Her mouth drops open, and she blinks at me in shock. “Say that again, because I’m pretty sure I didn’t hear you right.”
“This isn’t the type of car you grab spare parts for at the local auto store. It’s a classic.”
She rolls her eyes. “Of course it is, but you’re a wiz with these things. It’s literally your job.”
“Exactly. Which is how I know this isn’t going to be an easy fix.”
She covers her face with her hands before she slowly drags them down her face. “Why couldn’t we break down in a more interesting place? Now what?”
“Now, we call a tow and figure out our next move.”
She lifts her arm and points to the sky, where the clouds have shifted to a dark gray. “Looks like a storm is headed our way too.”
“The universe likes to pile shit on.”
It’s not the first time I’ve broken down, but it’s the first real crisis, if you could call it that, that Tate and I are facing together.
“I’ll call a tow and figure shit out. We can either rent a car and I’ll come back for the truck, or we can wait it out wherever the fuck we can lay our head tonight.”
She grabs her phone from the seat and starts to type away at her screen. “You call a tow, and I’ll start looking at places. There’s no need to leave this old girl behind.”
So far, I’d give her an A. Katie would’ve already started screaming about what an idiot I am for driving such an old piece of shit. Every single day, I’m reminded of all the ways they’re different.
“I’m on it.”
Surprisingly, roadside assistance is sending someone immediately. The chatty lady on the other end of the phone told me they were having a light day, and she didn’t want Daryl to leave us stranded in the rain.
“They’re on their way,” I tell Tate as soon as I disconnect the call.
Her tongue is out, sweeping across her bottom lip and tempting me to haul my ass across the front seat. “I found a few places for us to hunker down for the night.”
“I don’t want a shit place.”
“Do I look like the kind of girl who stays in shit places?” she deadpans.
“No.”
“Then zip it.”
“Zipped,” I tell her, pinching my fingers together and dragging them across my lips.
“It’s almost shocking the number of cute cabins around here.”
“I like the sound of that.”
“Hot tub?” she asks, one eyebrow raised.
“I’m liking it even more, but we’ll have to see how far away they’re taking the car before we make any final plans.”
“Fingers crossed.”
Lucky for us, Daryl shows up a few minutes later, looking every bit like I’d imagined he would. He has a big potbelly with his pants hanging underneath and a blue shirt barely covering him. The old baseball hat on his head is covered with grease and is no doubt nothing like the original color.
He makes quick work of hooking us up and spends the entire time talking about the Scout. He doesn’t stop gushing about the restoration job.
“There’s an inn near the shop,” he tells us. “It’s probably not as swanky as you’re used to in the big city, but it’s comfortable and clean.”
I turn my gaze toward Tate, knowing she has her heart set on the cabin idea. “Whatever she wants to do.”
