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“Nuh-uh. Rock, paper, scissors for the bobblehead,” one of the older women argues. She turns to me. “My grandson has been trying to get his hands on one of those. I’d pay you for it.”
“I want your stapler.”
“You plan on taking your coffee mug with you?”
“Fine. I call dibs on the Jeep.”
I hear the station door creak open behind me but I’m too busy wrangling my unruly team to check over my back.
“Whoa. Whoa. Whoa.Guys.” I step in, before this turns into some vicious version of those auction dramas you see on TV. “All right now, I’m hoping to get a new job—one that’s just two blocks away—not move overseas to Switzerland. Can I at least keep my wheels?”
“Ah, let them take the old Jeep,” a familiar voice says. “If my big brother is mayor, I’ll happily be your valet.” I turn to find Jasper grinning by the front desk, spinning the keys to his cherished sports car around his finger.
Cash, Harry, Mason and Dad crowd into the entrance behind him.
Cash comes over to clap me on the back.“Yeah, I’ll get you a chauffeur or something.” He turns up his nose. “I don’t get what all the hype is about with the whole mayor gig. I hear the pay is trash.”
“I’m retired. I could drive you around,” Dad offers.
Mason eagerly elbows his uncle out of the way. “I’ll take the chauffeur job. Since my medical career is pretty much over, I need a new stream of income.”
I give Dad an apologetic look. “Sorry, old man. Mason has better taste in music.”
Harry scoffs. “Psh. Better those two than me. I’m not driving your butt around. Not if you’re giving away my bobblehead. It’s a limited edition.” He walks over and plucks it out of Mendoza’s hands. Pouting, he cradles it to his chest like a protective mother.
Cash nudges our youngest brother to the side, his forehead crinkled with concern as he returns to his previous point. “Seriously, dude, do you know how little the salary will be if you win this thing?”
I laugh. “It’s not about the money. You know that. It’s about service.” This town means everything to me. This town held me when I lost the thing that mattered most to me.
The guys take turns giving me shit. Then they pile on me with man hugs and congratulations. In our group huddle, my phone starts blowing up. It’s Nicky.
Nicky: Oh my god!!!
Nicky:[Pink bunny dancing gif]
Nicky:[Lisa Simpson twerking gif]
Nicky: Oh my god!!!!
Nicky:[Jimmy Fallon dancing gif]
Nicky:[Happy Pikachu gif]
Nicky: Can I be on your campaign team?????
Nicky:[Unicorn shooting rainbows out of his butt gif]
Nicky:[Drew Barrymore crying happy tears gif]
Nicky: Who’s responsible for your wardrobe by the way? Because that socks and sandals thing you do sometimes is just not gonna cut it!!!
I grin. I knew my little sister would be excited but this is a bit much.
“Word gets around fast here,” I say laughing. I didn’t tell the guys beforehand. For some reason, I felt it’d jinx things for me. But there’s a good chance Mom or Grammy told the rest of the family. Those women are both deliriously giddy for me.
Mason shrugs. “This is Honey Hill. Nothing exciting ever happens around here.”
“Who’s ready to celebrate?” Jasper shouts and the guys murmur their agreement.
