Chapter 3
MAYSON “TRUCKER” CALHOUNE
Before having to leave the city, Zoom ensured I received a couple of days off, with pay to rest and prepare myself.
The first morning, an apartment building was on fire that required all hands and two other fire stations to get the burn under control.
There went my day of rest.
After I packed, I used the rest of the day for a failed nap, and a few episodes of an anime Lena wanted me to watch.
It wasn’t my thing, but I did it for her.
Maybe it was because I couldn’t stop thinking about work. My concentration was off.
I’d try watching it from beginning again at another time.
The morning I left for Albright, a light rain persisted from the night before. The temperature had plummeted unseasonably low, and I had to pull a sweater on over my graphic t-shirt. The sun was barely up, but I needed to hit the road to avoid most of the traffic.
After a quick check to ensure everything was as it should be, I climbed into my truck and started the engine.
I was barely on the road when Zoom called.
She’d wanted to be there to see me off, but I didn’t want that. It wasn’t as if I was leaving forever—the last thing I wanted was some emotional send off.
The three-hour ride ahead would be long enough without me worrying about her being sad.
I stopped a few more times that necessary. But I didn’t really care about time—I had a few days before I officially started working. Besides, I hadn’t gotten much sleep the night before and didn’t want to be too exhausted while doing the haul.
After filling up the truck and removing my sweater, I bought some snacks.
I took a moment to stretch my legs by taking a short walk, then with Pink Floyd blasting from the speakers, I sped the rest of the way to Albright—keeping my eyes out for cops.
The moment I saw the typical sign, welcoming me to the town, I slowed down to the speed limit. I also slowed down to be inquisitive—check out my surroundings without being too obvious about it.
Where the hell did they send me?
While people stared, I didn’t turn the music down. I merely rested my elbow on the window, lounged back in my seat and glanced at the GPS.
It had gone silent as the screen went black and I knew why. No one had mapped Albright yet—it was driving into a technological black hole where not even light would catch me.
Well, shit.
When I turned onto the dirt road leading toward the house, I did turn off the music and slow down. Since it was a private space, there were no speed limits posted but I knew I could hit a moose or something if I wasn’t careful.
And besides, the gravel road had my truck rocking a little from side to side over the moving and unpaved surface.
My truck rocked from side to side to accommodate the loose dirt underneath the massive tires.
It took a couple of minutes, but eventually, I emerged from the trees into a massive backyard. Slowly, I drew the truck to a stop as out of the way as I could and leaned back in my seat, wondering if I shouldn’t just turn around and speed back to my comfort zone.
Even as my fingers tightened on the steering, I tried my best to remain calm.
I tried not letting my fear of the unknown turn me into a coward.
For a second, I closed my eyes for a soothing breath then looked around again before leaning back.
I turned off the engine and unclipped my seatbelt while noticing all the lush green on that side.
On the other side was water—the lake.
There was something about fresh, clear water being heated by sunlight that calmed me.
It’d had always been a way to soothe me and I wasn’t even sure why.
As I opened the door, someone stepped from the interior of the house onto the porch, and I paused.
Large, round classes, dark brown hair, and curves that had no right being on a woman.
The jeans she wore had to have been painted on, but the top was much bigger than her body and fell just around quarter way down her thighs.
“Damn.” I managed. “I didn’t think they made them like that anymore.”
“Hello!” She waved, descending the steps.
Catching myself, I eased from the truck, closed the door and met her at the front.
“You must be Mayson.” She extended a hand. “Welcome to Albright.”
Accepting her hand in mine, I shook once and released it.
“That’s me.” I offered her a curt nod. “You can call me Trucker.”
“You used to be a truck driver?” She offered a smile.
“No—I was a firefighter in the military. They have a thing about nicknames.”
She giggled.
“It’s lovely to meet you, Trucker.” She told me, in that same voice that could make a grown man cry. “Taji Sloane. I don’t know what nickname can come from that since it already sounds like one.”
“It’s not short for anything?” I asked.
