Chapter 4 #2
“I do not,” I said, feigning offense. Then I turned to Easton who was laughing at Pri’s antics. “Like I was saying, I’m just trying things out here for a bit. It’s going pretty well so far. I have a few potentially steady gigs. Ergos, the new B&B in town, wants me to park there on Friday nights.”
Pri perked up at that. “Ooh, I love that place, and it’s crazy busy! They don’t have a kitchen, so you would do good business there.”
Easton nodded at that. “My friend owns it. He’s been doing very well. It should be a good place to get your name out.”
“Yeah, it sounds promising, and I also have an invitation for the wine and beer festival in July.”
“Nice, they’re going all out for that.” He made a face. “My family’s winery is the main sponsor, and I can tell you, when they get behind something, they go big.”
Pri scowled at the mention of Easton’s folks. From what she’d said there was still a lot of bad blood there, and I was not about to touch family drama, so I steered in another direction.
“One weird thing did happen today. We were doing our cleanup after the lunch service when this woman showed up at the truck. She said she was with the city council and wanted to make sure ‘all our documents were in order.’”
I loved Pri for the face she made when I said that.
When I looked at Easton he was frowning, too, which confirmed my suspicion this lady was full of shit.
“So, this person just came to your truck and asked for ‘documents’?” he asked, making air quotes.
“Yup.”
“That’s concerning. Even if she were part of the city council, she has no right to go around harassing business owners. I wonder who it was. There are only four women on the council, and for the most part they’re too busy to be trolling local businesses.”
Pri scoffed. “Easton, you know this town is full of busybodies. She probably isn’t even on the city council.”
“Maybe. They’re usually happy to see any business drawing customers to downtown, though. Did she say her name?”
I shook my head, “No, man. I got so heated, I kind of cut her off and got back in the truck. I knew I’d lose my temper, and I didn’t need some white lady—”
I cringed realizing what I’d said.
“Sorry.”
Easton waved me off. “No worries.”
“Anyway, I didn’t need to get accused of assaulting her or some shit on my first day out, you know?”
“I hear you.” Easton paused for a second, as if something had occurred to him.
His face immediately turning cold. “If the woman was a city council member then it was either Misty Fields or Deborah Muir, and between those two I can almost guarantee it was Misty.” Pri scowled in agreement.
Easton gave her a pained expression and turned to me again.
“Deborah is too busy running the biggest architecture firm in town to go around checking on food trucks. Misty, on the other hand, works part-time at the library and spends the rest of her days trying to avoid her husband.”
“And shit-stirring,” Pri added.
“Right.” Easton put his hand under his chin as if trying to work out what she’d been doing at my truck.
“I heard she was still trying to make Tab, that’s her son, run some grilled cheese food truck.
If she’s trying to intimidate people, it’s because they’re competition for Tab.
Which is highly inappropriate.” After a pause he added, “If she bothers you again, let me know.”
Pri sighed. “That woman is such a bitch. See, this is the small-town bullshit I don’t miss. White Plains is not exactly a metropolis, but it’s too big for this kind of fuckery.”
Easton assented, his brows furrowed, “Lack of meddling townies, is certainly one of the pros of city life. That and low-maintenance fuck buddies. God, I miss anonymous, uncomplicated sex.”
Pri and I laughed at his agonized expression.
“I toast to that.” I took another sip from my drink wondering how much of a problem this lady was going to be.
“Thanks for the info, man. I’ll definitely let you know if she comes around again.
Thankfully she didn’t show up until after we were closed, so at least she didn’t start up drama in front of customers. ”
I glanced over at Pri who looked like she had something on her mind. “Okay, enough serious talk. Now, tell me about this guy Tía Nurys wants you to marry so she can get some blond grandbabies.”
I almost choked on the Beetarita. “Holy shit yo, once again, the Dominican information distribution channels put The New York Times to shame.”
She shrugged. “This is factual information.”
“My mother is ridiculous.”
Priscilla and Easton busted up at my flustered reaction.
“Look, there was this cute blond guy who came by the truck today. His name is Jude, I think he works at the library. He actually had a Dominican woman with him, Carmen, I think. She was cool. Anyway, he was very attractive and did a little flirty thing with me in Spanish.”
I laughed at how intensely Pri, Easton, and Marty were looking at me. Like they were hanging on my every word.
How boring does shit get in this town?
“I mean he’s hot, no question, but I’m not here for that. I need to get my business going, and dating is not part of the plan. So, Mamí’s going to have to wait on the blond grandkids.”
Now even Marty was laughing at me.
Pri was not giving up easily, though. “I think I know him from the gay potluck.” She turned to Easton, “You know who I’m talking about right?”
Easton raised an eyebrow and took a long drink of his bourbon.
What the fuck was that?
“I know Jude, what there is to know anyway. He’s a bit mysterious.
” He looked up and squinted at me. “He’s been in town a few years, but I haven’t heard any gossip about him.
No love triangles or falling outs, which with the gay rumor mill on steroids we have over here is quite rare, let me tell you. ”
Pri and Marty let out a heartfelt, “Word” in response to Easton’s comment.