Page 25 of Midnight Ash

"Want to share a footlong?" I say after he pulls back.

"I thought you'd never ask," he says with a wink.

Since I've already secured new business and almost run out of things to sell, I decide to close the stall early.

Maybe this is what I need, a little break from reality. Pretend I'm one of the regular people, with a regular job, who doesn’t have to fight every month to keep food on the table.

"So, how's work? You've been busy, haven't you?" I ask Xander before I take a bite of the hot dog. Pigs&Things have a patio heater near their van, so we decide to stand under it and keep warm.

"Yeah, it's been crazy. I'm changing jobs in just two weeks, and..." Xander sighs. "Let's just say there are too many expectations and I don't feel I'm up for the job."

"Can't you decline the job offer?" I ask.

"Sadly, no. I'm a little stuck with this one."

I nod and give him the hotdog. He takes the other end and smears it with mustard before biting a chunk out.

"I know what you mean. I'm the same with my job. Don't get me wrong, I love working at the market, but there's so much more to running a farm. I feel like that's all I am."

Xander shakes his head.

"I bet you can be anything you want. Underneath that apron, there's a creative person. I can tell."

I feel my cheeks warm up under his gaze.

"Oh crap." I remember I never asked Nicki about her news.

"What's up?"

"I need to go back to the market and catch Nicki. She has something to tell me and she was so excited earlier. I don't want to leave her waiting. Do you mind if we walk back?"

"Sure."

We finish the hotdog in no time. Before we turn the corner to the market, Xander receives a message and has to go back to his office. I meant to ask him what he does, and it totally slipped my mind.

Nicki is just wrapping up her stuff, so I help her load her van.

"Okay, so tell me your big news."

She laughs. "The news isn't for me, silly, it’s for you."

"What?"

"Blackwood Publishing is running a competition for new authors. The winner will get their book published and a grant. You," she says, pointing her finger at me. "Are going to enter your book."

I freeze for a second. This was not what I expected her news to be. Me? A published author? Surely not.

"Um, Nicki, I'll never win something like that," I say, feeling my heart rate increasing already.

"Let's put it this way, my dear Ash. Either you enter your manuscript in the competition, or I'll enter it for you."

10

XANDER

Xander:What's your favorite Christmas song?

Ash: “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”