Angry, I set my teacup down a little too hard. The ancient porcelain cracks and the last of my cold Earl Grey spills across the counter.
“Shit,” I yelp, scrambling to save my book from the spreading tea before grabbing a handful of tissues. I sweep the mess into the trash, soggy tissues, broken cup and all. I growl in the back of my throat. That was my only teacup. I have one mug back at home, but I need that for coffee. Now I have to go out and buy a stupid cup and it won’t be as cute as my vintage one. Maybe I’ll get lucky at the thrift store.
Today sucks. I close up right at 5 pm. Sometimes I hang out a little longer because tourists will wander in after dinner if I’m still open, but tonight I just want to go home. I’m going to get in my pajamas, make some ramen for dinner, watch a movie on my phone, and fall asleep before the sun even sets. No shame, that sounds awesome right now.
I’m only five minutes from downtown when my car makes a clunk. Not a little “you-hit-a-pothole-too-hard” clunk. This is a CLUNK. And then there’s a horrifying grinding sound accompanied by billowing smoke from under the hood of the Civic.
I manage to pull the car off the road before it stops, but it’s a near miracle. I’m shaking with adrenaline as I grab my purse and jump out of the car, probably setting a new land speed record. I don’t know much about cars, but smoke is never a good sign, right?
Once I’m at a safe distance, at least I hope it’s a safe distance, I try to filter through my options. I’m broke. Towing is going to cost an arm and a leg and repairs will take the other half of me. I am so completely, royally screwed.
Screaming out at the picturesque vineyard behind the car, I give in to the urge to throw a temper tantrum. I kick the gravel that covers the shoulder of the road and heave an angry breath before getting myself under control.
My options are few and not very palatable. Sighing, I call Lilah. I run my hands through my hair as the phone rings. She finally answers and her voice is breathless as she says, “Hey Parker!”
Oh god, I hope I didn’t interrupt something. Yikes.
“Hey, I’m so sorry to bug you. I-I’m stranded.”
“Oh my God, where? What happened?” she asks. I can hear Ben in the background asking her what’s wrong.
“Um… I’m like five minutes outside of town. My car broke down. It’s bad. There was grinding and clunking and now it’s smoking.”
“Wait, is it smoke or steam?”
I peer at the car without getting closer. “I have no clue… maybe steam?”
Lilah groans. “What do I know? I don’t even know why I’m asking. I’ll send Asher to help, ok? He’s closest and he can tow your car back to the shop.”
“Wait—” my voice cracks. “Do you think he’ll let me work out a payment plan or something? I don’t think I can pay him today.” I actually know that I can’t pay him right now, but my pride is damaged enough standing here on the side of the road with my car billowing smoke as cars creep by, curious faces pressed to the windows. Smoke or steam. Either way, it’s a death sentence for the car. There’s no way it’s worth repairing.
“Oh my God, he’ll do it for free. There’s no way I’d let him charge you! Don’t worry about a thing, Parker. We’ve got you.”
Tears well up in my eyes as I thank her. “I’ll pay him back,” I promise. I’m not a charity case, but I’m also not stupid enough to look the gift horse in the mouth when I’m being offered a reprieve.
“Pfft, stop. Don’t worry about it! Just hang on. I’ll go call Asher right now. Give me your location and he’ll be there in a couple minutes.”