Page 49 of Jesse
"Maybe," I replied, forcing a smile.
Jesse chuckled and set the bag on the counter. "Oh, guess what?" he said. "That group chat you showed me? It’s a goldmine. Did you know there was almost a fight yesterday between the dumpling truck and the taco truck?"
I raised an eyebrow, grateful for the distraction. "What, over who gets the most likes on social media?"
"Close. Apparently, someone borrowed propane tanks without asking, and when they tried to get them back, it turned into a shouting match. Pretty sure someone threw a dumpling."
I snorted, shaking my head. "Sounds about right."
Jesse grinned, scrolling on his phone. "Oh, and check this out. The festival website has this whole review section. It shows which dishes are the most popular from each truck."
That caught my attention, tugging me out of my thoughts. "Really? What does it say about ours?"
Jesse’s chest puffed up slightly. "Brisket. Fan favorite, hands down."
I froze, then snatched the phone from his hand. "No way. Our burger and fries have been selling like crazy. I’d bet anything they’re the top sellers."
"Nope," Jesse said, crossing his arms and looking thoroughly amused. "Check for yourself."
I skimmed the page, and sure enough, there it was: Jesse’s brisket, ranked as the most-loved dish from our truck. A review even popped up: ‘Came for the burger, stayed for the brisket.’
"You’ve got to be kidding me," I muttered.
Jesse leaned in, a smug grin spreading across his face. "Guess we know whose dish people actually come back for."
"Those reviews are random," I argued. "They only show the ones people write in. What about the customers who just rate the food? Ever think they might prefer the burger but don’t bother leaving comments?"
Jesse’s grin widened. “Someone sounds like a sore loser to me."
I narrowed my eyes at him, but the spark in his gaze made it hard to stay annoyed.
"Don’t worry, I’m sure your burger will have its moment in the finals," Jesse added, his tone shifting to something more serious. "That’s where it counts, right?"
His words hit harder than I expected, reminding me of the stakes.
It wasn’t just about the competition but everything surrounding it. I hesitated as the earlier sensation of being watched crept back into my mind.
"Jesse, when I was out?—"
He tilted his head, looking at me more seriously. "What’s wrong?"
I opened my mouth to tell him, but before I could, a sharp knock on the door interrupted us. Jesse frowned, his gaze flicking to the door, then back at me.
"Hold that thought."
He moved toward the door, and my chest clenched as I fought down the unease.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, his tone edging on rude.
Standing in the doorway was Ethan, carrying a folder and a faintly amused expression.
“Good morning to you too, Jesse," he replied, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. "I wanted to congratulate you on making it to the next round."
Jesse crossed his arms, clearly unimpressed. "Yeah? And what are you really doing here?"
Ethan held up the folder, giving it a little shake. "Colton wanted me to check in with you about your work schedule. He figures you’re still off until the festival and this case is done."
Jesse groaned. “Couldn’t you have just called?”
