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I laughed. Not because what he said was funny but because it figured that he did. Of course he did. I’d put my foot in my mouth half a dozen times at that point. The least I could do was take what was left of my dignity and go.
“I’ll just go for now. I need to get my bearings and pick my sons up.”
“Ms. Lane, again, I wouldn’t advise you to try to drive this truck,” he repeated.
“I’m sure it’s cooled off enough for me to drive a few miles. I don’t live too far from here.”
“You sure you want to do that?” he asked.
“Yes. I need to figure a few things out.”
“Get the lady her keys,” he told the guy standing a few feet away.
“Thank you,” I said, already pulling out my phone to text my uncle.
When I climbed up into my truck, Victor’s dad put his hand on the edge of the open door.
“You sure you don’t want to let me fix your truck?” he asked.
“Positive.” I shrugged, extending my hand for my keys.
“What makes you so positive? I promise we’re not trying to overcharge you. I’ll set up a payment plan for you and everything.”
“No thanks. I don’t want you doing me any favors.”
He chuckled as he passed me the keys. “Who said anything about a favor?”
“How many people do you extend this payment plan to? I don’t want to owe anybody anything.”
He shook his head. “It’s not about you owing me.”
I didn’t know what game he was playing, but I knew I was taking my truck and getting out of there. There was no telling how this would play out.
“Thanks, but no thanks.”
He took a step back and released the door. “Fine.”
When I closed the door, he spoke up again. “If that temperature gauge climbs again, and it will, pull this truck over.”
“I will.”
“I’m serious, Ms. Lane. You could blow a head gasket.”
“I got you, Mr.—”
“It’s Quinton.”
“I got you, Quinton,” I said, nodding as I put the truck in reverse.
I didn’t bother to look at the gauge until I was all the way out of the lot. The time I’d spent there had allowed it to cool off significantly. See, all I had to do was make it home, get my car, then go pick up my boys. I drove slowly, hoping that by some stroke of luck that would help keep the temperature down.
My uncle messaged me back to let me know that he would come by before dark to see what I needed. That was a relief. By the time I made it home, the truck was practically boiling. Instead of dwelling on something I couldn’t take care of, I hopped in my car and headed to meet Rhonda so I could get my baby.
4
Quinton
I was irrationally annoyed as I stood in the parking lot and watched Ms. Lane drive away. For a woman who wasn’t my problem, she sure knew how to get under my skin. I didn’t even know her first name, and there I was, worrying about her.
