I turned in my car seat to look around and saw a vehicle behind me. “Oh, awesome! They're here early.”
It wasn't a tow truck, though. It was an SUV, but maybe they were just checking on me to see what I needed. I clambered out, walking through the knee-deep snow to find Ian glaring at me as he stepped out of the SUV.
“What the hell are you doing?” he opened with.
“What the hell areyoudoing?” I lobbed right back at him.
“When I got back to the house and realized you'd been crazy enough to leave in this weather, I figured you came here. I knew the driveway wasn't plowed, and as far as I can tell, you’re stuck.”
I rolled my eyes. “It's fine. Not a big deal. I've already called a car service.”
Ian muttered something under his breath. The snowfall had let up yet again, so I had a clear view of his eye roll. “You're coming with me.”
“I'm not coming with you. I’ll wait for the car service.” I crossed my arms.
“Fine. Then I'll wait with you.”
“Oh my god, you're kidding me,” I muttered. “Don't you need to drop the groceries off?”
“I already have,” he ground out. “Let’s wait in my SUV.”
Determined to out-contrary him, I retorted, “No, I’ll wait in my car.”
“Fine, I'll sit with you in your car.”
“What if I don't want you to sit with me in my car? Oh my god, you're such a man!” I exclaimed as he walked through the snow, stopping in front of me.
“Iama man, so it only stands to reason I am such a man.”
“You know what I mean. I wasn't making that comment as a factual statement.”
He shrugged. Just then—hallelujah—the car service showed up early. “Oh look, they're already here. I don’t need you to wait. I'm sure they can get my car out, and I’ll drive back myself.”
I glanced longingly over my shoulder at my parents’ long driveway that was blanketed in snow and the dark house that sat at the end. The energy I’d summoned to figure out how to get the utilities turned on blew away with a gust of wind. Ian waited with me as the car service guy got out. As soon as he got closer, I recognized him. “Joe!”
Joe Martinelli smiled over at me. “Well, hey, Jane. How’s it going?”
I eyed my car and shrugged as I glanced back at him. “Minus my car being stuck, I’m fine.”
Joe grinned. “I’ll help with your car.” His eyes shifted to Ian, and for a second, there was a thread of tension.
Ian cast an easy smile. “Hey, Joe, good to see you.”
Joe dipped his head. “Same here. How’s life?” We chatted briefly before he asked, “How’s Thea?” His tone was casual, but we all knew the question was loaded. Joe and Thea had been high school sweethearts until her father forbid her from seeing him. She’d been heartbroken over it. Joe’s family owned the town’s only automotive repair place, and her father had considered him beneath her. I had no idea if Ian had an opinion on any of that.
Ian replied, “She’s pretty good. I’m sure she’d love to catch up.”
“Maybe sometime,” Joe said lightly, and that was that. He shifted his attention to my car.
Moments later, Ian had moved his SUV. Joe hooked up the tow truck and pulled my car back to the center of the snow-covered drive.
He got out and did a quick circle around my car before looking over at me and shaking his head. “What's wrong?” I asked.
“Your tire rim is bent,” he explained.
“What does that mean?” I said, ignoring the sinking sensation in my stomach.
“You need a whole new rim and the tire to go with it. You can’t drive on it now.”