Page 12 of That Kind of Guy

“When hell freezes over,” I called back before disappearing inside the restaurant.

“Avery,” Max’s voice stopped me in my tracks the second I stepped inside. It was busy, most tables were full, and Max had a frantic, wide-eyed look to him. “Bea called, she has a cold. I told her we’d cover it. That’s okay, right?”

I nodded, glancing out at the back of the campaign sign. What an eyesore. “Definitely. I’ll handle her tables,” I told Max, and he looked relieved.

I missed serving sometimes. The good parts at least, like keeping busy, interacting with people on vacation and locals enjoying their days, and watching the cogs of this restaurant turn.

“Table Three, order up,” the line cook called, and I used cloths to scoop the plates up before hustling them out to the table.

“Hey there,” I said to Elizabeth, one of my favorite people in this town. She sat at a table near the window by herself, chin on her palm, gazing out the window at the ocean with a gentle smile.

Elizabeth Rhodes was in her sixties and was one of the kindest, most astute people I knew. She had raised four boys, including Emmett, so took absolutely no bullshit from anyone. She had a grounding presence about her, and the second I stepped into her proximity, I felt like I didn’t have to be anyone but myself. She was one of those people who made everyone around her feel special. I couldn’t explain it.

Don’t ask me how someone like Emmett came from someone like Elizabeth. I had no clue.

She beamed up at me. “Avery, what a nice surprise.”

“I have a salmon burger with a side salad and a chickpea bowl.”

She held her hand up. “Chickpea bowl here, please.”

“The salmon burger is for me,” Emmett said at my side, slipping into his chair. He flashed me a big grin, and I stared at him blankly before turning back to Elizabeth with a pleasant smile.

“Can I get you anything else?” I asked her, ignoring her son.

She shook her head. “No, thank you.”

“I’ll have another coffee,” Emmett added.

“We’re out,” I said without looking at him.

“Oh, did you hear the news?” Elizabeth asked me. “Emmett here is running for mayor.”

I snorted, and my gaze flicked to him.

Elizabeth stood. “Excuse me a moment, I want to wash my hands before I eat.”

When she disappeared, I looked around wildly in mock confusion. “Hey, why’s it so dark in here?” I kept my voice low so only Emmett could hear me. “I didn’t know we were due for an eclipse—oh, that’s just your campaign sign blocking out the sun.”

An amused grin spread over his features.

“Isaac Anderson has been mayor a long time,” I told him.

“I’m aware,” he replied, and I saw a flash of indignation in his eyes. “Too long, don’t you think?”

“What does that mean?”

“It means that I’m tired of the problems in this town, and it’s time we had some fresh blood in city hall.” He leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table, watching me intently. “Aren’t you sick of having to throw out everything in the freezer every time your kitchen loses power?”

I paused. He had a point. We had refined our ordering so that we kept as little food on hand as we could, but it wasn’t the most efficient process. It would save me time and money if I could buy more food in bulk and store certain things longer.

The image of Isaac and his perfect little family, eating at the restaurant the other night, flashed into my head. “So, you’re going to dethrone Isaac and his perfect little family.”

“Yep,” Emmett confirmed. “I am.”

“You should probably hire someone to play your dutiful little wife,” I told him. “Maybe a couple child actors to play your perfect cyborg children. That’s the only way you’re going to win.” I looked him up and down. “No one’s going to trust the town bachelor with their tax money.”

That got a reaction. He frowned and opened his mouth to say something but shut it when Elizabeth slipped into her seat across from him.

---