“Between Uncle Ted, Mark, and Dede, they have it covered. Hopefully it’ll be an eye-opening experience to see Dede in action.”
“Maybe she’ll be gone when you get back.” She lifts her coffee in a toast.
“One can hope. But I’m just happy to have time off. It’s been nonstop lately.”
“I don’t think I ever asked—do you like working at the bar? Or is there another profession you wished for? You’ve been behind Cliffys’s counter for so long that I’ve never considered that you might not like it.”
I sigh. “Family business, you know how that is. It’s hard to say no without letting my uncle down. But yeah, I’ve considered changing things up.”
I debate how much I want to share. Nobody in Rocosa knows about my narrating job—not even Des. It’s not an easy topic to slip into a conversation. How does one explain that my deep, rumbly voice has readers swooning on social media? Or that the voice on the annoying rash cream commercial listing all the side effects is me?
And if Reese found out?Lord, help me.She’d laugh me out of the state.
Clearing my throat, I say, “But for now, I’ll stick with bartending. It pays the bills.”
“Hey, it’s a great profession. And it looks really cool when you spin the bottles in the air.” Her eyebrows slant upwardinto a sad expression. “So don’t talk down about it. Nothing wrong with being a bartender. Unless, well, you’re me.”
“It’s probably for the best you aren’t. You’re a great mechanic.”
“Aww, you just want a free oil change.”
“Ha. Maybe.” I smile, relieved at the change of subject.
She fiddles with her phone case. “You know, I really appreciate you driving me today.”
“It wasn’t a big deal. I had an errand in town anyway.”
“Oh? What for?”
“Groceries.”
“Like what?”
I give her a double take, not expecting the interrogation. “You know, some basics.”
“Like what?” she presses, her eyes narrowing.
My eyes dart around the city of Golden in search of an answer. A cow on a fast-food billboard flashes by us.
“Milk.” I wince at the lameness of the first word to pop into my mind.
“You can get milk at the general store if you were desperate.”
“Almond milk,” I blurt out, then clear my throat. “Yes, I need almond milk.”
Her head whips in my direction. “When did you start drinking that?”
“Recently. In my coffee.”
“Huh. I’d never pegged you for a health nut.”
“That’s me—super healthy. Gotta maintain my handsome appearance.”
She squints at me in disbelief. “To honor our truce, I’m gonna let this one slide.”
With a grumble, I focus my attention back on the road.
Bright city lights twinkle as we approach our destination,washing out the night sky and the thousands of stars we can normally see in Rocosa. We weave through holiday traffic. The old-fashioned brick buildings are landmarks of the past, remnants of old warehouses and factories from the 1800s. Now the buildings have been converted into bars, restaurants, shops, and even distilleries. Union Station’s famous sign is a beacon in the distance with the large circular clock and tagline “Travel by Train” in neon red.
