Page 19 of Jesse
Preston gave a weak smile. “Like I’ve been hit by a truck. Twice.”
“Do you remember anything about what happened?” Cooper asked, cutting straight to the point.
Preston’s brow furrowed, and he shook his head slowly.
“I’ve been trying to piece it together since I woke up, but not much comes to mind. The guy was fast. I think he was about my height, maybe? There was something on his neck—a mark, maybe a birthmark or a smudge. It was too dark to tell,” Preston said.
I swallowed hard. Preston wouldn’t have been out there if it weren’t for me. I reached out to grip his shoulder lightly.
“You shouldn’t have been there. I’m sorry,” I told him.
His eyes widened. “Don’t. This wasn’t your fault, Beck.”
“Preston’s right,” Cooper added firmly. “We’re going to figure this out. You’ve got the full support of the Pecan Pines pack, and we’ll do everything we can to find the guy who did this.”
Preston nodded hesitantly, but guilt still flickered across his face.
Cooper turned to me. “We’ve got Jesse on the scene as an enforcer, and Beck will still be running his truck. Two trucks should give us good coverage.”
I winced. “Uh, about that,” I began awkwardly. “There’s... only one truck now. Mine’s out for repairs.”
Cooper’s eyebrows rose. “Repairs? What happened?”
I shifted under his gaze, suddenly tense.
“The freezer door broke.” I hesitated, then added, “Probably because of, uh, the body that was stuffed inside.”
Did I just cover for Jesse? Though it wasn’t exactly a lie. The truth that Jesse accidentally yanked the door off its hinges didn’t seem worth mentioning now.
Still, I couldn’t believe I’d jumped to his defense like it was second nature. My stomach twisted with a mix of confusion and frustration, but I brushed it off.
Cooper’s expression didn’t change, but something in his posture eased.
“Fair enough. You can use Jesse’s truck for now. He’ll work the festival grounds to keep an eye on things,” Cooper said.
“I can be back tomorrow if you need me,” Preston offered.
I shook my head quickly. “We’ll manage. Jesse and I already planned a modified menu.” I caught Ethan and Cooper exchanging a glance but ignored it.
I continued, “The focus should stay on the truck area, which is likely where the suspect is operating. Jesse will still work the crowd and promote while keeping watch.”
Cooper nodded. “Sounds like a solid plan. Let me know if anything changes.”
“I will.”
Preston gave me a small smile. “Keep me updated, okay? And don’t hesitate if you need me back earlier.”
I promised I would, but the knot in my stomach refused to ease.
The festival grounds were already bustling when I arrived, the smell of fried dough and barbecue smoke heavy in the air.
My head swam with thoughts of the menu Jesse and I had thrown together last night.
We didn’t exactly cook the same kind of food. My dishes were modern Southern comfort. Rich, buttery, and balanced with just the right spices.
Jesse’s style was harder to pin down: rustic, simple, more heat, less fuss. When we worked on the menu, I tried to get specific.
“What sides do you usually put with your brisket?” I asked, pen hovering over my notepad.
