Truth or Darren by D. J. Jamison

Author:D. J. Jamison [Jamison, D. J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Gay / Lesbian / LGBT
Published: 2021-12-31T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 17

LINC

I tracked down Elmer at the diner a few hours later, where he was enjoying a heart-attack on a plate and a cup of coffee with Tom Moore and Duke Lattimer. Tom and Duke were both fair board members, so I didn’t know if it was a working lunch or if they were just friends. Small towns, I thought wryly. But the thought came without the annoyance it often did.

“Elmer, can I get a minute of your time?”

He spotted the clipboard under my arm. “We talked yesterday, so you already have my answer.”

“Yesterday I wasn’t at my finest,” I said. “I’d like another chance to make my point, without Maude’s drinks addling my brain.”

Tom chuckled. “You have to watch out for that one.”

I nodded seriously. “Believe me, I’ve learned my lesson.”

Elmer wasn’t swayed. “I’m eating my breakfast, and I have no desire to rehash all your arguments.”

Tom and Duke watched the exchange with curiosity, and I decided to use their attention to my advantage. “Come on, you don’t want to block a Revved Up event just to win a pissing contest with me.”

Tom’s gaze sharpened. “A Revved Up event?”

“It relates to the car show. Elmer is a little annoyed that the organizer talked to me, not him.”

Elmer muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like, “not just talking.”

Given our shower activities that morning, he wasn’t wrong. Technically, I had a bias when it came to Darren. But this was a car show story for goodness sake, not a political scandal. Elmer was friendly with plenty of sources too, even if he didn’t shower with them.

“If it’s important to the festival, you ought to talk to him,” Duke said.

Tom scooted out of the booth to make room for Elmer to exit. “We’ll wait here while you two work it out.”

Elmer scowled, but he stood and followed me across the restaurant, to a booth out of their earshot. “That was a dirty trick.”

“Not really. Refusing to sign on is a dirty trick.”

His eyes narrowed. “Agree to disagree. We don’t need a bunch of cars trekking up and down Main Street, making noise and pollution.”

“That’s the stance you’re taking?”

He sat back and crossed his arms. “Yep.”

A waitress approached with an order pad in hand. The nametag pinned to her chest read Gladys. That made me think of the car Elmer loved, and an idea began to take shape in my mind.

“What can I get you?” Gladys asked.

“My breakfast is already over there getting cold,” Elmer complained as he gestured toward Tom and Duke’s booth.

She took his cranky tone in stride. “And I’m pulling double duty as a cook and waitress because Caroline couldn’t be bothered to show up to work. We’ve all got problems, so let’s not waste my time.” Her gaze shifted to me. “You need anything?”

“Just a coffee,” I said. “Thank you, Gladys.”

She gifted me with a smile. “Much nicer manners. You’re that young reporter Agatha has running around, aren’t you?” She frowned at Elmer. “I hope you’re not thinking of poaching him.

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