"Yeah. I remember."
"Why'd you do that?"
"Because it needed to be done."
"No, it didn't."
"Yes," I said. "It did."
"But why?"
"Because I meant what I said. For what I did to you, I deserved a good ass-beating. Still do. Butsomebodywouldn't take me up on it. So that car, it was the closest thing I had."
And it was. With the kind of money I had now, I could buy anything I wanted. They were just things – replaceable, interchangeable. But that car, it wasn't. I'd restored it with my own two hands. In a way, it was part of me, just like my wrists, just like my sanity, which had taken a serious beating over the last couple of days.
Chloe's voice grew softer. "You shouldn't have done it."
"You're right. I shouldn't have done it. But I'm not talking about the car."
She was quiet for a beat, and then said, "Speaking of cars, I've got to leave for work in a little bit, so I'll catch you later, alright?"
I didn't want her to go. But I forced myself to say. "Alright. We're still on for tomorrow, right?"
"Yup, it's a date."
At this, I had to smile. "A date, huh?"
"Um, well," she stammered, "I'll guess I'll see you this time tomorrow, huh? Okay, uh, goodbye then." And then she was gone.
Holding the phone, I was still smiling. There was hope. She might deny it, but I could hear it in her voice.
She still loved me. And, like the bastard I was, I was going to work that for everything I had.
I checked the time. It was mid-afternoon. I sank back onto my bed and looked up at the ceiling. Tomorrow – it felt like too damn long.
Later that night, I was in the bonus garage out back when I heard Amber calling out from somewhere outside. "Hey Lawton! Are you in there?"
Reluctantly, I opened the garage-door, and there she was, standing just outside the opening.
She was smiling. "I've got super-good news, and I wanted to tell you before anyone else did." Her smile widened. "I just saw Chloe."
"Where?"
"You know, the place where she works. That restaurant."
Damn it. So once again, Amber had been bothering Chloe on the job. I tried to keep my voice level. "Why'd you gothere?"
"Because that's where she was. I mean, she wasn'there, atyourplace." Amber pointed toward Chloe's house. "And she wasn'tthere, at her place. So anyway, I found her where she was. See?"
WhatIsaw was another reason for Chloe to hate me. "And you said this wasgoodnews?"
"Definitely." Amber was smiling again. "I stopped by, had some pancakes, and told her that I was really super-sorry."
Amber wasn't the only one who was sorry. Earlier today, when Amber had made noises about apologizing, this wasn't what I had in mind.
Amber was still talking. "And I explained about the other stuff too, so I think we're good."
"What other stuff?"
