We settled into a comfortable silence while we shopped. He followed me to the checkout line. After paying, we walked out together.
“I’m over there.” I pointed to the right without looking.
Matt’s eye’s widened before he dropped his bags and sprinted in the direction I’d pointed.
My eyes tracked his movements until I noticed the smoke.
Near my Jeep.
“What the fuck?” I said, running after Matt.
I almost ran into him when he pulled up short at the far end of my front bumper.
“Wait,” Matt grabbed me when I tried to circle around him. “It’s almost out.”
“What the fuck happened?” I practically screamed as I tried to yank out of his grasp.
“Madi. Just wait.” He pulled me closer. “Please.”
“The fire’s out.”
“Paul?”What the fuck is he doing here?
“Is this your car?” he asked.
“Yes, it’s Madi’s,” Matt answered for me. “Thank you for putting out the fire.”
“You’re lucky I was here,” Paul preened.
“I guess so.”
Matt and Paul talked as if I wasn’t there as I openly gawked at my melted tire and singed custom paint job.
Tears filled my eyes.
“Hey, are you okay?” Paul asked, reaching towards my shoulder. His hand pulled back in a blur when Matt growled.
I shook off my fear and frustration, blinked back my tears and said, “I’m fine.”
Matt’s phone was at his ear when he said, “The Star Grocery Store parking lot, west side.”
He put his hand on my lower back as he waited to answer the next question.
“There was a small fire outside a purple Jeep. No injuries.”
Matt sounded far calmer than I felt.
Paul watched me as Matt talked to the 9-1-1 operator.
“A concerned citizen put it out.”
“Firefighter,” Paul corrected, but Matt didn’t change his answer.
“Yes ma’am. We’ll wait.” Matt pulled the phone away from his ear, then hit the mute and speaker buttons.
“Firefighters and PD are on their way. You should call your dad.”
“But…”
