Page 70 of Without You

Brody

“All right then, you’re good to go,” I tell the transport driver who’s taking Chase’s truck to the video site.

“This thing is sweet. If it doesn’t make it there, just look the other way,” he jokes.

“Ha ha. I’ll do that.”

Once he’s pulling out of the driveway, I take my phone out of my pocket and dial Katie. I haven’t talked to her all morning and after waking up next to her, I miss her.

“Brody?” she answers, her voice a little higher than normal. It puts me instantly on alert. “Oh my gosh, finally! I’ve been trying to get ahold of you for hours!”

“What’s wrong?” I ask, rather than saying hello.

“Nothing. Well, there was, but oh my gosh, you wouldn’t believe the morning I’ve had!”

“What happened?” I ask, my voice hard.

“Hang on. I’ve gotta switch you to Bluetooth so I’m not on the phone while I drive. That’s all I need is to be in an accident because I’m distracted.”

A few seconds later, she’s back.

“Sorry.”

“Not a problem. Now, tell me what’s been going on.”

The story she goes on to tell me has me pacing around the parking lot, irritated that I wasn’t there to help her and also irritated that she actually sat down to eat with a stranger.

“Katie. You get how dangerous that is, right?”

She sighs. “I know. I know! The café was busy, though, and I know that doesn’t mean anything, but honestly, I went with my instinct there and I stayed alert. Promise. I also had my can of mace handy the entire time.”

That makes me feel a little better. “I’m just glad that you’re safe now.”

“It was nice of that guy to help, you know? I wasn’t sure what I was going to do. It’s not like they have pay phones around anymore.”

“Seems like they should, at least there, anyway, if it’s a complete dead zone.”

“Right. I suppose I probably could have asked someone in the café if I could use their house phone. He showed up to help before that thought crossed my mind, though.”

“Maybe. Anyway, did you get in touch with your professor to let her know why you weren’t there?”

“Not yet. This is the first my phone found service. I’ll call her when I get off the phone with you and explain what happened. If she doesn’t believe me, I’ll show her the ugly spare tire on my car,” she snickers. “She’s pretty nice, so I’m not too worried. Hopefully we can still get together and then I’ll be back to Benton in no time.”

“You can’t drive a spare all the way back, you know. I’ll come meet you with the shop’s service truck to get it fixed.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“Are you my girl?”

I can hear the smile in her voice when she replies, “You betcha.”

“Good. Then let me take care of you. You were stranded. Some other dude helped you. I’m grateful for that, but now’s my turn to step in.”

“You’re the best boyfriend there ever was, Brody Redding,” she says in an exaggerated accent.

Damn she’s cute. Funny. And luckily, mine.

“I’m about twenty minutes away,” she says. “Do I need to send you my location when I get there so you know where I am?”

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