I need to figure out something now that we’re here, something to do with the rest of my life. To pull my own weight and pay my fair share. My brothers have been carrying my ass for long enough. They’ve all told me they don't care, that between the three of them, supporting me doesn’t even make a dent in their income, but I don’t want to be that kind of person.
Ryder thinks I don’t notice that he’s been throwing cash at me like I’m his own personal stripper. The mysterious way things just show up when I’m running low, or how my car is always magically full of gas. I know he means well, but my mind dives into a deeper, darker place at his kindness.
The guys are sitting around the island this morning. Chatting casually about sights they want to see, or places to visit within the city. God how I want to participate, but my determination to not be the bum of the group is more prominent. Throwing a brief “see ya later” over my shoulder, I’m grabbing keys and heading to the garage.
I’ve been driving around Miami for what feels like hours. Applying to anything that catches my eye and searching for leads in every corner. I know it’s unrealistic to think I’ll be hired on the spot, but a guy can dream right?
I’m onthe way home, tunes cranked and jamming out. Using the time to internally debate the pros and cons of starting an OnlyFans, when a car in the other lane up ahead grabs my attention. There’s a young woman standing at the front, her arms crossed against her chest as she stares into a smoking engine block. Clearly in way over her head.
Before I even realize I made the decision, I’ve flicked on my hazard lights and pulled over to her side of the road. Our cars are facing each other, but her back is still turned until the sound of my door closing alerts her of my arrival.
She spins around quickly and violently, gripping at her upper arms with enough force to make her skin turn red. I’m guessing her breakdown is something as simple as low fluids, but her wide eyes and flushed skin tell me she has no clue what happened.
“Hey, need some help?”
“Uhh, yeah. I guess I kind of do,” she replies, her voice small and timid. Her posture tenses and her eyes stay glued to me as I make my way toward her. Every step has her flinching from the sound and slowly backing away. She’s defensive, protective, almost down right fearful, even though I’ve given her no reason to be. I pick up on the loud swallow when I’m within ten feet of her, and move to try and placate her.
“I won’t hurt you, but I am going to need to get closer to see what exactly is happening under that hood of yours.”
Raising my hands so she can see both of them, I stop my advance until she nods in approval. I remember the lessons from school. The signs and symptoms to notice that someone is on the run. Whoever this girl is… she’s clearly doing just that.
Getting to the engine block, I start poking around, searching for what I assume the issue is. Within minutes I prove myself right, she’s low on multiple things, including oil and coolant. Thanks to my dad, I always carry mini bottles of these in my trunk in case of emergency. Turns out for the first time, I’ll actually be able to use them.
“Your fluids are low. I have some in my car that will work in a pinch, but you’ll need to get more and properly fill it right away. Preferably when you get to wherever you're headed,” I tell her, wiping my hands on my leg.
“T-Thanks, uhh…” Her head cocks to the side and her eyes narrow as she leaves the end hanging for me to fill in.
“Max,” I say, offering her my hand to shake. She takes it after a brief hesitation, but offers me a genuine smile.
“Thanks, Max. I’m Mary.”
I give her a nod and a smile of my own. She’s really very pretty when she’s not hiding her face. Heading back to my car, I grab what I need. It will be an easy fix to get her moving again, at least until a more permanent solution can be obtained.
As I’m finishing up and tightening her caps, I happen to glance her way once again, and see the same jarring behavior. Her eyes are constantly darting around as she flinches at every loud or abrupt sound. Any movement has her jumping and passing vehicles have her hiding behind a wall of hair.
“You’re running from something.”
“I-I’m sorry?” she questions, confused at my sudden vocalization and worried I may know more than she likes.
Her body shows the fear she’s trying to keep hidden. The skin on her face has gone ashen, and her hands shake against her arms. She’s blinking as fast as a hummingbird's wings, while her mouth opens and closes around words that are choking her. She’s worried about getting caught, terrified of whatever—or whoever—she’s bolting from. Something heavy settles inside me. Low in my gut. Urging me to assist this girl in whatever way I can.
“I recognize the signs,” I offer, shrugging slightly at the notion. “You’re flinching, twitching, and your eyes lock on to anything that moves like heat seeking missiles. You’re scared.”
Closing the hood of her car, I once again clean off my hands but this time I don’t make the move to leave. I need to help her or at least see that she gets to wherever she wants to go safely.
“Look, I’m not going to pry into your personal life, nor do I expect you to tell me all your deepest, darkest secrets. You never even have to tell me what has you so spooked. But if you’ll let me, I’d like to help. At the very least allow me to drive behind you, make sure you get something to eat and get somewhere safe to sleep. Because, sweetie, you look exhausted.”
At the mentionof my offer, her eyes start watering and soft sobs escape her quivering lips. Frantically, she nods, accepting the help without hesitation and quickly jogging towards me. Within moments, her arms are wrapped around my waist, her head buried in my chest as her body finally relaxes.
I don’t think, as she clings to me, a perfect stranger, before I’m wrapping my arms around her as well. Her complete surrender should admittedly be a red flag. How quickly she caved and let me in, but in this instance, I couldn’t be happier that she did.
“I’ll fill up your car, and first thing in the morning, you tell me where you're headed and I’ll get you what you need before you go.”
Walking in the door, I shake off the daydream, trying to remember how the hell I got back to the house. I thought I was still driving…
My energy has been zapped from all the effort we’ve put into looking for Bear and now the remainder has been stolen by lingering thoughts of Mary Burbank. My mind is still spiraling in a haze of “what if’s” as many things came from that chance meeting.
Mary and I dated for a while before parting ways. Only a few months, as no matter how much she tried, she never felt safe staying in Miami. She was always looking over her shoulder, always scared her ex would find her. Eventually it all became too much, and she made the decision to move abroad. Somewhere she could invent a new identity for herself and start fresh. Since we hadn’t been together long, there was no awkward conversation regarding me going with her and we parted amicably.
