Page 39 of Tacos & Toboggans
“Try it,” he finished with a chuckle.
A sick beep came from his pocket, and he grimaced. “Is something wrong?”
He pulled his phone from his pocket and checked it, but his facial expression resembled someone who had just taken a whiff of rotten eggs. Before he spoke, he sighed heavily. “I have to do something, and you’re going to want to ask questions, but promise me you’ll wait until we sit down at the diner.”
“Do what you gotta do,” I said, so he opened his phone, stepped backward on his left leg, bounced three times fast, and then the sick beep sounded a few times again. That’s when I realized it wasn’t coming from his phone but from his leg. He slid the phone back into his pocket and motioned me forward. Suddenly, that altered gait and ‘brace’ made more sense, but since I’d promised not to ask questions, I didn’t.
When he slipped his hand into mine, I was more than a bit surprised. “For the record,” he whispered into my ear as we approached the diner. “If I stood half a chance, you’d be the first person I wanted to date.”
Rather than give me a chance to say anything, he held the door for me and followed me into the diner. “Hi, guys!” Ivy said from behind the counter. “I thought you were making cookies?”
“We just finished,” I said. “Major suggested a slice of pie, and I told him he had to try a piece of Mel’s lemon meringue.”
“I asked her what kind of jam you put on it,” Major said with a lip tilt.
“Do you think we’re monsters?” Ivy asked, clutching her fake pearls, and we all burst into giggles.
“That’s exactly what I asked!”
“Did you two go to the same comedy school?” Major asked, the question filled with sarcasm.
Ivy just grinned and motioned at the case. “I have a few pieces left. Do you want coffee with that?”
The sick beep sounded again, prompting me to make an immediate decision. “We’ll take it to go. Major worked all day, and my arm is starting to get sore.”
“Oh, of course,” Ivy said with a nod. “Let me get it ready.”
She stepped away while Major lowered his brow. “We can eat it here. I’m not tired. Does your arm hurt, or was that an excuse?”
“It doesn’t hurt, but I’d rather discuss your secrets in private, wouldn’t you?” I asked pointedly.
Before he could respond, Ivy was back with a to-go container. “Did Cameron text you that the Snack Shack was delivered?”
“He didn’t, but that’s great!”
“Snack Shack?” Major asked, glancing between us.
“Great name, right?” Ivy asked. “Jaelyn came up with it. Did you know she has a business degree?”
“I did not,” Major said, as he accepted the pie container.
“She does, and we’re about to put it to good use. Jaelyn, you should stop by the farm this weekend and work with Cameron and Stephan on what they’ll need to order to stock it. Are you up for that?”
“Oh, yeah,” I said, cringing internally because I hadn’t mentioned any of this to Major. In my defense, I had been a bit preoccupied since the meeting. All the nights we spent together, playing cards and talking, came to mind, and guilt filled me. I could have told him. Then again, he could have told me he was an amputee and not let me figure it out for myself. “I’ll text him and see what time works for him.”
“Great. Let me know how it goes.”
Major handed me the container and pulled out his wallet, but Ivy waved him away. “Consider it payment for helping her with the cookies.”
He tucked his wallet away, knowing arguing with Ivy Lund was futile, and offered her a smile. “It wasn’t a hardship.”
“Eating that pie won’t be either,” Ivy said, waving as we headed for the door.
As it closed behind us, he leaned into my ear. “Looks like I’m not the only one keeping secrets.”
With a sigh, I pulled the door open to the diner again and stepped inside, glad it was nearly closing time.
“You’re back?” Ivy asked. “Where’s Major?”
