Page 23 of Out of Place

Ellie chokes out a laugh. It’s clear she doesn’t know what to say to my comment. I don’t try to help her either.

Landon laughs and shakes his head as he walks off. I jump back in helping Dottie with customers and try to forget that the last five minutes happened.

After a few more sales, there’s finally a lull where we don’t have a single customer.

“You’re doing good today, hun,” Dottie tells me before she takes a sip of her water. I seriously do not understand how she makes small talk with every single freaking person. How exhausting.

“Thanks. It looks exhausting having to talk to everyone. How do you remember all of their names?”

She laughs. “Well, most of ’em have lived here all their lives, like me. And I’ve been doing this farmers market for almost thirty years. I see the same faces over and over again. You start to get to know people. But I like it that way. People go with who they know. They’re more likely to buy from me than to swing by Walmart and grab a carton of eggs.”

I nod. “Yeah, I guess that makes sense.”

“I saw the guys stop by with their friends.” She nods to where the group has moved near the food trucks.

“Yep. Sure did.”

“They’re nice people. Maybe you could try to be friends with them while you’re here,” she suggests.

I huff a laugh. “I don’t think they want to be friends with me.”

“You never know if you don’t try.”

We’re silent for a moment before I can’t help but ask, “What’s the deal with Ellie?”

“What do you mean?”

“Like, are her and Landon a thing?” I hate myself for asking, but it’s safer to ask my aunt than Landon. I don’t understand why he was being so nice to me if he had a girlfriend. Is he trying to play me? Is he playing her? I will ditch any and all driving lessons if that’s the case.

“I don’t think so now, but they used to be. High school sweethearts, actually. I think they ended things a few years ago and are just friends now. Poor girl wants more from him though.”

“Yeah.” I think about her constantly touching him and how she looked at him. He didn’t return any of those looks. “It did seem that way.”

“Since we’ve got a break right now, why don’t you grab some food from one of those food trucks? I hear that’s where the kids like to eat these days.”

I almost laugh but hold it back, recognizing that she’s trying to be nice. I’ve eaten at a food truck before in New York, but they’ve never been my first choice. But I guess anything is better than the boring ham sandwiches Aunt Dottie packed for us.

I thank her and offer to bring her something back, but she waves me off, telling me she’d rather eat her sandwich. Weird.

There aren’t many options here. I can go with tacos or pizza. And since I doubt anything will compare to pizza back home, I head to the taco truck. I get two spicy shrimp tacos and sit on the curb. I really don’t want to get these shorts dirty, but I’ve got to sit down for a minute, and there isn’t anywhere else available.

I’m halfway through my first taco when someone sits beside me. Can’t a girl eat a taco without being bothered?

“What’s a pretty lady like you doin’, eatin’ all alone?” I look over, half expecting it to be Landon, but it’s a man I’ve never seen before. He’s wearing a baseball hat, which I’m learning is a standard uniform for guys down here. His beard is neatly trimmed but a little longer than I typically like. His smile is nice, though. Overall, I would say he’s attractive. If we were at a party, I would probably let him dance with me, maybe even buy me a drink.

“Maybe I was waiting for you to find me.” I figured it couldn’t hurt to flirt a little. I wouldn’t want to lose my touch while I’m down here.

He chuckles. “Well, today is your lucky day. I’m Dawson.”

“Olivia.”

“Olivia,” he repeats like he’s feeling it out. “Of course, you’d have a pretty name. Are you new around here?”

“Yep. I’m helping my aunt on her farm for a little while.” This random stranger, along with anyone else in this town, doesn’t need to know I’m here for one reason only: money. I want my money so I never have to work another day in my life.

“Who’s your aunt?” he asks.

“Dottie Underwood.”