“Oh God.” Taji laughed. “No. My parents weren’t very creative people. Do you need help carrying anything inside?”
I shook my head after a glance back at my truck.
“I just have the one bag.” I told her. “I travel light.”
“Very well.”
“Is it okay to leave the truck here? I could move it somewhere else if you’d like.”
“It’ll be fine there.” She glanced around me then nodded. “Come on. If you grab your bag, I’ll show you to where you’ll be.”
“Thanks.”
Taking a moment to get my bag, I followed her up the front steps, being disappointed her top covered what had to be the most perfect ass I’d ever seen.
Even though I wasn’t in Albright for that—I was there to work and get my shit together, I wasn’t blind. I could see the body on her and the man inside me along with the wildness appreciated it.
Clearing my throat, I draped my bag over my shoulder and paused as she opened a white door and stepped aside.
“I wasn’t sure what you were into.” She told me.
“I figured a lake view would suit you. If that’s not good, I can move you to the other side of the house.
Don’t worry about the sun. The curtains are blackout curtains, and they are operated by that little blue remote on the bedside table. You can also set them on a timer too.”
She beamed proudly at me.
I fought the urge to smile at how cute that made her and turned my head toward the view.
“This is fine.” I assured her, meeting her gaze—barely.
Stepping into the room, I arched a brow.
The bed looked comfortable and the white sheets floating in the gentle breeze whispering through the window made me smile.
“This room has a bathroom attached.” Taji continued, walking in and pushing the curtains wider.
It wasn’t a view of the lake that smacked us in the face the moment I looked out the window. The lake sparkled off in the distance. If I squinted, I could see it better, but I didn’t mind. The truth was, I didn’t care what view I had.
I didn’t plan on spending much time in the room or the house, for that matter.
“Right now, it’s stocked.” I came back to reality to her saying. “If there is something missing, let me know. If you don’t like what’s there, I’m sure we can figure something out.”
I set my bag on the floor.
“They told me you’d be buying your own meals but why do that?” She shrugged when I looked at her. “I usually cook, and you’re welcomed to whatever I have in the kitchen.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“It’s no big deal.” Taji replied. “I have to eat anyway, right?”
I shrugged at her.
“It’s nice to cook for someone else other than me.
I smiled.
“You’re doing us a huge favour.” Taji added. “It’s the very least I can do. Now, wash up and come down for breakfast. Your captain told me you’re of Jamaican background?”
I blinked at her.
Zoom hadn’t told me she’d spoken with Taji.
I nodded. Knowing by the impish grin on her lips that she was up to something.
“I have a surprise for you.” Taji giggled.
“Should I be scared?” I lowered my voice.
“I don’t know. Don’t you like surprises?”
“Not really.” I admitted.
“Not even if I distract you with a cute face?” She turned her head to the side, wiggled her brow at me then stroked her chin.
I laughed.
There wasn’t another reaction for that moment.
Too cute.
“Don’t worry.” Taji offered me a thumbs up then all but bounced out of the room.
Arching a brow, I watched after her wondering what she was up to. I could tell by the mischief in her eyes. The way she’d looked at me told me, loud and clear, she’d had hatched a plan.
Should I be scared or excited?
In that moment, she reminded me of Zoom.
Shaking my head, I scoffed and opened my bag to get what I needed. Looking around the room to find the bathroom door, I glanced toward the hall again, shook my head, and locked myself into the bathroom.
Quickly, I showered, changed into a pair of black track pants and a dark blue t-shirt. I took great care in applying moisturizer on my face and any exposed skin.
According to Zoom, no one likes ashy skin. She’d then proceeded to buy skin care for Kaos and I.
I pouted about it but the rash that appeared on my cheek each time I showered was no gone—that was a relief.
When I descended the stairs into a beautiful foyer, I looked around. Taji was nowhere to be seen.
“Taji?”
Nothing.
“Taji?” I called louder.
Footsteps sounded to my right until she stuck her head into the small space.
“This way.” Taji told me, excitement filling her voice. “Come on.”
