To The Rescue – Cameron
Chapter fourteen
I didn’t have a job scheduled, so I headed into town to stop into Books Beans and Buns. It’d be good to catch up with Brock and maybe Jackie if he were hanging around. Not to mention, get some of that fantastic coffee.
“Yo, Cam!” Jackie called as I came into the store, the bell on the door chiming.
“What’s up, Jacks?”
“Nada. But Evelyn was in here earlier telling us all about how you’re seeing the Brew Master out at the new brewery.”
“Actually, he’s not the Brew Master—he’s the owner. Pretty sure he hired someone for that job, and his name is Lukas.”
“Whatever, dude. The point is, you and him…yeah?” He wiggled his ginger eyebrows at me.
“It’s new but I’d like it to go there.” I wasn’t even surprised that the news had already hit the rumor mill.
It’s just what happened. When you lived in a small town, you had to expect it.
Or at least this one. Although I’d lived farther away, up near Fish Springs, for a long time, and only recently moved closer to town after having picked up more and more closer jobs.
Luckily, I’d found a great fixer-upper and was slowly working on it.
“Well, congrats, man. I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks. I need some coffee, dude.”
“Brock’s not in right now, so help yourself.” He waved me off, and I headed back to the coffee and pastry bar, but while I was pouring, my phone beeped with a message.
Everett shot pics of the truck’s tire so I could get the size and brand. But it didn’t look like a normal flat, and he said he needed two of them. Why?
It didn’t matter; I needed to just move. I got on the phone and called in some favors and had the tires delivered to the brewery quickly, but they wouldn’t be able to change them, so I needed to get over there. “Hey, Jackie, you got a two-ton jack I could borrow?”
“I do, but it’s back at the house.”
“I can go get it.”
“It’s in the garage. You know the code?”
“Yeah, still have it from when we did your pool.”
“Cool. What’s going on?”
“Everett’s delivery van has flat tires.”
“Damn. Well, go help your new man, dude.”
I waved and headed over to pick up the jack.
The tires had been delivered and were sitting by the van when I arrived, so I pulled out the jack and got started before Everett even came outside.
The first thing I noticed after jacking up the rear passenger side was the big slash across the tire.
I circled the van to the front driver’s side where the other flat was, and yep, slashed. What the hell was that about?
Everett came outside and waved at me as I started loosening the lug nuts. “Thanks for coming.”
“Anytime. I mean it. Hope I was fast enough for you.” I leaned over and gave him a kiss before pulling off the tire and bouncing it out of the way. “Also, you should call the Sheriff and report this.”
“I don’t have time now, but maybe when I get back.”
“Back?”
“I have to deliver these kegs to CraftDraft out at Miller’s Point. I’m already going to be late.”
“Let me get these on then.” I put the new tire on, then switched the jack to the front to repeat the process.
As soon as I was done, Everett took off.
I was relieved I was available to help, but I probably would have left a job site to do it anyway.
Solving problems like that was one thing I was pretty good at.