Hot Pickle - J.J. Knight Page 0,75

think.”

“What can I get for you?” I ask her.

“I’ll handle it. You eat.” She takes the seat Dad pulled out for her, but Anthony moves down one to make room for me.

I reject any attempts at conversation as I tuck into all the glorious food before me.

Jason passes Camryn a plate. “Served himself first.”

“It’s fine,” Camryn says. “I know when not to get between a bodybuilder and his carb load.”

She adds a pile of olives and cheese to her plate. “How long are you all going to stay in L.A.?”

“We’re all flying out tomorrow afternoon,” Dad says. “We had a great time. Son, you looked great up there. You did us proud.”

I shrug. “I was outclassed. But you never know how the judging is going to go.”

“Nonsense. It took a lot of work to even get this far.” Dad settles back in his chair, wine glass in hand. He’s pleased, I can see it on his face. “You had a nice crowd cheering you on.”

I’m busy stuffing food in my gullet, so Camryn says,” The gym where he works out sponsored tickets so members could come see Franklin and Max compete.”

Dad turns to her. “Where is that brother of yours? He would have been welcome here tonight.”

“He took off with his friends,” she says.

“They were an enthusiastic bunch. I’m glad to see you so well supported in your new pursuit.” Dad takes another glance at my half-empty plate. “This is the wildest thing I’ve ever seen.” He pats his gut. “If I ate all that, you’d have to roll me out of here.”

The hollowness of my belly finally starts to dissipate, so I take a breath. “It sounds like I won’t be competing again until after Grammy’s big shindig. I’m first, right? From what I understand, I kick it off next week, then it’s the Austin branch, then Boulder.”

“Got it backward,” Jason says. “Anthony second, and I’m third. On the actual date of the anniversary, we will all convene in New York for the big to-do.”

“Right. Nationals are also in New York.” I turned to Camryn. “You up for that? We go to compete, and then this big family anniversary for my grandmother?”

Her eyes meet mine. I don’t know if this is too much, too fast. But I want her there. And I want her to know that.

“We’ll need to do some planning,” she says. “But I think that’ll work.”

I grab her hand and pull it to my chest. “This is going to be a fantastic summer.”

The waiter takes all our orders, and Dad’s eyes practically bug out when I order two pasta dishes.

The conversation turns to the anniversary and stories of Grammy, then we rib each other about various childhood exploits. I can tell Camryn is delighted with the whole thing. Even if it means I got a shiner, I’m glad the story is out. Having her here makes the night absolutely perfect.

Dad’s phone buzzes several times, but he ignores it.

I ask him, “You’re not even going to check that?”

“I don’t do business when I’m with my family,” he says. “An adage that will save you boys lots of trouble in your marriage if you abide by it as well.”

But five minutes later, my phone buzzes, too. Then Dad’s again.

“Maybe you should check,” Camryn says.

I flip over my phone. The missed call is our family lawyer. What would he want on a Saturday night? “Dad, it’s Ted. Look at yours.”

He picks his up. “Mine, too. What the hell does he want?” He clicks through. “What’s going on, Ted?”

While he’s talking, my phone buzzes again. This time it’s Andre, my store manager.

I click through and listen a moment, rage thundering through my body.

Dad’s eyes catch mine. His lips are pressed tight.

Then I look over at Camryn. When she realizes something is terribly wrong, fear etches her features.

“I’ll be right there,” I tell Andre and end the call.

“What’s going on?” Jason asks.

I hesitate. I know my next words are going to devastate Camryn. Looks like Dad already knows, although he won’t know who.

I hold Cam’s hand as I say it.

“A green truck has driven straight into the front glass windows of L.A. Pickle.”

34

Camryn

Oh no.

The flashing red and blue lights wash over us as I stand with the Pickle family in front of Max’s deli.

It’s Franklin’s truck. No doubt about it.

He’s not in it. No one has seen him.

The front of the truck has taken out the low border of brick and crashed through the glass windows of the main restaurant.

The power