Page 66 of Without You

It doesn’t take Elijah long to get the spare tire on but now I realize I have a problem because I have his spare tire on my car and I will have to figure out a way to get it back to him. I don’t even know where he lives. The luxury mid-size SUV he’s driving that’s similar to mine only in its size because mine is a base model and not luxury at all, does have Tennessee license plates but that doesn’t mean anything.

He stands up and brushes the dust off his jeans and hands and returns all his tire fixing tools — that’s the technical term, I’m sure of it — to his car and turns to face me.

“What now? I mean, I need to get your spare tire back to you somehow and I’d really like to pay you for your time and help. I don’t have much cash on me, but I can see if there’s an ATM in the café.”

He chuckles again like I’m somehow amusing him. “You don’t need to pay me back.”

“How do I get the tire back to you?”

“You live in Benton, right? Or around there?”

I take a step back. Now I’m a little creeped out. I wasn’t earlier but he just officially crossed a line.

“No?” I hate that it comes out as a question rather than an answer.

He takes off his ball cap and runs his fingers through his hair then puts it back on, adjusting the bill so it’s low on his face. That doesn’t necessarily help the creep factor he’s suddenly giving off. When he notices I take another step away and bring my mace out of the pocket of my hoodie, he holds his hands up and winces. “Shit. Sorry. Now I freaked you out. I just gave you reason to question my whole ‘I’m not a serial killer’ promise. Here’s the deal. I was in Benton last night and saw you walking on the sidewalk.”

My eyes widen and he winces again. “I’m making it worse. I promise I didn’t follow you. I was leaving town and heading back home and thought I’d stop in for a cup of coffee. Happened to see you. Just happened to. I promise.”

“You were in Benton last night?”

“For business. Kind of. Anyway, I was grabbing some dinner and I saw you. You caught my eye because you’re well, gorgeous,” he adds with a little blush and my eyebrows shoot to my hairline. “Does that make you uncomfortable? For me to say that?”

“A little.”

“Sorry, again.”

“Honestly, it makes me more uncomfortable that you know where I live.”

“I can see that.”

“So, yeah, maybe we need to just part ways and I’ll get my tire fixed and leave it somewhere for you?”

“How am I going to know where you leave it? I mean, I can get it from you in Benton sometime, but it’d be better if we made a plan. Or, exchanged numbers.”

I can’t help it. I burst out laughing. “You think I’m going to give you my number? You really are crazy!”

He grips the back of his neck and looks a little sheepish. “I have to admit, I don’t think I’ve ever had this much trouble trying to ask a girl out.”

My eyes widen at this extra bit of information. “You’re trying to ask me out?” I double over in laughter this time. He can’t be serious! There’s just… “You can’t be serious!”

“Well, I was. But not anymore!” he says, laughing also. “I wouldn’t go out with you if you paid me,” he adds on good naturedly.

I roll my eyes. “Wow. You’re something else. How about if I get my tire fixed and leave your spare at the tire shop in Benton? Would that be okay? Do you know where that is or won’t you be back in town for work again?”

“I’ll be back and yeah, I know where it’s at. Think I passed by it this morning. Let’s plan on that, though you honestly don’t need to get it back to me. I can get a new one.”

“No way! That’s a huge pain and way too much to ask.”

“Okay, then you win. That’d be fine. I’m sorry for scaring you. Can I make it up to you?”

“You just don’t quit, do you?” I tease. “I thought I already let you down easy.”

“Laughing in my face is letting me down easy?”

I shrug and grin. “I couldn’t help laughing. It’s all so ridiculous.”

“Why’s that?”

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