CHAPTER
FIVE
Cade
I look out the window and sigh. I hate rainy days. I’d much rather be working. But I do admit, having a rare day off during the week, after working six days a week, is a welcome reprieve. Unfortunately, because of the rain, I can’t do anything outside, like I’d prefer. Instead, I spend a little time cleaning up my place before heading out to my two-car garage and turning on the radio. I keep my work truck parked outside, and my personal one in the garage. That leaves space for my four-wheeler and whatever project I want to tinker with.
This particular time, it’s an old dirt bike I picked up from a friend for a steal. It wasn’t running right, but I knew I could get the engine tuned up with a little work. I’ve spent the last few weeks cleaning it up and replacing a few parts, including the carburetor. It fires right up now and runs smoothly, ready to hit the trails. Now, I need to decide if I want to keep it or sell it.
Just as I start to clean up what little mess I have, my phone chimes with a text notification.
Collin
Rained out?
Me
Yep. You working?
Collin
At The Lizard today.
I glance at my watch and notice it’s near lunch.
Me
Want some company? I could bring food.
Collin
Yes to both.
Me
See you shortly.
I slip my phone into my pocket without reading his reply and go looking for my truck keys and wallet. Once I have everything, I return to the garage, climb into my truck, and back out of the driveway. It only takes a few minutes to get to town, and when I turn onto the main artery through Cooper Town, I find it alive with people. Even on a rainy, crappy September day, there’s still people out and about over the lunch hour.
I park near the bar and walk a few doors down to the pizza joint.
“Hey, Cade,” the owner, Mario, greets when I enter. “Dining in?”
“Nope, taking it to go. Collin’s at the bar, so I’m gonna eat with him,” I tell him, pulling out my wallet.
“Sounds good. Want me to run it down when it’s ready?”
“You don’t have to do that,” I reply.
He waves off my comment. “It’ll take two minutes, tops. What can I getcha?”
“Let’s do a large mega meat pie with breadsticks.”
“Marinara?”
“You know it,” I reply, grabbing my credit card.
“Salad?”
