3
Emily
No. Don’t do this to me. Not now, I say to my car.
I turn the ignition, holding my breath... and click, click, click.
I bang my hand on the steering wheel and blow the loose hair that fell from my hairband. No. Please start, I plead again before turning the key.
And it’s the same thing... click, click, click.
I pull the keys out, already thinking about how much money I have in the bank. I’ve been saving, doing everything I can to get out of my current living situation, but it looks like moving is going to be put off a little longer. I have to have my car, especially since I live almost thirty minutes away in Jasper. I have to be able to get to work. “Fuck!” I say, slamming my hands into the steering wheel again.
Just as soon as the words come out of my mouth, there’s a peck on my window, and I scream, jumping back as if something’s going to get me.
Dawson’s standing beside my car with his hands up. I crank the window down. “What, Dawson? What is it? Did you come out here to tell me something else I did wrong? Because if so, can it wait until tomorrow?” I gesture to my car. “I’m a little busy right now.”
His mouth drops from my outburst, and I wait for him to tell me to fuck off or something else in the asshole way he has about him. To heck with it; I’m ready tonight. He says too much, and I’m sure I’ll run my mouth and won’t have a job anymore, but right now, I don’t really care.
“Pop the hood,” he says before walking to the front of my car.
He stands there, staring at me through the windshield. I can see the impatience on his face, and he rolls his hand at me as if saying, Come on, get on with it.
I grit my teeth, lean forward, and pull the knob to pop the hood. He raises it, and I’m staring at the rusted brown hood before he ducks his head around to the side. “Try it now.”
His head ducks back behind the hood, and I try to start it again. I hold my breath, hoping that he miraculously fixed it but there’s no such luck. Click, click, click.
Mere seconds later, Dawson slams the hood shut. He pulls out his phone, and he’s pacing back and forth, so I can’t hear what he’s saying, but I really don’t care. I have enough crap to deal with right now.
I’m gathering my stuff up when my car door opens. I look up at Dawson holding my door open. “What?”
“I think it’s the alternator. Tate at Jennings Automotive is going to send someone to come get it and will have it ready by tomorrow.”
“How much is that?” I blurt without thinking.
Dawson shakes his head. “It won’t be much. He isn’t going to charge for a tow since he’s just down the block.”
Great, just great. I’m sure his “not much” is not the same as my “not much.” I clear my throat. “Okay. Well, thank you for calling him.”
I reach for the door to pull it closed. Yeah, I know it’s stupid, but I like having something between us, and right now, I just want to end this conversation. I tug on the door, but he doesn’t let it go.
“I’m taking you home.”
I laugh. “No, you’re not.”
He points at the parking lot. “You can’t sleep in your car. Come on, I’ll take you home.”
“No. I’ll call Violet and Josh. They’ll come get me.”
He shakes his head. “Why would you call them? They would have to wake up JJ to come out and get you. Just let me take you home.”
He’s not wanting to take no for an answer, so I tell him the one thing he probably hasn’t considered. “I live in Jasper. It’s a thirty-minute ride from here. You’ll be driving an hour to get home. I’ll catch another ride.”
“Emily, quit being ridiculous. I can’t just leave you in a dark parking lot while you try to figure out a way home. I know I’m an ass—and don’t deny it, I’ve heard exactly what you think of me—but I’m not a prick. Now will you please come on.”
Guilt causes my skin to heat and my face to flush. How did he know I think he’s an ass? Probably Aiden or Treyton told him. He’s towering over me, and it’s not like I have a lot of options. “Fine,” I tell him, knowing that I should be a little nicer since he is going out of his way to take me home.
I gather my tote bag and my purse up, leave the key under the mat, and then follow Dawson to his SUV. He doesn’t open the door for me, which I really didn’t expect him to. I put my things in the back, buckle up, and train my eyes on the side window.