“Edie?” he asked, voice husky from sleep.
I took a deep breath. “John.”
“What’s wrong?”
“The, uh, one of my tires blew. I tried to change it myself, but—”
“Where are you?” There were rustling noises in the background, the jangling of keys.
“Bell Road. A couple of miles along.”
“Get in the car and lock the doors,” he ordered. “I’ll be there soon.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
I let down the jack and did as told, sitting in the dark, cell held tight in my shaking, sweaty hands. Deep, calm breaths and nice thoughts. I closed my eyes, concentrating on good things. Kittens and cake and books and shit. Happy things. At least I’d gotten semi-dressed in black yoga pants and a tank top, a pair of flip-flops on my feet.
Years passed. Or at least twenty-three minutes. Someone tapped on the window and I shrieked. John. I flipped the lock and slowly climbed out of the car.
“You all right?” he asked, face set.
I nodded. “Thanks for coming.”
“What were you doing out here?”
“You were right,” I said. “About driving at night. It helps.”
He nodded.
“Here, hold the light.” He pressed it into my hands and dropped down onto one knee beside the busted wheel. Evilest tire in all of creation. Of course, for him the nut came off on his first try with ease. Bastard of a thing.
“I must have loosened it for you,” I said, the tips of my ears burning with embarrassment.
He just grunted.
“I do know how to change a tire. It was just, you know, the nut.”
A nod.
John had the car roadworthy again in about two minutes. God, for him it’d all been so simple. The boy probably thought I’d lured him out here under false pretenses. Because I wanted his attention or something stupid.
“You okay to drive?” he asked.
I hid my shaking hands behind my back. “Absolutely.”
“I’ll follow you back to your place,” he said. “Make sure you get there okay.”
“Thank you.”
Back at home, I don’t know what I expected. A wave of the hand, a chin tip maybe. But he parked his car and got out, moseying on over to where I stood.
“Your mom home?” he asked.
“No. She doesn’t finish until four.”
I’d left on the light in the front hall and the bedside lamp in my bedroom. Walking into a totally dark house had a tendency to freak me out these days. Meanwhile, my stupid hands were still trembling. The noise the tire made when it blew had been shocking, true. But that had been nearly an hour ago. I shook them hard, trying to dislodge the fear, to get the tremor to ease.
When I looked up, John stood silently watching. “I can stay for a while if you want.”
“No,” I said, guilt making me refuse. “Really, you should go home, get some sleep. I’m going to as well.”
He just looked at me.
“Thank you for rescuing me. I would have been in real trouble if you hadn’t come.”
A brief smile flitted across his lips. “No problem.”
I smiled back at him, took a deep breath, and raised my hand in farewell. “Good night.”
“’Night.”
“Or morning.”
“Right.”
The curve of his lips could have kept me occupied for hours. Wings stirred in my belly, both scary and thrilling at the same time. Friends again or not, liking John in a more-than-that way was dumb. Insane even. Still, just to be sure where we stood, I wanted to ask if the fight had been archived, forgotten. Except just bringing it up again seemed risky during this time of peace. Maybe I should, though. Clear the air and all that.
“Edie,” he said, shaking his head. “I’m waiting for you to go inside.”
“Oh. Right.”
“You sure you don’t want me to stay?”
More than I could say, and for reasons less than pure. “Oh, no. I, um . . .”
“I don’t mind.”
“No, no. I’m fine. Really. Thanks.” I rushed to the front door, unlocking it with all due haste. “’Bye.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow at school.” He took a step backward, watching me all the while. Then he turned, heading straight for his car.
“Today at school,” I called out.
He laughed. “Whatever.”
Such was the magic of John Cole, I even managed to get to sleep. Bet I still had the stupid smile on my face, too.
John: Hey
Me: Hi. How’s 1:38 am treating you?
John: Shit. You?
Me: Same
John: No driving at night alone again right?
Me: I’m guessing you want to hear no…
John: correct
John: Been worrying about it
Me: Alright. I’ll text you first if I do.
John: Ok thanks
Me: And you’ll let me know too
John: You want to know when I go out?
Me: That’s what you’re asking from me
Me: Hello?
John: Ok deal fine
John: I can look after myself though
Me: I put a baseball bat in my car.
John: You’re weaponized now?
Me: Or ready for impromptu baseball games
John: Right
Me: So…what else shall we talk about? What do you usually discuss when you text girls at one in the morning?
John: I don’t
Me: Sure you do. Come on. Tell me.
John: You don’t want to hear that
Me: I absolutely do.
John: lets talk about movies or something
Me: Waiting.
John: Shit Edie
John: I ask them if I can come over
Me: That’s all?
John: Yeah
Me: You don’t text them anything else?
John: No
Me: None of the “what are you wearing” thing first?
John: No
Me: Let me get this straight, you give them no lead-in whatsoever?
John: Already told you no. Can we talk about something else now?
Me: Man, you’re so lazy.
John: It works
Me: I’m actually disappointed in you right now.
John: FFS
John: we both get what we want. Why complicate things?
Me: I’m beginning to think life is about the complications.
John: Enough shit in life is complicated thanks. Sex can stay easy