Page 25 of Wildfire
"So far, it's great. Couldn't have picked a better spot to have my car break down."
"Is that your Mustang I saw in the shop parking lot?"
"Yup."
"Wow. Beautiful car. I bet Caleb is having a great time working on it."
"Well, he isn't working on it yet. The part had to be ordered."
"So you decided to pick up some work while stuck here? How did you find accommodations so close to the festival?"
"Chief Cole is letting me stay in his apartment."
Serena glances at Callie before smiling at me. "That's our Cole. He's always there to help people out. I honestly don't know what I'd do without him."
A pang of jealousy cuts through my gut. Is this his girlfriend? It makes sense. The mayor and the fire chief. It's like a small-town power couple thing. And she's drop-dead gorgeous now that I'm seeing her up close.
"You two work together?"
"On a lot of projects. He's got a connection to people and a way about him that makes people trust him. That's helpful when we're trying to make changes."
Maybe I misunderstood, and they are just work buddies. Come to think of it, she might be his boss since she's in charge of the town. I think it is kind of hot— a guy who can have a womanas his boss, especially one who looks like she's younger than he is.
"Sounds like a great person to work with."
"He is. Now, I need to head out to the bakery to make sure they aren't freaking out about all their preparations. Catch you two later?" She walks out the side door of the grange hall where we are practicing, and Callie puts her arm around me to lead me outside.
"Amazing singing, Renée. People are going to love you next week."
She leads me to the truck, and I put my guitar behind the seat before we pile in and drive down the road to Sam’s Grill. "Let's grab some burgers and milkshakes for dinner," she says.
We walk in together, and all eyes are on us. I'm used to being looked at in a small town, where everyone is always in everyone's business, but this feels more intense. Like I am a specimen under a microscope.
The waitress brings over some menus, and Callie waves hers away. "I already know what I want." She waits patiently for me to look things over before I order and then excuse myself to wash up. I swing open the door to the bathroom and am met with the gossiping voices of two women before I can round the corner to the toilets.
"I heard she's shacking up at Chief Cole's house. She's probably wearing those short cutoffs I saw her in the other day to worm her way into his bed."
I freeze in the small entryway, silent and out of sight.
"If I knew he was willing to take in strays, I'd have run away from home a long time ago!"
They laugh as I round the corner, arms loose at my sides, ready to fight. But when they turn from the mirror and see me, the blood leaves their faces.
"Not that it's any of your business," I look them up and down, "but nothing is going on between us, and I'm not a stray." Standing several inches taller, I step closer to intimidate them even more. "I'm just passing through town."
"Oh, um. Sorry." One eeks out before they both scurry around me and out the door.
"I bet you are," I mumble as I wash my hands. "Fucking small towns. I'm so done with this when my car's fixed."
I splash water on my face and dry it off before returning to our table. Callie was texting someone when I sat down.
"My son is checking in to see what I'm up to." She looks at me over the bridge of her reading glasses. "I'm pretty sure he's never sent a text to ask me what I'm up to."
I feel my cheeks heat up and avoid her gaze. Thankfully, a tabletop jukebox sits to my right, so I start scrolling through the music selection. "I haven't heard of any of these bands."
She takes the hint, regaling me with tidbits about the singers and bands, and helps me choose something with a bluesy groove.
When our food arrives, I hear the ringtone set for my best friend. I look at the screen and see a couple of texts from her, too.
