Page 78 of Hero Mine

“Yes, this is Joy.”

“I’m Melissa Winters, coordinator for the Reddington City Food Truck Festival. We’ve had a last-minute cancellation for today’s event. Your name was passed to me by one of our regular vendors who met you a few months ago. She thought your truck might be ready by now and able to fill in.”

Joy froze, her rag suspended midair. The Reddington City Food Truck Festival was the biggest culinary event in the region, drawing thousands of visitors and significant media coverage. Getting accepted typically required months of applications and waiting lists.

“Today?” she managed. “As in, right now, today?”

Melissa laughed. “Yes, as in four hours from now. I know it’s short notice, but these spots are nearly impossible to come by. We need an answer immediately if you’re interested.”

Joy’s mind raced. She wasn’t ready. A high-profile debut with regional exposure? The prep she’d done today wasn’t enough.

But she’d be a fool to miss this opportunity.

“Can I call you back in five minutes?” Joy asked.

“Three minutes,” Melissa countered. “I have other calls to make if you’re not available.”

The line went dead.

Joy stared at her phone, heart hammering against her ribs. This was simultaneously her biggest opportunity and her most terrifying nightmare. Without thinking, she pulled up Bear’s number and hit call.

He answered on the second ring. “Morning, beautiful.”

“Bear, I just got a call from the Reddington City Food Truck Festival. They want me there. Today.”

“Holy shit.” His voice dropped an octave, the way it did when he was genuinely surprised. “That’s huge, Bug.”

“I can’t do it. I’m not ready.”

“Whoa, slow down.” The background noise on his end shifted; she could picture him stepping outside the garage for privacy. “Tell me exactly what they said.”

Joy explained the call, words tumbling out in a rush as the seconds ticked away.

“You have to do it,” Bear said when she finished. No hesitation.

“What?”

“You’ve been working toward this forever. This is your shot.”

“But I’m not ready. I don’t have enough supplies. I don’t?—”

“Joy.” His voice was steady, solid like everything else about him. “Look around that truck. That beautiful truck you designed and built with your own hands. You’ve been ready for this. You just didn’t know it was coming today.”

She glanced around at the spotless equipment, the carefully curated aesthetic, the menu she’d been tweaking for months.

“You can do this,” Bear continued. “I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.”

The knot in her chest loosened, just slightly.

“Okay,” she breathed. “Okay. I’ve got to go. I’ll let them know I’ll do it.”

“That’s my girl.”

Three minutes and sixteen seconds after the first call, Joy called Melissa back and accepted the spot. By the time she hung up with all the details, the gravity of what she’d committed to was sinking in.

She needed help.Immediately.

Joy dialed Sloane next, practically vibrating with nervous energy as she waited for her friend to pick up.