Even then, it didn’t register until he was walking through the parking lot on his way to the bus stop to get to Tori’s and something about the topography of the lot just seemed… odd.
Jem paused midstep and ran his gaze over the assembled vehicles. No, he was losing his mind. Nothing was amiss.
Except that wasn’t his car in his spot.
On autopilot, Jem approached, reaching for his phone as he did. Did he need to call the police? Where was his Prius? It might not currently be working, but it was stillhis. He didn’t have a….
A white Subaru SUV with something taped under the driver’s-side doorhandle.
Numbly, Jem reached for the envelope and opened it.
Good morning sunshine! Don’t call the cops. Your car has gone to a better place (an auto shop where it will be repaired). It will be returned to you in due time. But please accept this Subaru as an apology for forgetting your present yesterday.
Xxx River
“Oh my God?” Jem said out loud.
How the fuck?
He looked at his keychain. The key to the Prius was gone. In its place was the fob for the Subaru.
Weakly, Jem got in the car. He reached into the glove box. The ownership papers were in there. Jem’s name was on them and on the proof of insurance.
“Oh my God,” he said again, staring.
Then he put the papers back in the glove compartment, locked the car, and went back upstairs. If he didn’t have to bus to Tori’s, he didn’t have to leave yet. But he did need to go into his apartment and breathe into a paper bag for a minute.
Okay. First things first. Practical matters. He texted Tori and let her know not to wait for him.
Then he went to the window and looked out. The Subaru was still there.
River gave him a car.
River gave him acar?
Why would he do that? Aside from the obvious fact that he’d lost his mind.
Well. There was one way to find out.
Jem’s phone had found its way into his hand. He hit Call.
“Good morning, sunshine.”
“River.” Jem sounded breathless to his own ears. “Did you buy me a car?”
“Noooo,” River said. “I had that one just lying around the garage, taking up space where I could have been parking a Porsche.” He paused. “Do you not like it?”
A strangled noise escaped Jem’s throat. “River, I—why?”
“Because I wanted to. Because—”
“Because I took this job so I could afford to fix my car,” Jem realized. His knees went on strike and deposited him in his recliner.
River’s temporary silence told him he’d guessed correctly. “Is it—I wanted—”
Jem waited. He couldn’t form words anyway.
“I like you,” River finally said. “And I want to have sex with you. I hope that’s not too forward.”
