Myphonebuzzesinmy pocket. Evie just finished eating the breakfast of champions—Lucky Charms—so it can’t be much later than seven-thirty. It about killed me to give Evie something with basically no nutritional value, but the smile she’s been wearing all morning is worth it.
I have no clue who could be calling so early on a Saturday morning, but I pull my phone out and see it’s a local number. The thought crosses my mind that it could be an emergent patient, so I answer. “Hello?”
“Hi, is this Tyler?” The voice is feminine and sounds familiar, but I can’t quite place who it is.
“Yes,” I say warily, hoping it’s not one of the overzealous women from Kelsey’s newspaper ad that somehow got my new number. “May I ask who’s calling?”
“This is your neighbor, Shayna.”
I sigh in relief. “Is everything all right?” My mind jumps to the worst-case scenarios regarding Kelsey. She’d returned to work a few days after she recovered from the stomach bug, but I’m worried she caught something else or that she’s hurt. I don’tknow why else her roommate would be calling me on a Saturday morning.
“I got your number out of Kels’s phone because I think I heard her say once that you’re into classic cars. Is that true?”
Random, but okay. “Yeah, my dad’s a gearhead and taught me everything I know.”
“I have no clue what any of that means, but Kelsey is putting on a classic car show for the residents at Sunrise Springs this morning. The man who was supposed to come in and talk about the cars came down with the flu. I know she’d never ask you herself, but is there any way you’re free to come save the day for her?”
It would be a great precursor to our date tonight. Kelsey agreed to it when she was sick, and she hasn’t backed out yet, so I’m taking that as a good sign. I smile. “As long as you don’t mind watching an adorable five-year-old?”
“Deal. I love spending time with that cutie.”
“Okay, what time does the car show start?”
“Uh, like thirty minutes.”
I grimace, pushing up from the table and setting Evie’s cereal bowl in the sink. “I’ll drop Evie off in a few minutes.”
“You’re really helping Kelsey out. Thanks, Tyler.”
I throw Evie over my shoulder, causing her to erupt in a fit of giggles. “What are you doing, Uncle Ty?”
“We’re going to play a game. You get to pick out your own outfit, and we’re going to see who can get dressed the fastest. Then you’re going to hang out next door with Ms. Shayna.”
Her eyes light up. “I’ll get ready so fast.” She runs into her room before I can respond, and I hear her chanting the wordsgirls' dayrepeatedly.
I rush to my room, putting on a pair of jeans, a black long-sleeve tee, and a tan jacket. I’m pulling on a pair of socks when Evie bursts into my bedroom.
“I beat you!” She twirls. “I’m wearing all the colors of the rainbow. Do you like it?”
“Wow.” I’m at a loss for words, taking in her pink sweater with green flowers on it, purple leggings, aqua-blue tutu, and orange socks. “What acolorfulchoice.”
“Exactly.” She smiles wide. “Now, can I see Ms. Shay?”
“Yes, once we get our shoes on.”
With that statement, she sprints down the stairs. I follow after her, pulling on brown shoes while Evie slides on pink boots lined with fur. After dropping her off next door, I run through a local coffee shop’s drive-through, grabbing a coffee for Kelsey the way she likes it—just a small dash of cream.
Once the coffee is secured, I drive to Sunrise Springs, arriving just on time. The parking lot is fuller than usual, but I immediately spot the six classic cars set up near the entrance to the building.
I park in the back of the lot and jog to the front where I find Kelsey pacing and biting her bottom lip.
She looks up from the ground when I stop in front of her. Her brows furrow, but a soft smile covers her lips, a welcome expression rather than the scowl I used to get from her. “What are you doing here?”
“I heard there’s a nasty bug going around. Thought you might need some help with your event.” I hand over the to-go cup. “I also thought you could use some coffee.”
She takes a sip, closes her eyes, and hums. “This is perfect.” Her eyes dart open. “Wait, how do you know how I take my coffee?”
I shrug, shoving my hands in my front pockets. “I just pay attention.”
