“So hungry,” Harper says, wiggling in her seat. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” I let the tray fall to my side as the girls dig into their food. “I hope you like it.”
Just then, my phone rings. I yank it out of my jeans and answer it.
“Hello.”
“Hey, Juliet, this is Barry. Your car’s finished and ready to go.”
“Oh, great. What time do you close?”
“Five.”
My heart sinks. It’s already one, and I don’t know if one of the girls can give me a ride.
“Okay, I’ll figure it out. Thanks.”
I hang up and scrunch up my nose.
“What’s wrong?” Harper asks.
“My car is ready, but I don’t know if I can grab it today.”
“I’ll take you,” Ava offers. “I’m headed home that way anyway.”
“Really?” I grin at her. “It’s not too far out of the way?”
“It’s literally on the way,” she replies. “No worries. Can you go when I’m finished with lunch?”
“Yep, let me just let my girls know.”
Thank God for Ava.
“Just call me if you need anything,” Ava says as I climb out of her car.
“Thanks, and thanks for the ride.” I grin at her and then wave before I walk into the garage.
Barry glances up and sees me, wipes his hands on a towel, and gives me that greasy smile that makes me extra uncomfortable as he approaches the counter.
“Hey, Barry,” I say without much enthusiasm.
“Hey. Okay, she’s all ready for you. Turned out to be a faulty oil filter.”
“It took you five days to figure that out?”
He narrows his eyes at me. “We’re busy around here, and you didn’t have an appointment.”
“It wasn’t planned,” I remind him. “What’s the damage?”
“Four hundred and seventy-five dollars.”
I feel the blood drain from my face.
“For anoil filter?”
“There were a few hours of labor while we figured out what the issue was.”
Jesus Christ.I need a new car.
