m thriving,” he said. “This is my origin story. I came to town, got hit with a bull’s enema, made love in the shower, andthe entire night. I’ll earn a lifetime of free pie if I play my cards right.”

Doris returned, grinning like the Cheshire Cat. “Jack, honey, Hank says dessert’s on the house tonight. You want lemon meringue, or you still feeling... vanilla lava?”

I coughed. Jack blinked.

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