Jordan put his coat and tie in his pickup cab. Then, after rolling up the sleeves of his light blue shirt, he began to rummage through the big chrome toolbox in the back. Finally, pulling out what looked like jumper cables, he headed back.
“Jordan is always prepared for anything,” Vivian told Dillon.
“Lucky for me.”
“I’m going to pull my pickup over there,” he called out as he got back into his cab. Before long, he was parked alongside her—but still in the street. He jumped out and lifted her hood.
“You’re blocking traffic,” Dillon pointed out.
“Then you get out there and direct them,” he told her. “Hopefully, this will be quick.” But it took a few minutes for him to get everything hooked up, and although traffic wasn’t too busy on this side street, there were still a couple of cars waiting to pass when he yelled at her to get back in her truck. “Hurry,” he yelled. “You know what to do?”
“Yes,” she shouted back.
“Vivian, you get into my truck and start it up for me, okay?”
“You got it.” Vivian hurried around to the driver’s side.
And with Jordan directing them, Dillon’s truck was running again a few moments later. Without turning it off, she got out and watched as Jordan removed the cables. As she thanked him, she noticed he’d gotten grease on his shirt. But before she could apologize, he was looping the cables over his arm and waving at the cars still waiting to pass.
“Thanks for your patience!” he called out. Jordan hopped back into his pickup and, with Vivian by his side, took off.
She watched as his pickup went down the street and the clogged traffic moved along. Thinking he might circle the block and return to check on her, she waited a few minutes. But after a while, she realized he was gone. He’d done his good deed, and obviously he and Vivian had more important things to attend to. Well, fine. Whatever. She didn’t need to sit around moping about it. And why shouldn’t he be involved with Vivian? After all, they had much in common. Like him, she had her own business and owned a vintage trailer, and they were connected to the same people . . . Why shouldn’t they go out together? Still, Dillon felt keenly disappointed as she drove home. She also felt slightly irritated at Jordan . . . as if he’d been stringing her along.
She chided herself for her bad feelings. She should be grateful for his assistance, not irritated. But it was unsettling to see him with Vivian like that. Had she completely misread Jordan last weekend? If he had no feelings for her, why had he been so warm and friendly and helpful? Why had he wanted to know so much about her and tried to draw her out? Had she imagined he’d wanted something more than just casual friendship? Was she really that naïve? That was the obvious answer. Based on his chilly treatment in front of the Cream Cup, not to mention his date, he had zero interest now. And she should just get over it.
But it was still disturbing. Oddly enough, it made Brandon appear that much better. Especially after he’d been the perfect gentleman today. Not that Dillon had any intentions of getting back with him. She did not. Despite Chelsea’s insinuation that they couldn’t be choosy when it came to potential male attention, Dillon didn’t feel that desperate. But she did feel confused.
CHAPTER
21
After spending the evening and following morning cleaning, waxing, and polishing her old pickup, Dillon couldn’t wait to drive it. Fortunately, the battery was working just fine now, and Dillon had agreed to meet Chelsea in town.
First on their agenda today was the Fourth of July parade. Dillon couldn’t help but smile at the small-town charm of marching bands, dance teams, old cars, homemade floats, and the exact same things she remembered from her youth.
“You should be driving your pickup in this,” Chelsea told Dillon as several old-timer trucks rolled by. “You could’ve represented the swimming program with a bunch of pool kids in the back.”
“Maybe next year,” Dillon said.
“Seriously? You think you’ll still be around by then?”
Dillon shrugged. “I kinda hope so.” She pointed to a pickup with Boy Scouts dressed like forest animals.
“Maybe we could have the pool kids dress up like fish or mermaids or something aquatic.”
“Fabulous idea.” Chelsea nodded. “I hope you’re still here next year. I’ll put you in charge.”
“Hey, there’s the twins.” Dillon waved at Emma and Chloe as they marched with a group of little majorettes, attempting to spin mini-batons and chasing them as they spun out of control. “This is all adorable.”
“Nothing has changed,” Chelsea said after she snapped several pictures of her sister on the Parks and Recreation float. “It’s like a time warp.”
As usual, the parade ended with the small fleet of fire engines sounding loud horns and sirens. “That was fun,” Dillon told Chelsea. “I’m glad you talked me into coming.” She glanced through the crowd lining both sides of Main Street. “I’m just glad I didn’t run into Brandon. And, if you don’t mind, I think I’ll take off before that happens.”
“So how did it go yesterday?” Chelsea asked as they went to the parking lot where they’d met earlier.
“Brandon took me to McLaughlin’s.”
“I’m jealous. I’ve been dying to go there ever since I moved back to town. How was it?”
“The place is absolutely gorgeous and the food is great. The whole thing went surprisingly well.”
“So, maybe you want to rethink your plans for dumping the poor guy?”
“I wouldn’t go that far, but I have to admit, he was very decent yesterday.” Dillon controlled herself from adding that he’d been much more congenial than Jordan Atwood. “But, while we’re on the topic, I’ll warn you that he plans to go to the dance tonight. So we’ll probably cross paths. Hey, maybe we can take turns dancing with him. He’s not a bad dancer actually.”
“You won’t have to twist my arm,” Chelsea said as they paused by the parking lot next to Atwood’s. “I don’t know about you, but I plan to dress up a little. Nothing fancy, but I feel like wearing a summery dress. More fun for dancing.” She nudged Dillon. “How about you?”
Dillon thought. “I’m storing most of my clothes in the barn. You know, my trailer space is pretty limited. To be honest, I don’t even own a summer dress.”
“How’s that possible?”
Dillon shrugged. “I had mostly business clothes for during the week, and jeans and casual clothes for the weekends.”
“Well, we’re still about the same size. How about if I bring you a dress?”
“Oh, I don’t want you to go to any trouble.”
“No trouble. I’ll bring it by around seven, and then we can go to town together and make a big splash. That’ll be fun.”
Dillon still wasn’t sure about the borrowed dress—was it too much for her? But Chelsea looked so hopeful. “Okay. I guess that’ll work.”
“Great. And how about the picnic today? Are you going?”
“It might be fun. How about you?”