Page 108 of Book Club Confidential

They cracked up and broke apart with joy and delight.

A shadow darkened the truck’s doorstep a moment before a deep voice echoed through the space. “What the hell is this thing?” Bryce asked.

Tessa sucked in a sharp breath, and Kate made a soft squeaking sound.

Hallie gave her fiancé a terrified smile. “It’s a food truck,” she said, shyly.

“Why’s it here?”

Based on the set of his jaw, he already knew the answer to his question.

Hallie wet her lips. “You’re home early. I didn’t expect to see you for hours.”

“I have a tee time and forgot my clubs. Who does this belong to? And why is it in my driveway?”

Hallie bristled. “It’s mine. I bought it this morning, and it’s in our driveway.” She put heavy emphasis on the word our.

His eyes widened briefly, then narrowed. “You’re joking.”

“Nope.”

“This isn’t a food truck. It’s a health-code violation.” He laughed at his joke, then looked to Tessa and Kate for support.

Neither woman smiled.

“You can’t be serious,” he said. “I finally got you to quit working at the café, and you do this?” He poked his head inside the truck and scoffed, then backed up to survey the vehicle’s exterior. “This is a huge waste of your time and our money. Hallie,” he lowered his voice and stuffed his hands into his pockets. “I’m not mad. I’m just trying to understand.”

Hallie moved past her friends to stand before him on the truck steps. “It was my money, not ours. Can you just understand that I need you to support me on this?”

His expression hardened. “Is this supposed to be an act of defiance? Or are you just clinging to your old habits and reckless lifestyle? Because this—” He motioned around them. “This is not something a Haymaker does.”

Hallie’s narrow arms folded across her middle. “I’m not a Haymaker.”

“Not yet,” he said. “But Hallie, we’re getting married next weekend. The ink isn’t dry, but you are a Haymaker. And we’ve talked about this.”

Bryce made it sound as if she was his property or a head of cattle to be branded.

“No,” Hallie snapped. “You’ve talked about this. I said I was considering it, and you said not to. That wasn’t a conversation. That was you shutting me down.”

“And this is you going out and doing exactly what you wanted anyway,” he said. “So why bother asking me, if you aren’t going to listen—”

Hallie’s cheeks turned scarlet as she growled and stepped forward.

Bryce moved back, and she advanced on him, down the steps and onto the driveway.

“I didn’t ask,” she seethed, “because I am not a child. I tried to have a discussion with you about something very important to me. You don’t get to tell me what to do. I’m an adult!”

He scoffed, then laughed. “No adult I know would spend ten bucks on this thing.” His expression fell, then rearranged itself into horror. “How much was this?”

Hallie turned and marched back up the steps. “I’m leaving!”

She moved toward the driver’s seat, casting a brief look over her shoulder. “Follow me,” she said quietly to her friends.

Kate hurried toward the door. “Yep. Let’s go.”

Tessa raced along behind Kate, back to her parked car, while Bryce hollered to be heard over the roar of the truck’s engine.

He jogged along at the vehicle’s side when it began to roll, pounding a palm against the hood.