“I’m so glad we can have a civilized conversation like two mature adults. I was worried you were still angry with me, but then I told myself that wasn’t it at all. I knew in my heart you were just grumpy because your truck broke down. It’s good to know I was right.”
An indiscriminate growl comes from the other line. “I’m two seconds from hanging up, Knox.”
I’m about to reply when I hear another female voice on the other end, interrupting us.
“I’m going to head out, Emery. I’ll leave my number on the front desk. Give me a call when you’re free.”
Her voice immediately changes pitch, turning into a sickly-sweet version of whatever the hell I just encountered. Something hot pokes at my insides.
“Bye, Marie!”
“Is this a bad time, Bambi? I can always call back now that I know you’ll pick up. You know I’ve been needing a new emergency contact.”
“Listen. I’m in the middle of something, and I don’t have time for your games. For the love of God, please tell me why you called.”
I let out a deep sigh and decide I’ve had enough fun for now. However, irritating Emery has quickly become one of my new favorite hobbies. Was it this much fun when we were kids?
“I looked at your truck, and I have good news and bad news.”
Another groan echoes against my ear. “Okay. Hit me.”
I bite my lip, holding back all the sadistic comments surging in my brain.
“I’ll start with the bad news,” I announce, shifting my phone into my now semi-clean hand. “Your engine is completely shot.”
“What?” she squeaks, her voice strained.
“It’s toast. Burnt to a crisp. Dead and gone.”
There’s a beat of silence, and then a sharp inhale. “You said it was just a spark plug or?—”
“I thought it was a blown head gasket,” I say, correcting her, “but I’m man enough to admit that I was wrong.”
Emery scoffs, and I’m relieved to know that I haven’t completely ruined that fire inside her. “Okay,” she replies, hesitating to get the next sentence out. “What’s the good news?”
I’m a little disappointed she didn’t fire back with someinsult about how I’m not a man, but I know I just hit her with some pretty heavy news.
“The good news is…I can fix it.”
Silence fills the line again, and I have to look at the phone screen to make sure she hasn’t hung up on me.
“Isthatsupposed to comfort me?” Emery asks flatly.
“Yes,” I say, my grin widening. “You know better than anyone how good I am with my hands.”
Her first response is an aggravated grunt. Her second: “Is there anyone else I can deal with? What happened to that adorable old man I spoke with last night?”
“Oh wow,” I say, shaking my head. “His head is going to get so big when I tell him you said that. Didn’t know you had a thing for older men, Bambi. Now it all makes so much sense.”
“You know what. You, you, you ass?—”
I quickly interrupt her, feeling a satisfying glow return to my face. “Sal is the only other mechanic here, and he hasn’t replaced an engine since 2006.”
“You’re joking,” she snaps.
“If you want your truck back, you’re stuck with me.”
Emery mutters something under her breath, followed by a quiet sigh. “Fine. How much is this going to cost me?”
