Pit Stop by Joanne Ganci
Mia
Waving goodbye to the vivacious bombshell that is Riley, I walk over to Jack’s Diner.
Whoa. Driving by, I could see some changes, but the inside has had a complete overhaul. Jack’s looked like one of those run-down diners from the 50s that you would see in movies the last time I was in Midland. Now it looks like some sleek big city restaurant. It still has that diner feel, but now it’s classy and modern. I pull in a deep breath through my nose as the door chimes announcing my arrival. It still smells like greasy food and milkshakes. My stomach growls in approval as I make my way to the counter.
Jack’s is a Midland staple. There are countless memories from my past that took place in this diner. A nostalgic smile spreads over my face. I had my first kiss in a booth here with Sam Stevens.
I love the changes they made, but I’m happy to see the menu is still the same. And the service. Jack’s wife, Betty, is gossiping with a table of older women as she takes their orders. I settle in, knowing it’ll be a hot minute before she comes to greet me. You can always count on getting two things from Jack’s, damn good food and the latest town gossip.
As I wait, I pull my phone out to let James know what’s going on.
Mia: Hey, so my check engine light came on. I just dropped my car off at Jenkins. Why didn’t you tell me Mr. Jenkins wasn’t there anymore?
James: Hey, Mia. Mr. Jenkins retired a couple years ago.
Mia: Asshole.
Mia: I’m at Jack’s. Come pick me up.
Slipping my phone back into my purse, I grab a menu. I’m pretty sure I already know what I want, but it doesn’t hurt to look. At least that’s what I always tell myself. Even if I know I’m just going to order the same exact thing I always do, I have to look, just in case. I’m sure most people do it. We waste so much time poring over new and different options. Some are too afraid to try something new, and some just don’t like change. Then there are the people that try something new each time they sit down. I feel like Parker would do that.
Where did that come from?
That sexy, infuriating man managed to slip under my skin just as easily as he slipped into my panties. I honestly don’t know what came over me. I am never like that. I’m as non-confrontational as they come… usually. There is just something about him… I don’t even know what it is.
A voice in the back of my head that sounds a lot like my best friend Jamie shouts, “BITCH, YOU’RE HORNY! Thirsty as fuck, even. Being that pent up will give you a temper.”
Shit.The Jaminey Cricket in my head is right. I pull out my phone to text him.
Mia: GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY HEAD
I quickly swipe over to the thread between James and me, but Betty pops over to take my order before I get to read it. “How you doin’, darlin’? Welcome to Jack’s. You been here before?” Placing my phone face down in front of me, I look up at her, and she gasps. “Well, as I live and breathe. Is that you, Mia?”
“Hi, Betty. How’s it goin’?” I ask, smiling at her.
“Young lady, I haven’t seen you in years, and all you’ve got is ‘how’s it goin’?! Let me come over there and get a look at you!” She rushes back through the cutout in the long sleek bar counter, tucking her order pad into her apron on the way. I stand up in anticipation of the—oof—massive hug. For a woman in her 60s, she’s really freaking strong. She squeezes me so hard I can’t even wrap my arms around her to reciprocate the hug.
“Betty,” I choke out.
Thankfully, she releases me, laughing and patting my shoulder. “Sorry, dear. We’ve missed you around here. Are you visiting James?”
“Actually… Uh, I’m moving back for a while.”
“Oh?! That’s so exciting! And your little man, where’s he?” She pushes me to the side slightly, looking around like I was trying to hide my son from her.
“He’s with James. I had to run to the store and ended up having to take my car to Jenkins.”
“Oh, no, what’s wrong?” It doesn’t really matter that I don’t have an answer for her, because she keeps talking before I even get the chance to open my mouth. “Whatever it is, Parker will get you fixed up right quick. With James living with Rachael and them, will you be staying in your parent’s house?”
I wince at her last question, wishing she kept going , but no such luck. She stands there staring at me, waiting for my answer. “Uh, yeah. I’ll be staying there while I’m in town.”
I have to keep reminding myself that it’s only temporary. I never wanted to come back here, but I can handle it as long as I remember it’s just temporary. I can stay in the house that’s full of happy memories that make my heart constrict the second I walk in the door. Of course, I can. It’ll be fine because it’s temporary. Everything is fine. Yeah, I don’t believe myself any more than I did the first six thousand times I said it.
My denial is so strong that even Jaminey Cricket keeps his mouth shut.
“Oh, good. I guess it’s a good thing he hadn’t sold it. We’ve seen a lot of new faces in Midland the last few years. Finding a good rental would be Hell on Earth.” She fluffs up her short gray curls as she makes her way back around the counter. “What’ll it be, sugar?”
“Burger and fries. And a strawberry milkshake.” I’m a lot less enthusiastic about my choice after the conversation we just had, but I know I need to eat.
“You got it,” she says, smiling and walking away.
I hear her telling Jack all about who’s back in town and just hope that somewhere in her chatting with her husband she remembers to tell him my order. Picking up my phone, I see that I have a slew of new texts.
James: Yeah, gimme a few.
James: Shit, Alex just woke up. Your kid is just as cranky as you are after waking up.
James: I’m sending Julian.
“Betty, can I get that to go, actually?” I call over to her after looking at the timestamp of James’s texts. I don’t bother responding, because I know exactly how cranky Alex gets after nap time. There’s no way James will look at his phone right now. Alex demands every ounce of your attention when he’s in a cranky mood. Switching over to Jamie’s texts, I laugh out loud.
Jamie: NEVER! It’s so organized and neat in here, makes me feel like I have my shit together.
Jamie: I miss you already.
The past year has been insane. Jamie moved in with us after Aunt Ruth died last August. Everything fell apart after that, little by little. If it weren’t for Jamie, I don’t know that I would have been able to handle things for as long as I did. He’s been my rock. It’s one thing to lean on him for emotional support, but it got to where I would have needed to lean on him for financial support. He would have happily given me every last cent to his name, but I couldn’t do that to him. He works hard for his money, and I can’t take it from him because I couldn’t handle my shit. Instead, I tucked tail and came back to Midland Springs, like James had been begging me to since Aunt Ruth’s funeral. I hated both options, but coming here meant I’d have a bigger support system. In the end, it’s what was best for Alexander. So here I am. Twenty-eight-years-old, moving back into my dead parents’ house.
Mia: I miss you more.
We text back and forth about my drive and his day while I wait for my food. Before I know it, Betty is laying out a bag and a to-go cup in front of me. I slip my phone into my purse and dig around for my wallet. “On the house, darlin’. It’s good to have you home.”
“Are you sure?” She waves me off with a kind smile. “Thanks, Betty. Tell Jack I said thank you.”
“Of course, baby. Don’t be a stranger. He would have come out here to hug your neck himself if he weren’t swamped back there.”
I smile fondly. “It’s a blessing and a curse to have the best food in the entire county.”
We both laugh, and she says, “You don’t even know the half of it.”
“I’ll see y’all soon, I’m sure.”
“And bring the little guy next time, can’t wait to pinch those cheeks!”
Laughing, I throw her a wave over my shoulder, carrying my things outside to wait for Julian. As soon as I get through the door, I see him waving at me from his old pickup. Well, that was easier than I expected.