A loud bang sounded on the side of the truck. “Hey! Why is the window closed? It’s still lunchtime!”
I collapsed back, panting and frustrated. Aiden leaned over me, breathing heavily.
“I’m gonna kill Chuck,” he said under his breath.
“I told you. She was upset.” Mr. Cavanaugh’s gravelly voice tried to reason with my boss. “Leave her alone. She’ll open again when she’s ready.”
“The truck was rocking. That doesn’t say crying to me,” Chuck countered.
“Oh, well.” Poor Mr. Cavanaugh. He sounded flustered as he uttered those two simple words.
“I’m okay now,” I shouted. “I’ll open in just a second.”
Aiden bit my neck. “I’m not okay. I may not be able to walk properly for the rest of the day,” he whispered.
I pushed him so I could stand up. I grabbed my pole and shoved the side panel up. The truck was flooded with light.
“I could have used another minute over here,” Aiden grumbled.
“Had to be done,” I said, pushing him toward the front of the truck. “I’m trying to work. Go arrest people.”
“This conversation is not over.”
My body thrilled at his words.
When I looked out the window, Chuck was glaring and Mr. Cavanaugh looked distinctly uncomfortable.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Cavanaugh. I burned your dog. I’ll make you another one.”
“What?” Chuck’s face was getting red.
“It’ll be my hot dog. I’m not giving anything away; don’t worry.” I tossed the burned dog in the trash and rolled another one out onto the grill.
“No. You’re going to eat. Chuck, stop being an asshole,” Aiden said and walked around behind Chuck, looking remarkably normal and relaxed. Whereas I felt like I had I was just getting some tattooed on my forehead. “She’s working harder and selling more dogs than you ever have in the off months. Stop yelling at her.”
“She’s my employee. I’ll treat her any way I want,” Chuck sneered.
Aiden leaned in and took a sniff. “It’s one o’clock. You’re drunk at one o’clock?”
“That’s none of your concern! I don’t answer to you.” He turned to me. “You’re fired! I don’t need this shit.”
I stood stunned. I needed this job. It was literally the only job available in Bar Harbor during the off months. “I’m sorry, sir. He didn’t mean anything. I can pay for Mr. Cavanaugh’s lunch.” I shoved my hand in my hoodie pocket and pulled out a five-dollar bill. “See? I’ll pay for it.”
“I said get out!”
“Chuck, don’t take it out on her because you’re pissed at me,” Aiden argued.
I turned off the grill, picked up my water bottle, and scanned the truck. Nothing here was mine. I pulled the key from my pocket, climbed out of the truck and handed it back to Chuck. “Thank you for the opportunity.”
Aiden’s grumble echoed in my head.
I walked numbly toward my car. What was I going to do?
“Katie, wait.” Aiden grabbed my arm. “Please, wait. Let Pops and me take you to lunch. We’ll figure something out.”
I shook my head. “I’m not hungry.” Mr. Cavanaugh looked so concerned, I kissed his cheek. “Thank you for coming to see me, for saying what you did. It means the world to me.”
“Katie, I know I’ve behaved horribly, but Nellie—no, it’s not just Nellie. It’s me. I want to be a part of your life, if I can. I want you to think of me like family. I know Nellie would have wanted that.”
