Dan:See, Bob? I told you he could go all the way.
Bob:Damn, I feel really bad for her.
Dan:Fuck (rolls eyes)!What’re you? His conscience?
Kevin made his way to the pumps near the entrance of the gas station to make it easier to approach other drivers. There weren’t many cars passing through and it was more than twenty minutes before a man in a white Ford finally pulled into the station. Kevin spotted a baby seat in the back and let out a breath of relief. A family man. The odds were good.
He cast a quick glance to the other side of the station and saw that the blue Prius was still parked there. Jazz wasn’t in it.
He pushed it out of his mind and approached the white Ford. “Hi, sir,” he greeted. “I was wondering if you could help me.”
The older man smiled, accentuating the fine wrinkles near his eyes. “What can I do for you, Son?”
The wordSonkinda fucked him up a bit inside and again, he pushed it out of his mind. “Can you give me a ride to the nearest bus station?”
“I’m not going that way…” He stopped and gave it a moment’s thought. “Sure. You might be stranded here for a while if I don’t. Not a lot of traffic coming through here.”
Kevin put on his friendliest smile. Yeah, family men were a sure bet. “Thank you very much, sir.”
“Call me Tom.”
“Thanks, Tom. I’m Kevin.”
“We’ll be outta here in a few minutes, Kevin.”
Tom busied himself filling the tank, but Kevin kept his eyes fixed on the restroom door. He started becoming edgy. Minute after minute ticked by and she didn’t come out. Tom disappeared inside to pay for the gas, but Kevin just kept watching…and waiting. This girl. This fucking girl was driving him crazy. What the hell was she doing? Why hadn’t she left yet?
“And we’re good to go,” Tom announced as he opened the car door.
Kevin opened the passenger door and tossed his bags into the backseat. Yet he only managed to get one foot inside. The rest of him wouldn’t budge. Don’t be stupid, he told himself. It could be hours before another driver comes along. Just get in the car.
He cast another quick look back and she was still in there.
“Kevin, are you coming?”
“Actually, Tom…” He shut his eyes because he couldn’t believe he was about to do something so stupid. “I think I’m gonna stay here. There’s something I need to take care of before I leave.”
Although Tom looked confused, he didn’t argue. “Well, all right then. You take care now.”
He waited until Kevin unloaded his bags and then slowly drove away from the gas station.
“So dumb,” Kevin whispered to himself as he walked back towards the restroom. “So. Dumb!”
He dropped his bags on the floor and sat down right outside the door. He waited and waited and waited some more. Two more cars came through. Two more missed opportunities, because he just sat there and waited.
It was almost forty minutes later when she finally came out. She didn’t even see him sitting there, just kept her head down and marched straight back to the car. Kevin quickly stood up, grabbed his bags, and raced after her. “Hey, Jazz.”
His voice startled her. She jumped and turned at the same time, and he grabbed her arm to steady her. Their eyes locked for a mere second before she immediately pulled out of his grip and cast her gaze to the floor. It was too late, though. He saw it already—her red, puffy eyes.
Dan:She was crying, Bob (utterly amused). Didn’t she say she hasn’t cried in eight years? Didn’t she say that she didn’t even cry when her grandmother passed away? And yet four days with this guy was enough to break her. He’s good. God, he’s good!
Bob:I’m…I’m in awe. Never in my years of broadcasting have I seen anything quite like this.
“What are you still doing here?” She looked everywhere but at him, consciously avoiding making eye contact. “I thought you would have left by now.”
“I…I wanted…to make sure you’re okay.”
“I’m fine.” She carried on walking back to the car and he went after her again.
