Page 72 of Without You

And this is what makes me irritated with my mother. Because even if I wasn’t giving her a half truth, and there was someone stranded and needed my help, she would still think of herself first.

Me: I’ll come over when I get back to town but I can’t stay long. I have something tonight.

That’s not necessarily the truth, either, but I hope I have plans. Those plans centering around Katie.

Mama: Just don’t skip out on me again.

I toss my phone in one of the cupholders in the truck and climb out, getting to work on fixing Katie’s tire. Whatever she ran over did a number on her tire. I can put in a patch, but I don’t know how long it will hold.

Just as I’m finishing up and tightening the lug nuts, Katie comes walking quickly through the parking lot. I stand up to greet her and grunt when she launches herself into my arms.

“Missed you,” she whispers into my neck. I give her a squeeze and release her but don’t let her get far. I keep my hands on her waist, kiss her on the lips, then step back. “Today was so, so weird. I don’t even know how to thank you for coming all this way or for not yelling at me for being stupid. Or for eating with that weird guy. I didn’t know what else to do! It was all awkward and uncomfortable and he barely talked. I kept wondering what his deal was but I think he’s just super private. I don’t know. I’m glad it’s over.”

“I gotta admit, I hate the idea of you eating with another guy but especially a guy you thought was weird.”

She sighs and looks down. “I know. It wasn’t smart of me. I had my mace and I promise it was in a public area. I felt like I needed to do something to show my appreciation for his help, you know?”

“And that’s the only reason why I’m not mad about it.”

She lifts up on her toes and wraps her arms around my neck, keeping a bit of space between us so she can look up at me. “You’re a good guy, Brody. You know that?”

“I’m really not.”

“You are, too. You might not think so but I know so. You drove all this way to help me.”

“I forgot my mother today,” I admit and watch as amusement skitters across her face.

“What?”

I nod and rub my forehead. “Yeah. I forgot I was supposed to go to her place this morning and help her with a few things.”

“Oops.”

“Yup. After I follow you back to Benton, I’ll head over there and take care of what she needs then I have a favor to ask of you.”

“This my way of paying you back?”

“Yeah, we can call it that.”

“Okay, I’ll bite. What’s the favor?”

“Go out with me? Tonight? I don’t know if you have to work for your dad or if you can take the night off, but I’m seriously getting very impatient when it comes to taking you on a date and officially making this official.”

“Official, huh?” she teases.

“You called me your boyfriend today. Figure that means I’d better take my girlfriend on a date.”

She blushes and I lean down, kiss her on the lips but leave my lips close to hers. “I liked hearing it,” I say then kiss her again and stand up. “You done for the day? Your tire isn’t in the best of shape and I want to make sure you get back home okay. We’ll take it to the shop and have Johnny replace it.”

“Oh! I wondered if it’d be bad. It went flat really quick, it seemed.”

“Big nail was in there so I’m not surprised. Call your dad on the way, make sure he knows you’re not working tonight. I’ll be up to your place at seven to pick you up but I’ll see you before then when I get you settled with Johnny to get your tire fixed.”

“You sure are bossy.”

I shrug. “That’s probably true.”

She gives me a smile that says she doesn’t mind it one bit that I’m bossy.

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