“Favorite song?” Is this question number thirty or thirty-one?
“Don’t have one.”
“Food?”
“Pasta. Every day.”
My brain is tired.
“Is that all you got?” He asks.
“Just gearing up for the good ones.” A sign appears for a rest stop. It’s one in the morning, but if we are going to be driving all night, I require snacks. And lots of them.
“Watch out!”
My eyes shoot to the road a split second before the pothole. I swerve to miss it and the tire grazes the edge with barely a thump.
Phew.My foot rests heavier on the gas. “I think I’m going to stop up there–”
Whoomp.The van hits what feels like a speed ramp and then we are airborne. My hands fly off the wheel. Bertha lands with a thud and a pop.
Trent is screaming and…I’mnotscreaming…anymore.
My heart pounds in my ears as I register that we are still on earth. Still alive.
“What just happened?”
I press on the gas and slowly maneuver us off the road. Sighing, I speak the words I hope aren’t true. “I think we popped a tire.”
Trent drops his head against the headrest. “We are never going to make it home.”
“This isn’t ideal,” I say, unclicking my seat belt. “But don’t worry, I have a spare. We will be back on the road in a jiffy.”
I hop out and run around the van with my flashlight on. Yep. There’s the flat. On Trent’s side. Bertha’s got a vendetta.
I locate the jack and the lug wrench and haul them to the passenger side.
Trent walks up as I’m getting down to insert the jack. “I’m sorry. I’m the one who offended Bertha. I’ll change it.”
“No really,” I wave off his help. “I can do it.”
“I would be a jerk if I didn’t help at least.”
Maybe I’m the jerk because I don’t want his help. I’ve had lots of practice changing a tire on my own. Having him hover over me will only make things awkward.
“It’s fine. Go put your feet up and rest.”
“I’m not doing that,” he practically growls.
That was… kind of sexy. “Can you do that again?”
“What?” he asks.
Well, now he’s killed the moment.
“Karli, just let me do it,” he says.
“No thank you. But,” I sit back on my heels. “If you’re so insistent. I suppose I can teach you how to change a tire.”
