“No thanks needed. I’m happy I was there to help.”
“Help?” Dad’s eyes are wide and wild, a look I know well when he’s panicked. “Help is changing a tire, not saving someone’s life.”
“Hey. Hey,” Aunt Daphne says, walking into the bar in the cutest pair of black leather boots that almost kiss the hem of her knee-length skirt. “What’s up?”
Dad doesn’t even look in her direction when he says, “Lou almost died today.”
Aunt Daphne stops mid-step, her one foot still in the air. “What?”
“Her car broke down, and she was on the side of the road when another car came speeding at her, but this guy—” Dad throws a hand toward Oliver “—pushed her out of the way before it could hit her.”
Aunt Daphne gasps, covering her mouth as she finally stands on two feet. “Damn,” she whispers into her palm. “That’s some crazy shit. You okay, kiddo?”
I nod and drag my gaze toward Oliver, who’s still sitting silently, staring straight at me. “Help,” he mouths, and I giggle softly.
“What’s so funny? Is dying funny?” Dad asks, and I suddenly feel like a little kid again, being chastised for some stupid thing my cousins talked me into doing.
“No, Dad. Dying isn’t funny at all,” I tell him, not looking in his direction because I don’t want to see the all-too-familiar look that goes along with his tone.
“Who’s the hunk?” Aunt Daphne asks, and I can’t stop the smile from forming on my lips.
Dad grumbles a slew of curse words.
“He’s Oliver, the tow truck driver,” I answer.
“Well, Oliver, the tow truck driver, thanks for saving my niece. You saved this family a bunch of sadness today.”
“Not a problem,” Oliver says and shifts his weight again in the wooden chair that’s probably too small for his wide frame and that ass I still haven’t been able to get a good look at.
“We owe you,” Aunt D says to him as she moves toward the bar and sloughs off her coat. “Big-time.”
Oliver shakes his head. “The best burger in town is payment enough.”
“And I’m going to organize his garage.”
“Jesus,” Dad mumbles, scrubbing his hand up and down his face in distress. “You’re talking like nothing big happened today.”
“I’ve had time to deal with everything, Dad.”
“She lost her shit for a while,” Oliver adds, “but I made sure she was okay and wasn’t in shock too long.”
Dad’s head swivels toward Oliver. “Thank you. Did I say that already? If not, thank you.”
Dad is obviously in shock right now, much like I was earlier.
“You have, and again, no thanks needed.”
“What are we thanking him for?” Gram asks, walking out of the back room of the bar.
Jesus. Doesn’t anyone in the family have anything else to do today than be here?
“Lou almost got killed today,” Aunt Daphne says, so casually my grandma takes a minute to absorb the information and almost stumbles forward.
“What?” Gram screeches.
I roll my eyes. “I’m fine. I’m fine,” I reassure her. “He made sure of it.”
Oliver’s eyes flash, and I know he’s sick of hearing the praise, but I’ll never stop telling people.
