“I’m car cursed,” I tell myself. “That must be it. I went six months without changing my oil one time, and now I’m car cursed for life.” I glance up, pleading with the sky. “It wasone time. I’msorry.”
I try to start the car again with no luck.
Sighing, I resign myself to my fate. I have the number of the tow company from last time, so I give them a ring and explain the situation. I’m practically an old pro at this point. Then I step out of my car, fanning myself with my hand against this obnoxious heat, and sit down on the curb to wait. This is not how I envisioned the rest of my day going. Not in the slightest.
It’s not long before an unfamiliar car rolls to a stop in front of me. Shielding the sun with my hand, I glance up at the BMW to find Christian McCoy sticking his head out the window. As if this day couldn’t get any worse.
“Oh no, Daisy,” he says from behind a pair of black Wayfarers. “Car trouble?”
Obviously.
“Yeah, I’m waiting on a tow,” I tell him.
“Want me to take a peek?”
Absolutely not.
“Thanks, but I’m okay. I’ll wait to see what the mechanic says.”
“You know, they’ll rip you off,” he warns. “Take advantage of a sweet girl like you.”
I’m not sure how to respond, so I just shrug. “It is what it is, I guess.”
Christian sighs.
Here we go.
“Look, Daisy,” he begins, then stops himself. “Look, Violet. I’ve been wanting to apologize for coming on so strong. I just wanted to take you out to dinner. No strings. No pressure. Just a good time between friends. You deserve that, I think.”
I squint at him, not buying the words he’s selling. Not buying the good guy act one bit. I notice he doesn’t apologize for threatening my job security or for the things he said at Landon’s house.
Get lost, is what I want to say.
“Oh, that’s okay,” is what I say instead, even though it’s not. It’s really not.
“I promise I’m a decent guy. I can even give you a lift if you want.”
Leave me alone.
“Oh, no. That’s alright. I’ll catch a ride with the tow.”
He looks surprised. “Are you sure? It’s no problem.”
It’s tempting, what with the hot sun beating down on me. I can feel my scalp burning, and I’m already coated in a light layer of sweat. But is air conditioning worth being stuck in a car with Christian McCoy? He grins at me, and my gut reaction tells me all I need to know.
“Yeah, I’m sure. Thank you, though,” I add, and mentally kick myself.
Why are you thanking him? Why are you humoring him? Why are you like this, Violet?
His face hardens, and despite his assurance that he’s suddenly a “decent guy,” he’s clearly offended I’m not taking him up on his offer. “Suit yourself. Guess I’ll see you around.”
I barely have a chance to nod before he peels out of the parking lot, leaving me in the dust.
“Asshole,” I mutter and brace myself for the long wait.
It could be my shit mood from the unexpected expense, or heat exhaustion from waiting at the un-airconditioned mechanic for hours, or anger at myself for being so nice to Christian earlier, but when I finally make it home, I’m all worked up. My mind is hyper-focused on Landon’sacts of kindness, unsure of what to feel, and I storm into his office with no concern for the consequences.
“I need to talk to you,” I blurt.
