Page 36 of Behind the Lyrics
“Mister,” she said as she stepped to my side. “You got five seconds before I smash those fat sausage fingers of yours into a can of spam.” She cracked her knuckles and jogged toward the front.
He gave the truck gas and tore out of the parking lot with dust flying and Rusty a sad, fading thing that broke my heart.
I stomped my feet in anger, and Terri clenched her fists.
“It’s okay, girl, we’re going to get to the bottom of this.” With a rough jerk, she manhandled my arm and dragged me toward the station. “That motherfucker don’t know who he’s messin’ with. I’ll—”
Tires crunched behind us, and we both spun around.
A truck with a flatbed trailer pulled up and parked on the side of the road. On its bed sat a black, midsized SUV with tinted windows.
Terri put her hands on her hips. “What the hell is going on around here?”
I shook my head and peered down the highway in the direction Rusty had disappeared.That damn driver’s company is going to get an earful when I track them down.I probably wouldn’t even be able to afford the fines or whatever to get my truck out. Deep inside, my stomach churned and my head pounded. All I wanted to do was sit down and cry.I don’t even have a way to get back and forth to work now.How would I be able to keep my job?
“Ms. Morales?” A stocky man, dressed in overalls, ambled around the front of the eighteen-wheeler, a piece of paper in his hand.
“That’s me.” I rubbed my forehead, numb and confused. “What do you want?”
“Just needed to confirm.” He stuffed the paper into his pocket and walked to the end of the trailer then lowered two ramps. “This here’s your brand-new baby.”
“Huh?” I squinted at Terri. “Did I hear him right?”
“Yeah.” She tilted her head, as if thinking, then jutted her chin to the car. “What do you mean? That’s her car?”
He nodded, then strolled up the incline, popped open the driver-side door, and climbed inside.
“I’m so confused.” I shook my head, trying to process the past five minutes. First, some asshole stole my truck, and now another asshole brought a new SUV?It doesn’t make sense.
“Girl.” Terri snatched my shoulder and squeezed. Hard. “I know what this is. It’s anI’m sorrygift. Don’t take it from that dickhead—he ain’t worth it.”
“What…?” I closed my eyes and drew in a deep breath, the dust coating the insides of my nostrils. “Hewouldn’t.”
“He did.” She pointed to the pretty, new car backing down the ramps.
The man parked it in front of the station and got out. “Here you go.” He held out the key fob to me, but I refused to grab it.
“You tell that asshole he can rot in hell before I take this thing.” I flicked my gaze to the SUV. It really was beautiful. Not too showy or big—perfect, if it hadn’t come from a cheating, lying bastard.
A look of incredulity flashed across his face. “Ma’am, no one else bought this. Everything’s in your name. I have the signed papers right here.” He fished them from his pocket.
I yanked the documents away and thumbed through them. Itlookedlike my signature, but I knew better. Somehow, Viktor forged these or had someone else fake them.
“That dirty son of a bitch.” As I gripped the top to rip the papers to shreds, I stamped a foot on the sand, rage simmering the blood in my veins. “I don’t wantanythingfrom him.”
Terri grabbed my hands. “Hold up.” She pried the title from my fingers, gave it a quick glance, then turned to the delivery guy. “Thank you. We’ll take it from here.”
He handed her the key, gave me a funny glance, then sprinted to his truck. He must’ve thought Terri and I were out of our minds. It wasn’t far from the truth.
An overwhelming urge hit to call Viktor and scream until I became hoarse.
“Woman.” Terri gripped my wrist. “Thisisa hell of an apology. I’m not saying to keep it, but you’re stuck without a ride until we figure something out.” She tugged me toward the building. “Let’s get out of this oven called Arizona and into some cool air before our brains fry, so we can figure out how to handle this.”
I followed her, seething inside. She was right. I couldn’t stew about it until after work. It was only ten minutes until I’d be on air, and I needed to calm myself.
You can’t buy my forgiveness, Viktor. Never. I’ll crash that vehicle into your hotel when you get here. Just wait.
This mental picture cheered me up way more than it should’ve, and a small smile pulled at my lips.How would that be for a great, big, old fuck you and no thanks?
