“Right outside Trumansburg.”
Shit, taking this kid home was going to really mess with my already super late starting time at the festival, but I couldn’t just leave her here. I rubbed my hands over my head, feeling sort of desperate and wondering how bad I was fucking myself over.
“Okay, I’ll take you back. It’s probably quicker than trying to get to another town and find someone to call a tow truck for you.”
She gave me a suspicious look and I laughed. “I promise you’ll be okay.”
This time she took her stank face to another level. “Riiiight, because that isn’t what every creepy serial killer says to his victims.”
This kid was something else. I held up my hands and then nodded toward the truck. “You can check the truck, it’s full of food. I was on my way to the Wine and Beer Festival when I saw you. I promise. No dead bodies. Just a lot of stuff to make burritos.”
She perked up at the wordburritos. Typical teenager. After a second, she went to the car, got her bag, locked up and climbed into the truck. We were on the road back to Trumansburg within a couple of minutes. After a moment Riley spoke again. “Thanks so much for doing this, really. I’m sorry if it’s making you late for your job.”
I smiled, keeping my eyes on the road. “No worries, and you’re welcome.”
She looked around the truck cabin. “I’ve seen your truck at the Farmers’ Market but haven’t tried it. What kind of food is it?”
“Caribbean food in a burrito. You gotta stop and try them. You’re missing out.” I could see her nodding in my peripheral, her face very serious.
“Oh I definitely will. You totally saved my ass. My mom has told me like a million times, not to take that road, because it’s too lonely. But it’s a faster way to get to the stable. I work at a horse farm in the summers.” She stopped suddenly and pressed her palm to her forehead. “Dammit, I’m going to be late for that.”
I turned my head for a second and tried to give her a reassuring smile and not freak out about my own lateness. “I’m sure they’ll understand.”
I kept my attention on the road until Riley signaled toward a huge property with a very ornate gate up the road. “It’s the house on the right.”
When I stopped and turned to look at her she was rolling her eyes. “My parents are too much, I know.”
I smiled and extended my hand to her. “You’re home safely. Good luck with the car, okay? I have to hurry back.”
She shook my hand with a strong grip, a big smile on her face. “Thanks so much for stopping, Nesto. You’re a lifesaver and I hope you do great at the festival today. I’ll come by your truck for sure.”
She waved me off as I got back on the road to the festival, hoping this detour wouldn’t cost me everything.
chapter twenty
nesto
We were going to open almost two hours late. That was the only thing running through my mind when I jumped out of the truck and saw the whole crew eagerly waiting for me. As my feet hit the ground my mom and Minerva came rushing toward me, her face in a grimace. I waved her and the guys over, so we could start unloading the truck. It was almost eleven at this point and I was starting to wonder just how badly I’d fucked myself over this morning.
“Mamí! Can you call Tía Maritza and ask if she can bring us some more water bottles? I realized I didn’t ask Jude to pick some up and my phone is dead.”
She took her phone out of her pocket as she reached me. “Ernesto. ¿Dondé estabas, m’ijo? We’ve been waiting on you for over an hour.”
I moved to the back of the truck where Ari, Yin, and the guys were already busy unloading stuff, and noticed Jude was nowhere to be seen.
“I stopped to help this girl who had a couple of flat tires on that back road.” I shook my head as I got down to start connecting the grill to the truck’s gas line.
“You know how bad phone signal is out here. She was by herself and had no way of calling for help, so I gave her a ride back to town. That set me back like forty-five minutes. I was sostressed out not wanting to get here too late, I passed her at first. But then I felt guilty and went back.” I looked down at what I was doing before I continued talking. “I wouldn’t want someone to do that to Minerva, you know?”
My mom’s eyes immediately got that look like she was going to fawn all over me.
“That was the right thing to do, Nesto.” Yeah, except I probably fucked myself over in the process.
“I was just freaking about not being here if Mr. Sheridan stopped by.” At the mention of Mr. Sheridan my mom’s face paled, and she looked like she was going to be sick.
Fuck.
I stood up feeling like someone had punched me in the gut. “Did he come?”
