2014 Prompt Responses - 16. Chapter 16

“I make the best chili north of the Mason-Dixon Line. I’ve always gotten rave reviews,” Sid boasted.

I shook my head and rolled my eyes. Sid was a real piece of work sometimes.

“I bet I could win this. Hell, I could win this even if you entered, Evan.” Sid was holding a flier for the local fire company’s annual chili cook-off.

I raised an eyebrow at him. “You’re kidding me, right?” I was the executive chef at an upscale restaurant specializing in southern cuisine. My chili was one of the most popular items on our menu.

“Nope. I could totally outdo you. My chili is award-winning.” Sid puffed out his chest.

“Award-winning, huh? Let me guess--“

“Hun? Let it go…” Roger whispered in my ear.

Our friends were all snickering. Sid was always getting under my skin, but this was going too far. He was always trying to outdo me and I usually let it just slide, but this time... oh, hell no!

“So when did you win your James Beard award?” Yes…I was being a smug asshole, but Sid needed to be put in his place.

“Here we go again,” Samantha sighed and shook her head. “Why don’t you boys just whip them out and get it over with?”

The snickers turned into outright laughter.

“So what do ya say, Evan? We on?”

“Yeah, we’re on.” I smirked thinking about how I was going to mop the floor with him. Besides, it was being held in a fire hall. That meant lots of hot firemen eye candy.

“Great! Now what’s the wager?”

“Wager?”

“Yeah, we can’t enter a contest and not bet. If I win, my chili goes on your menu. What do you want if you win?”

I want your head mounted on my wall. “You have to do my dishes for a week.”

“That’s it?”

“In the restaurant.”

“Ok.”

“Wearing a dress and heels.”

Sid looked at me like I was nuts. He was the most masculine guy I knew. I don’t think he had any semblance of a feminine side.

He grinned at me and laughed. “You’re on. There’s no way I’m losing this bet. I want full credit on your menu, too.”

I bristled. There was no way in hell I was going to let Sid’s name anywhere near my menu.

*****

“You shouldn’t have let him bait you like that.” Roger shook his head at me as he drove us to the chili cook-off.

I rolled my eyes at him. We’d been arguing about this all week. “Maybe now the asshole will shut up and give me some peace.”

Roger looked at me pointedly. “Do you really think Sid is going to stop goading you? He does it just to get a reaction, you know. You played right into his hand.”

“All I know is that I can’t wait to see that smug grin wiped off his face when I kick his ass in this cook-off.”

The fire hall was filled with tables full of chili, cheese, sour cream, and cornbread. Everyone who entered the hall was given a yellow ticket to vote for their favorite. The grand prize was a big trophy plus five hundred dollars. I planned on donating the money back to the fire hall.

Sid was stationed a few tables down from me. He walked over with a confident grin, handed me a cup of his chili, and picked up a cup of mine. “Not too bad,” he said, tasting it. “Still not as good as mine, though.” Then he walked back to his table.

I tried his chili and had to admit that it was pretty good. Not that I would ever say that out loud to anyone, especially Sid.

The throng of chili aficionados had nothing but praise for my chili and every compliment just affirmed my place at the top of the podium. I felt kind of guilty entering, but it would be good publicity for the restaurant and I couldn’t wait to wipe that damn look off Sid’s face.

At the end of the day, the fire chief stood at the podium and announced that they had raised over two thousand dollars for the fire station. I was proud that I would be able to contribute another five hundred. I started to walk toward the podium when they announced the winner to thunderous applause. I was jerked roughly backwards and gave Roger a dirty look. “What the hell?”

“You didn’t win.” He hissed. “Now clap and be gracious!”

I looked at him in shock, and then I looked at the podium. I felt a profound sense of relief that it wasn’t Sid standing there hoisting the trophy. It was one of the hot firemen from the station. Then it was time to announce second and third place.

“Folks, for the first time ever we have a tie for second place. Evan Williams and Sid Connelly. Congratulations!”

Roger shoved me toward the podium. “Smile… and be nice!”