“Obviously,” Rowan chuckled.
“Who else can say they have a 30-year old percolator that works better than any other piece of equipment they own?”
Juniper pulled out a white ceramic percolator with ditzy blue flowers painted in a chain across the top. She plugged it in, filled it with water, then filled the basket with coffee grounds.
While they waited for the coffee to finish brewing, Juniper started to perform her very thorough pre-service inventory check. Rowan slid onto the open table area and leaned forward to rest her elbows on her knees to watch Juniper.
“What’s first?”
“First, you need to get off of that. It’s where we prepare the food.”
Rowan slid right back off with a contrite look as she chuckled. “Already fucking up.”
“Cleaning supplies are underneath,” Juniper indicated to the shelves below with a head nod.
“Right.” Rowan slid her hands against her thighs as she bent down to grab a spray bottle and paper towels. She cleaned the area, replaced the supplies and turned to Juniper, who had a slow smirk creeping across her face. “What?”
Juniper cleared her throat. “You know how you said you were respectfully horny for me?”
Rowan raised an eyebrow. “Yes.”
“Well, respectfully, I am going to have a lot of fun with your eagerness to please.”
“Oh, Juniper Banks, I am your willing supplicant.” She paused in her approach as her eyes flitted around the space anxiously. “Though, I am nervous that touching you in here is somehow against the rules.”
Juniper closed the space that had narrowed between them. “Just as long as you don’t push me onto any of the food preparation areas.” She wrapped her arms around Rowan’s neck and slowly moved upwards to entwine her fingers into her hair. “Making out is definitely allowed.”
A low, drawing whistle forced both of their heads to snap to the open doors at the back of the food truck.
“You two, still?”
“Sam?!” Juniper bellowed in disbelief into the otherwisequiet morning air.
Leaning against a tree with one leg crossed over the other was Juniper’s brother Sam. He tilted his head to narrow his eyes at them with a grin, causing his long braid to fall over his shoulder and expose his fresh undercut.
“How nice of you to join us so we can watch you dance at the powwow all afternoon while we bust our asses inside here.”
Sam pushed off the tree and stalked toward the back of the truck. “Well, Juniper, I’m actually here to help too. Also,so niceto see you too. Good morning, big sister.”
Juniper rolled her eyes. “Shut the fuck up.”
“Junie, he’s right,” Rowan interjected.
Juniper shot a sharp questioning gaze toward Rowan. “How do you know?”
“I–”
“She called me last week and told me I needed to start pulling my weight and at least take half of the events with the truck. And I need to find a cousin or somebody to help out too.”
“What he said.”
“Are you serious?” Juniper asked both of them as she looked from Rowan to Sam.
“Junie, if you want, you can get phased out of the food truck. You’ve done it long enough.” Sam settled his boot against the bumper of the truck to lean forward and pour himself a cup of coffee.
Phased out? She ran the show. In fact, the show only went on because of her.
Made possible by self-sacrificing family members like you.
