Kelsey

The drive was clearing my mind, but it was also making me miss Scott, even his stupid barking orders. I could almost hear him telling me to stop day dreaming and concentrate on the road.

At least the five-hour drive had been uneventful, with very little traffic and only a pocket of rain. I picked up the trailer, then headed back West stopping at a busy truck-stop outside of the city. There were dozens of trucks, probably all on their last routes before the holiday. But the best part was the diner. I walked in, smiling at the assortment of pies in the glass case. When was the last time I’d had homemade pie?

“Woo-wee, you lost, sweetheart?”

I looked over to see a young guy dressed in camo pants and a black sweatshirt checking me out.

“Uh no I’m not lost.”

“You drivin’ with your boyfriend.”

Really? I wasn’t in the mood. “Nope. Driving my own truck.”

I asked for a menu from the hostess hoping to grab a couple things to go. The place was crowded, and a few men had focused their attention on the jackass hitting on me since he couldn’t seem to keep his voice down.

“No way. Sweet thing like you driving a truck? Pfft, I don’t believe it.”

“Believe what you want.”

“You know, you want to get warm tonight, I’m the Lowe’s truck outside.”

If ever there was a lamer pickup line. “No thanks.” I was aware we had an audience now and just wanted him to go away.

“It’s your loss, cause’ I’ll give you a ride you’ll never forget.”

I slapped down the menu, looking the asshole in the face. “Seriously? This is how you think it’s appropriate to talk to a woman? Yes. I drive a truck. Matter of fact it’s my father’s truck since he’s in the hospital over Christmas just having survived a massive heart attack. But please, sexually harass me some more. I’m sure it would make your momma real proud to know she raised such a man with such manners.”

He simply gaped. Gape. Now there was a word.

The man closest to him at the counter swatted him with his hand. “Get on outta here, Mike, before I kick your dumb-ass.”

The dumb-ass known as Mike turned on his heel and left with big splotches of red showing on his face. I took a deep breath, turning back to my thoughts of pie.

“How about you have a seat here, girlie.”

I was about to go full on attack on the guy, before I realized it was the old man who’d shooed him away.

“No thanks. I’ll just eat in the truck.”

He patted the stool. “Come on, I’m buying. The chili is excellent, and it’s Christmas Eve. Don’t let that shit for brains spoil it.”

I smiled at his description. What the hell. It beat being lonely in the truck.

Sitting on the stool, I let the waitress fill my coffee cup and ordered the chili along with blueberry pie.

“I’m Kelsey by the way.”

He took my offered hand. “Curt. Nice to meet you.”

I dug into the pie first, because that was the best part about being an adult. Having dessert first.

“That true about your dad in the hospital, and you driving his truck?”

“Afraid so. He’s going to be okay though. He just won’t be home for Christmas.”

“Christmas is about being together, no matter where you are. Just my opinion though.”

“You’re right. It’s just been a rough week, I guess.” I thought of Scott and tried to hold back the tears. Nobody wanted a girl crying in her chili at a truck stop.

“Don’t you go crying now. Can’t go tearing that dipshit a new one, then sit down and cry. And, we’re all men here, you’d clear the place out.”

I started laughing at the vision of doing just that. “Wouldn’t want that.”

“You know how to change a tire on your truck?”

“Sure do, did it a couple days ago, in fact.”

“Good girl. Great. Looks like you may have to tell off another one.”

I turned to see Scott standing in back of me. “Tell off who? You had to tell someone off?”

Curt raised both brows. “Boyfriend?”

“Nope. Boss unfortunately.”

He slid me his card. “You ever need a new one, you let me know. You have a Merry Christmas, Kelsey. I hope your dad has a speedy recovery.”

He threw down a couple twenties, nodding to the waitress while he vacated his seat. “Hers is on me.”

“Thanks, Curt. Merry Christmas to you too.”

Scott took his seat next to me. “You know him?”

“Just met him.”

“Who did you tell off?”

“Some guy who offered me a ride, and not the kind on the road.”

I glanced over to see his jaw clench.

“What are you doing here? Did you have a route?”

“No. Heard you were taking this trip.”

Okay. Part of me was thrilled he was here, the other part wanted to shake him until he told me why.

“Gave my two weeks’ notice to my dad.”

“Guess you’ll be returning to New York then?”

The waitress took that moment to come in and ask for an order.

“Do you have chicken pot pie?” Scott asked.

“Sure do, hun. Also have beef.”

“Chicken would be great. Thanks.”

I fought my smile when he turned towards me. “Is that some sort of statement?”

“Absolutely. Turns out I’ve found myself falling for pot pie lately.”

“That really sounds weird.”

He chuckled, taking my chin in his hand. “Then how about simply. I’m falling for you, and I’m sorry about last night. You’re anything but simple, Kels. You’re so much more.”

I sucked in a breath at the intensity of both his words and his eyes. “But what about New York?”

“I’m traveling to get my stuff next week. Then I was thinking I’d visit my girlfriend down in Texas a few times until she moves back, all while hopefully starting my business.”

I wasn’t sure what to focus on first. My brain was working overtime. “In Seattle?”

“Yep.”

“And I’m the girlfriend?”

He dropped his lips to mine for a quick kiss. “I sure as hell hope so.”

“But what about - ”

“I was miserable in New York. Mostly because I didn’t want to give up. Then my roommate. He - let’s just say that was hard. But it should’ve taught me a lesson. No job is worth being that depressed over. I want to be happy. I want to try to do it with my own business, probably not in our town, but maybe closer to Seattle.”

“I want to teach in Seattle schools. But what about the long-distance thing?”

“It’s five months. You’ll come home for spring break, I’ll go down there some weekends. We can make it work.”

“You sound really committed to this.”

“That’s because I am. By the way, I think tomorrow we should tell our dads. Then we’ll plan on getting Thai food when your dad comes home on the twenty-seventh and celebrate Christmas then? Would that be okay?”

I nodded thinking Christmas really was about spending it with those you loved.

“One question though. Would you still wear suits? I mean even if it’s just in the bedroom?”

He smiled. “Every night if you wanted, naughty girl.”

“Every night, huh?”

He leaned in, whispering in my ear. “All the nights I can get.”

“Well in that case you’d better get your pot pie to go.”