I secure Benny’s leash, lock the door behind us, and we hop in my truck. The drive to the rink is quick, but when I’m about a block away, my phone dings with another text.
Howie
Any chance you’re free today?
I pull into the parking lot, coasting into a free space near the door before responding.
Just headed to the rink to talk to Perkins. What’s up?
Howie
Sadie got a flat. We’re at lunch now, but I was hoping you could fix it. I have to go back to work after this, or I’d do it myself.
I glance at Benny, waiting patiently in his safety harness on the seat next to me. "Should we fix the girl’s car, Ben?" He turns his head to the side and stares at me. "She did this to my face, might be a good way of showing her I’m one of the nice guys so she’ll stop beating me up."
What happened yesterday was an accident, but a part of me isn’t mad about the time I spent hanging out with Sadie. She’s funny and too easy to get riled up. It was nice to talk to someone new, to joke and laugh with a person outside my usual circle. And something about her puts me at ease. Like maybe she also has something going on that everyone else seems to want to talk about—except her.
Yeah, where’s it at?
Howie
On Crow, by the rink. She called Sid already, but with the conversation we just had, she needs a win. I don’t want her to pay for it. Also, we need to talk later…
Got it.
My stomach lurches. Now I really want to know what’s going on with her. If Howie thinks she needs a win, she isn’t just onvacation. Stepping out of my truck, my focus immediately goes a couple of blocks down where Sid’s tow truck is lifting the same black sedan she got into yesterday onto his flatbed.
I quickly unhook Benny, grab his leash, and we run toward the scene. I’m huffing right outside Sid’s window in a matter of minutes. He smirks at me as he idly pushes the button to bring the flatbed forward.
"Max, funny seeing you here."
I smother a small, ironic laugh. "Yeah? This one is mine."
"Not today, Max. You and your brother can’t just go around stealingmybusiness for damsels in distress. Looks like it’s just a flat, but it'll probably need a new rim—that’s good money for me."
Over the last few months, we’ve had an unfortunate number of car problems. Olive got a brand new one and immediately hit a fire hydrant to avoid a squirrel. Nora backed over a parking pylon at the grocery store. And Ariella… let’s just say she spends more time driving on the sidewalk than the road lately.
"Take it off the truck."
He looks at me sideways, like I’ve officially lost my mind, and maybe I have.
"Max, I—"
I hold a hand up, stopping him from telling me he can’t.
"You can, and you will." I run a hand through my hair. "Take it off the truck."
Sid shakes his head back and forth but pushes the button that will bring it back where I need it. "You fucking owe me, Max. And I’m pretty sure Sadie won’t be happy about this either. She calledmefor a reason."
I smirk at him, then round the back of the tow truck to assist with unhooking the straps securing it. "As long as I’m the one she’s mad at, why do you care?"
"Fine… but I’m not breaking the news."
"Never said you had to. Just don’t mention it to her." I shrug and finish unwrapping the neon green tow strap from around her wheel well. "I’ll have it returned to her tonight."
After Sid does his last checks to make sure everything is disconnected, he hops into his truck and pulls away, only to stop a second later. "Hey, Max. You’re gonna need these," he calls before tossing her keys in my direction.
I catch them with a nod and a smile that lingers until I look at the bundle in my palm—a Golden City Flames keychain stares back at me. I never took her for a hockey fan. The endless studying in high school and now just her vibe doesn’t really scream sports fan, but maybe she’s multifaceted. I turn it over in my hand, engraved on the back, one word catches my eye:Staff. I thought she worked with kids? Why wouldn't she tell me, of all people, that she works inmysport?
