AllFreeNovel
Share Us
As with all the town festivals, Alvin’s Burgers and Blues planned to set up a grill to serve the world-famous Blue Balls Burgers. Alvin offered to cover the stand until it was time for him to perform at the concert she’d organized for that night. She’d found three local bands willing to play under the stars on the Blue Drake pier; her dad’s group would be the headliner.
When he heard that news, Jason had sent her several texts that were basically all freakout emojis.
She sent back some chickens.
She had to admit, the rebound idea was getting more and more interesting. As an adult, Jason still had all the natural charm he’d possessed as a teenager who’d grown up in a dance studio, combined with years of experience with women. It was an incredibly tempting combination.
What if they just…talked about the possibility? What if they both went into it with eyes wide open, not expecting anything other than a temporary in-between sort of relationship?
She should see what he thought about it. She imagined the conversation. “So, Jason, since we’re both momentarily single and on the rebound, why not give it a try?” God, that sounded terribly unromantic. She tended to be pretty practical when it came to relationships, but she wasn’t calculating.
How about, “Remember those two kisses I apparently owe you? Anytime you’d like to collect, I’m available.”
Ugh. There was no need for this amount of awkwardness. This was Jason. She’d made fun of the photo of Beyoncé he had pinned to his locker. They’d teased each other over everything from her favorite pre-exam snack (peanut butter crackers) to his attempt to grow a soul patch (disastrous.) Get a grip.
Bright and early on the morning of the festival, she ran into Jason in the firehouse parking lot, where she was delivering supplies for the Alvin’s Burgers stand. He broke the news that he was on shift that night and therefore would not be playing trombone on the Blue Drake pier.
“Does being on shift include the traditional mandatory dunk tank?”
“Don’t you wish.” He grinned at her. “You dunked me twice last year. I haven’t forgotten.”
“It wasn’t just me. Didn’t you get awarded a prize for most times dunked?”
“Yes, which is why I opted out this year. If you want to dunk me, you’ll have to meet me at the pier and do it yourself.”
“You’re on,” she found herself saying. “Why don’t you come by after the concert and we’ll see what happens?”
See what happens? Not too suggestive.
Okay, pretty suggestive.
“Sounds good. I’m on shift until midnight.” If he was surprised that they sort of had a date-ish kind of arrangement, he didn’t show it.
“Midnight at the Blue Drake pier. See you then.”
He flashed her a thumbs up, and she hurried back to her car. “Walking on air,” wasn’t that the phrase? That was how she felt, as if she was floating six inches above the pavement.
Not because of Jason, probably. How could someone she’d known since high school make her feel that way? It was probably because she had a plan to win over the hiring committee. She was going to invite them all to the outdoor concert and show them just how well she could pull off a last-minute event with many moving pieces.
And then she’d meet Jason at the pier and they’d…dot dot dot.
Kendra spent the rest of the day shuttling between the Blue Drake pier, getting set up for the night, and the Main Street pedestrian zone, to bring more supplies to her father. With a clipboard in one hand, earbuds in place, phone ringing nearly constantly, she was in her damn element. She looked so official that strangers kept asking her questions about bathroom locations and raffle prizes.
Were the aldermen watching?
Her biggest mistake so far was letting Alvin be in charge of the grill. Their stand was set up smack in the middle of Main Street and had by far the longest line, thanks to her father, who chitchatted amiably with each customer. Everyone in town loved her dad for his music, his kind nature, and his mind-blowing burgers, and of course they wanted to chat with him.
She loved him too, but she was also intensely proud of him and extremely protective. If her mom was around, she could keep him on track, but she was still back in Arkansas taking care of Kendra’s grandmother as she went through chemo.
It was up to her to explain to her dad that he needed to pick up the pace if they were going to break even on this event.
She slid into the booth, which was little more than a table on sawhorses and a portable propane grill. “Pop,” she whispered in his ear. “You don’t have to chat with every single customer.”
“Well, why the heck not? Usually I’m back in the kitchen and don’t get to see no one. This is good for marketing, sweet-pea. Don’t you worry about it.”
Even though she groaned, she had to admit he had a point. The whole purpose of the booth was to build community goodwill, and what better way than having her father shine his light on everyone he met?
“Fine. Have it your way.”
