Page 110 of Wicked Pickle
“Nice. I’ll check in with you tomorrow?”
“Yeah, definitely.”
Mina collects her things and hurries out the door.
Half an hour. I think I won the boss lottery.
But now I’m alone with my thoughts. I haven’t looked at my phone all morning, afraid of being thought of as a stereotypical, social media-addicted Gen Z. I pull it out.
Jenna has texted asking if I want to study with her for our racism class. I respond with a yes.
Friends are hard to come by. I shouldn’t let one go easily. Jenna is good. But Bailey is always going to be involved with the Pickles.
I don’t bear any illusion that her marrying into the family means I might ever run into Diesel again. He was clearly determined to avoid them all.
No. He’s gone, gone, gone.
An Insta notification pops up, so I click through.
It’s a message request.
When I see who it’s from, I grip my phone. Greta Packwood-Jones.
That’s Diesel’s sister. Her son was the ring bearer at the wedding.
My finger trembles as I click on it.
Greta: Symphony, I tracked you down from the wedding photos. I’m hoping you can help me find Dean. Diesel. I need him.
My chest tightens. Is something wrong?
Me: I haven’t talked to him since everything blew up.
I almost say more. Tell her they were going to re-enlist. But I hesitate. What if this is a ploy by the Pickles to find them again?
Within seconds, a message buzzes through.
Greta: I haven’t heard from him since the wedding! I’m in a tough spot. I came to their bar, but it’s boarded up! When did that happen?
She’s in Florida?
Me: I thought you lived in Jersey.
Greta: I flew down. I thought they’d be here. Everyone said they were here. But they don’t respond to calls or texts.
I tap the top of the table anxiously. I don’t know what to tell her. That her dad and uncle showed up and pissed off her brothers?
That Merrick and Diesel are probably already back in the Army?
Me: The bar got shut down.
Greta: Shit. Shit. Shit!
I shouldn’t get involved. I have nothing to do with the Pickles anymore.
Me: Bailey and Rhett are back from their honeymoon. They can help.
Greta: I don’t want them! Only my brothers will understand what I’m going through.
