We stepped out of the elevator, and I turned and walked backward to face her.“Nah, that’s why you have me.”I winked and smiled, then turned to walk beside her.I held her hand as we made our way to the garage and the floor where we parked.
No one could make the usual Friday after work social hour.Opportunity was knocking.
As I was still figuring out how to approach her about dinner at my house so we could talk, she stopped at her car and leaned against the driver’s door.
“Night, Asher.”
So much for opportunity.“Night.”I was parked two slots down.I watched as she opened the door, stashed her stuff, and climbed in.I waited like I always did to make sure she drove away safe and sound.
Nothing happened.Her door opened.“It won’t start.”
“Be right there.”I unlocked my car and tossed my stuff in the back seat.“Pop the hood,” I said as I walked back to her.Emma popped the release and stayed in the driver’s seat, her chin resting on her crossed arms propped on the steering wheel.Opening the hood, I looked at the battery and checked the connections.One was loose; I tightened it.“Try it now.”
I could hear her press the brake, then glanced around the hood as she pushed the ignition button.Nothing except clicking.Car problems were not my forte, but I knew enough that clicking and the engine not starting were definitely not good.Friday night after six, finding a mechanic would be close to impossible.And nothing I could do.Then I remembered Chase.I’d set up the network in his shop, and he told me if I ever needed a mechanic… Problem almost solved.
I looked at Emma.“I think your battery is totally dead, or it’s the alternator.”
“I guess I need to call for a jump or a tow.”
I opened my mouth to tell her I’d give her car a jump, then had what I thought was a better idea.“Why don’t we do this.Let me give you a jump, and we can drive it to a mechanic I know for a slow charge overnight.Then I can drive you home.I’ll pick you up tomorrow, and we can retrieve your car and decide on next steps.”Chill, Asher.Don’t rush her, buddy.
The next ten seconds felt more like an hour.“All right.But I don’t like the idea of you having to drive so far out of your way to my house.”
That missed opportunity decided to give me a second chance.I was going to open that door.
“You could stay at my house.”
Her eyes widened, but there was nothing in her expression or body language to indicate reluctance.“Let me think about it.”
Luckily there was an empty space next to her, so I pulled my vehicle into the spot, then opened the rear hatch.
After I grabbed jumper cables, I hooked them up and had her start her car.It purred to life.Emma grinned at me.I tossed the cables back into my vehicle and grabbed a rag to clean my hands.
“Do you need to go home and grab extra clothes?”
“No.I have a bag in my car.”
“You’re prepared.”I liked that.During winter, I kept a packed gym bag in my car in case winter decided to dump a ton of snow on us.It happened last winter.We spent the night in the office waiting for the snow to clear enough to drive safely.Yes, it was spring now, but it was still early in the season, so I wasn’t quite ready to put away the extra clothes.
“Our winter weather can be unpredictable, so I keep a bag with everything I need for an overnight stay if I get stuck and have to check into a hotel.”
“I do the same.”I paused.“So does that mean you’ve decided to spend the night at my house?”I leaned on the open door as she settled in her seat and belted in.
Was that a twinkle in her eyes?“Maybe.”
I felt a shot of anticipation at her answer and smiled as I closed her door.“Follow me.”I fought the urge to fist pump as I walked to car, feeling like a kid on Christmas morning.
I pulled out of the garage and checked the rearview mirror to make sure Emma was following me.
Traffic was light, so we made it to Chase’s shop before he closed.I told him what had happened, and he held his hand out for the keys.Emma dropped them into his palm.“I’ll slow charge it overnight and see what happens in the morning.”
“Thanks.”I shook his hand.“Appreciate the help, man.We’ll talk in the morning.”
He tapped the bill of his baseball cap, glanced at Emma as she was walking away, and nodded.I cocked an eyebrow and smiled.You’d better believe she’s mine.
I caught up to Emma just as she was opening the rear door of her car.She sighed.“I guess that’s the best I can hope for.”
She retrieved a medium size gym bag from her trunk, probably her emergency clothing stash, and I shouldered her backpack on the short walk back to my SUV.
