Gideon smirked. “You two are weird.” He pulled his phone out. “Good thing I specialize in weird.”
No, I wasn’t going to freaking bake a pie. That was her wheelhouse. But I could make sure she had everything she ever needed to start a life with me. Including a kitchen befitting a master baker.
Unfortunately shopping for large appliances was a bit trickier. They didn’t exactly have them in the back to take home no matter what sized truck I had.
Thankfully Gideon knew everyone, and it got me an in with the supplier. We cut a few corners and bypassed the showroom slick lights and salesmen. Instead we went right to the source. The owner of the supply store managed to pull some strings and get what I needed rerouted to the store.
We backed my truck up to the loading dock and met Matt on the platform.
Gideon jumped out and extended an arm. “Thanks, man. This crazy idiot had a wild hair and I knew you were just the man to help us pull it off.”
Matt lifted his hat off his head and scratched his mostly bald head. “Gotta say this is a first for me. It’s usually a wedding present, not an engagement gift.”
I climbed up on the platform and peeked into the cardboard protection. “My girl is a pastry chef.”
“Well, that makes a little more sense. All I know is if I brought a double-wide refrigerator home, I’d be spending a lifetime riding the couch.”
“If I know my girl, that won’t be the case for me.”
“You say so.”
I held out my hand and shook Matt’s hand. “Thanks so much.”
A pallet jack and three of us managed to get it i
nto my truck.
When we got back on the road–and I bribed Gideon with a burger as big as his hand–he finally relaxed enough to lighten up. He popped a fry into his mouth. “You know this means we have to use Lucky to get it into your garage.”
“Crap.”
Gideon laughed. “Your scheme has holes. Not my fault.”
“Yeah. Well, hell.” I stabbed my display and found his number. The phone rang through the speakers of my truck.
“Yo.”
“Want to make a quick hundred?” I asked.
“Depends. Does it require clothes? And do I get baked goods?”
I don’t know what it was about Lucky, but he made me want to smash my fist into his teeth. Maybe because he reminded me of my brothers too much.
It’s for the greater good.
It’s for Veronica.
Veronica.
To make Veronica happy.
The chant evened me out. “I need to move a fridge.”
“Oh. Yeah, no problem. I still require baked goods.”
“Handy for you, Veronica made a fresh batch of chocolate croissants last night.”
“Man, you might not even have to pay me if I get all of them.”