Quickly I followed and the closer we got to the dining room, the stronger the smell of ackee became. Arching a brow, I quickened my steps and found the table set.
“Ta-dah!” Taji stretched her arms above her head then waved me forward. “Cone, sit.”
“Is this the surprise?” I smiled.
She motioned like Vana White.
I smiled wider at her.
“What do you think?” She squeaked happily.
“Um—”
“Don’t like it?” Her face fell. “I thought for sure you would—”
My cheeks heated as I laughed.
I was shock because she’d gone through so much to make me an authentic Jamaica breakfast. That wasn’t an easy feat.
I wasn’t sure what to say.
“What do I think?” I managed. “I don’t—”
“You don’t have to spare my feelings.” Taji told me. “I’ve never cooked this much before. I’m a newbie, really.”
“Hmm.”
She gave me a nervous smile.
“I haven’t tasted it yet.” I admitted. “But honestly, you didn’t have to do all this. Cooking a Jamaican meal takes forever and is a lot of work.”
“Welcome to Albright!” Taji’s grin returned, somehow brighter than before. “Sit—taste—let me know how I did. I’m a little worried about the amount of black pepper it was telling me to add—if you need more, we can always add.”
“I’m sure it’s fine.”
“Fine?” Taji folded her arms and huffed. “Fine? No one wants fine.”
I laughed, softly and nodded.
“How did you learn to do this?” I eased into one of the chairs as she sat across from me.
“Would you believe YouTube?” She served me some tea.
I arched a brow.
“I’m serious.” She offered a one shoulder shrug. “You’d be surprised the things you can learn on that site. I’m curious about what else I could find on there but I’m scared to check.”
Nodding, I served some Ackee and Codfish onto my plate then added a perfectly rounded dumpling. I made a mental note to ask her how because mine always came out looking weird.
Sighing, I added a boiled green banana and a piece of yellow yam. I stared at the dumpling, remembering a childhood friend’s grandmother making them. Hers were bigger and made so tightly, they flaked dangerously while they cooked.
These were made by a daintier hand with more patience and care.
Taji watched me carefully as I took my first bite.
The familiar taste of home exploded on my tongue, and I couldn’t help smiling and nodding.
“This is delicious.”
“You’re not just saying that, right?” Taji leaned forward, pointing her fork at me. “You don’t have to spare my feelings. I can take it, I promise.”
“I’m not just saying that.” I promised. “There is one thing missing.”
“Really? What?”
“There’s this thing call annatto.” I lifted a piece of dumpling to my lips.
“I have a friend whose mother would cook for us. She’d put the pot on, pour the oil it and let it heat.
Then she’d add a few grains of annatto just to give the oil this beautiful, reddish colour.
Of course, she’d have to scrape the grains out before adding the food. ”
“YouTube never told me that.”
Laughing softly, I reached over to tap her hand.
“Not many people know about that.” I whispered like I was telling her government secrets. “This is perfect, I promise.”
My grandmother had been the only person who went out of her way like this for me.
I grew up without parents and had always felt alone until she stepped in and gave me the love and care no one else had.
Then there was Zoom and after that the guys at the station before she brought Kaos and the others into my life.
It seemed being a firefighter gave me a new life.
“This is amazing.” I added.
Taji exhaled loudly then focused on adding food to her plate.
“You would not believe the strange looks I got when I walked into the store in Malko County and began adding things to my cart.”
“I can imagine.”
“I literally had them calling their friends.” She pointed out. “By the time I got to the front, there was a group of them just staring and whispering. One asked if I was sure I knew what I was doing.”
“What did you tell them?”
“I wasn’t going to tell them I had no clue.” She scoffed.
“Good girl.”
Taji giggled.
“So, why did you agree to host me?”
“Honestly?” Taji paused to clean the corners of her mouth, then placed the pristine, white napkin back in her lap.
“No one else wanted to. They were a little wary about a stranger being in their home. But where else were you going to stay? This backwards town has nothing here. And besides, like I said, you’re doing something amazing for us. ”
I stared into her eyes until she blushed and looked away.