Page 5 of Kiwi

Me:I'm alive. I stopped for gas and food.

Dad:Smartass.

Me:You love me.

Dad:You're lucky, I do.

Me:Love you, dad.

Dad:Love you too, Bean.

I shake my head and smile. It takes a minute for the last text to come through. He's too dang predictable.

Dad:Check-in at the next stop.

God, I love that man.

After I have paidfor my gas and loaded up on snacks, I walk back out to my car to see two men standing near the trunk looking down at the ground. When I get closer, I notice they are staring at the back tire on my car, which is flat. I let out an audible sigh. "Great."

"Hey there, sweet thing." A guy with a beer belly and greasy hair addresses me. "This your car?"

I hold my eye roll and give him a polite smile as I open the car door and toss my snacks on the seat. "Yep." I keep my purse that has my taser in it on my shoulder and my keys, which has my pepper spray on it, in my hand. These dudes are giving off bad vibes, and I'm not taking any chances.

"Looks like you're in a bit of a bind," the equally creepy friend adds.

I shrug. "Just a flat tire, nothing I can't handle. Thanks for your concern, though." I dismiss the two men. I'm no damsel in distress. I knew how to change a tire by the time I was ten. Dad made sure of it.

"If ya need a ride somewhere, we'd be happy to give you a lift."

My back goes straight, and I no longer care about being polite. These two creeps are about to learn; they cannot pull one over on me. Reaching in my purse, I pull out my taser. Opening the car door, I toss my bag inside and make my way to the back of the car, where I proceed to open the trunk. I don't miss the way both men eye the weapon in my hand. "Like I said before, gentleman. A flat tire is nothing I can't handle." I make sure to keep my eyes trained on them as I speak.

The big guy with the gut holds up both hands and sneers, "Suit yourself."

Both men walk away, climb into an old pickup truck, and drive off. Once they are out of sight, my shoulders relax, and some of the tension leaves my body. I then go about hauling the spare from the trunk of my car and set it down on the ground. Crouching down next to the flat tire, I take a closer look. The tension that left my body moments ago returns. Those assholes sliced my tire. What were they expecting? That I'd be a poor defenseless female, and I would jump at their offer to give me a ride? My stomach churns at the thought of those men preying on other women. Pushing my anger aside, I get busy changing the tire, cursing those fuckers the whole time.

Thirty minutes later, I'm placing the jack back in the car when my phone rings from the front seat. Jogging around, I pull open the door, swipe the phone from the console, and answer. "Hello."

"Piper." My dad's voice sounds urgent. "What's wrong? Why are you still at the gas station?"

My dad has a tracker on my phone, so he must have checked my location and seen I haven't moved in almost an hour. "I'm okay. I had a flat tire." I try masking the pissed tone in my voice but fail.

"Piper, what happened?"

I rest my back against the car, tilt my face up toward the sky and let out a heavy sigh. "Some assholes sliced my tire when I was inside the store. They tried to help and offered me a ride."

"What!" he roars over the line, and I wince. I could have kept this situation from him, but I'm not good at lying, especially to my dad.

"Dad, calm down. I handled it. They're gone, and I just finished with the tire. I was about to get back on the road when you called."

"There is no fuckin' calm when my baby girl tells me two assholes slit her goddamn tire and then tried to lure her away with them. I'm comin' to get you."

"No!" I cut him off. "I'm literally an hour away. By the time you get here, I can be home. I'm okay, dad. I promise."

The line is silent for a long moment. "Fine," he grits. "I'll be tracking you. Stay safe and alert. Keep watch in your rearview mirror for any signs of being followed."

"I will. I'll call you if I need anything."

"Alright. Love you, Bean."