Nat punches in an address. “There’s a drive-thru about thirty minutes from here.”
“Thirty minutes?” My eyebrows climb. We’ve already been driving for a while. “Isn’t that a little far just to get late-night coffee?”
“It’s close to where we’re going anyway.”
“And where exactly is that?”
“You’ll see.” Nat winks at me and I let out a sigh of relief. Whatever put that troubled look on his face seems to have faded. He’s back to being the Nat I know and lo—like.
I was going to say ‘like’.
Feeling off-kilter, I check my phone to distract myself.
There were two notifications earlier.
I opened the one from Chris, but there’s another message from Cordelia.
She sent a group shot of us posing with a printed sign shaped like a wrench. The sign reads ‘First Name: Your, Last Name: Mechanic’.
Cordelia: These came out so great!
I send a heart emoji in response to the photo.
“Is it Chris?” Nat asks, giving me a quick look before returning his attention to the road.
“Cordelia, actually. Her mom set up an engagement photobooth in April and Chance’s honor.”
“What’s an engagement photobooth?” Nat takes my hand in his and settles it on his thigh. He’s getting bolder. Last time, he kept our joined hands on the center console.
“It’s like a regular photobooth, but there are these cute bride and groom accessories. They had wedding veils and little top hats and giant cut-out engagement rings. But there was also a sign with a phrase that April told Chance when they first met.”
I share the story April told me.
“When Chance first came to Lucky Falls, he thought his car had broken down. April showed up with her toolbox, but Chance kept hitting on her and asking for her name while waiting for ‘the mechanic’.”
Nat laughs. “Case of mistaken identity. Sounds familiar.”
“April found a creative way to inform him that she was the mechanic he was waiting for.”
Nat and I share a chuckle.
As the road unfurls before us, covered in shadows, he says, “Have I mentioned how cool I think you ladies are? I haven’tonce in my life met a female mechanic. Then I come to Lucky Falls and there’s four of them.”
“I should petition to change the name of the town. Or at least change the town slogan.”
“‘Lucky Falls, home of the best female mechanics’.”
Nat grins. “It has a nice ring to it.”
“I’ll attend the next town council meeting. Now that I’m an official Lucky Falls-ian…Lucky Falls-er? Lucky Falls-osapien?”
Nat nearly splits a gut laughing.
“It’s not that funny,” I grumble.
“It actually is,” Nat says, settling down after a few more chuckles. “I love your sense of humor, Riles.”
My heart thrills at how casually he drips the ‘L-word’.
