Page 70 of Jesse
He nudged me gently. “I know.”
The host climbed up on the platform, mic squealing for half a second before he adjusted it.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us for Pecan Pines’ Annual Food Truck Showdown! It’s been an incredible day, and a hell of a feast, huh?”
Applause and cheering echoed through the crowd. My pulse kicked harder.
“They’ve all been tallied. The sales, votes, and judges’ feedback. Now it’s time to announce our top three winners.”
My hand found Beck’s without even thinking. I curled my fingers around his. He squeezed back.
“Third place goes to... Smokestack Wings!”
Scattered claps. The little rig with the spinning neon pasta sign got their certificate. They looked thrilled.
“Second place,” the host said, dragging it out for dramatic effect, “goes to... Brisket Delight!”
My brain blanked for a second. Second? I looked at Beck. He was blinking at the stage, then his face split into a wide grin.
“I’ll take second place,” he said, throwing his arms around me.
I caught him easily, burying my face in his neck. He smelled like sweat and smoke and citrus slaw, and I didn’t care about anything else.
“Yeah,” I said into his skin. “Second place is pretty good.”
He pulled back enough to look at me, cheeks flushed and eyes bright. “We earned it.”
I smiled. “Together.”
He leaned in and I didn’t hesitate.
I kissed him right there, on the edge of the crowd, with the sky turning pink behind us and the buzz of celebration in the air.
His mouth was warm, familiar, and tasted faintly of sugar and brisket glaze. I didn’t care who was watching.
It was the kind of kiss that burned slow and sure, like everything we’d built finally finding solid ground under our feet.
We weren’t just a fluke. We were choosing each other, again and again. When we broke apart, Beck rested his forehead against mine.
“So,” he said, voice quiet, “about that customer asking if this brisket’s going on the menu…”
“Mm?”
“I think we should do it,” he said. “Maybe even start something new.”
My heart jumped.
“You thinking food truck or restaurant?”
“Not sure yet,” he admitted. “But I know I want to build it with you.”
I swallowed past the lump in my throat. “You thinking about staying?”
Beck looked at me like it was the easiest thing in the world. “Yeah, Jesse. I’m thinking about staying.”
I kissed him again, slower this time. Second place? That was just the start.
Chapter 18
