Page 77 of Vince
Defeated, I slump into the seat.
Think. Think. Think. Who should I call?
Vince is the first to pop to mind… but it’s late.
Abby’s likely at Drew’s, and Chloe’s like waking the dead if I call at this hour.
Before I can talk myself out of it and just walk my ass home, I pull up his number and press the call button.
It only rings twice before I hear a groggy, “Hello?”
Damn, his voice is sexy, but I feel guilty as hell for waking him. “Hey… Um… my car won’t start.”
“Are you safe?” Of course, that’s his first concern. I hear rustling in the background, and I can tell he’s on the move.
“Yeah, I’m locked in my car. Asher and I were the last ones here, but I didn’t try to start my car until he’d already left.”
“He doesn’t wait for you?” he accuses.
“Usually he does. I turned my lights on… but he drives a loud truck and must not have realized I didn’t start my car.”
“Sit tight. I’ll be there as soon as I can. Tell me what your car’s doing.”
“When I went to start it, it just clicked. Like the battery is dead or maybe something is wrong with the starter,” I wonder aloud. I know the basics about cars, but beyond that, my knowledge is shit. “But my interior lights are bright, so maybe it’s not the battery.”
“I’m getting in my Jeep now. Talk to me until I arrive.”
God, could Vince be any sweeter?
“I’m sorry to wake you.” I shake my head, knowing he’s got to be up in a few hours with Julia. Guilt rolls through me in full force. “I guess I could’ve called an Uber or something.”
“Syd, you can call me day or night, and I’ll be there. I’d rather you not get into a stranger’s car at this hour without anyone knowing where you are.”
I sigh, realizing he has a point.
It’s not long before I see his Jeep heading up the road in the distance. When he pulls up beside me, I get out to greet him.
He hops down from his Jeep and pulls me into a hug. He quickly kisses me once, then pulls back. “Pop the hood. Try starting it again, and I’ll see if you need a jump. I have cables in the back.”
I try again, but there’s not even a click this time. He fiddles with the battery cables, then asks me to try again.
Nothing.
He hooks up the jumper cables to both vehicles, and we wait patiently for the battery to be charged. When he thinks enough time has passed, he asks me to try again.
I get a few clicks, but the engine doesn’t turn over.
“Well, shit. That doesn’t sound good. I think you’re right about the starter. Do you want me to wait with you to call a tow? Or…” He glances at his watch before adding, “Would you like to deal with this tomorrow?”
My exhaustion from the day hits as I yawn. “I’d rather just get to bed. It will be safe here for tonight, and I’ll deal with it later. Besides, you have to be up at the crack of dawn with Jules and work all day. Let’s get you home and back to sleep.”
“I’ll be fine,” he insists. “But let’s get you home. You’ve got to be wiped out. That’s the third yawn I’ve witnessed, and I haven’t been here that long.”
Had I been yawning all this time?
Crap, just the thought makes me yawn yet again. He’s right. I’m tired.
He helps me grab my purse and a few things I don’t want to leave in my vehicle and lock up. Then the gentleman he is, guides me to his Jeep and kisses me once before helping me in. Then he rounds the front of the vehicle and takes the quickest route home.
