Page 15 of The Tomorrows After You
6
Riot
It wasn’t my morning to mow at the library but I had left a bizarre spot in the front bushes yesterday. I hedged them best I could but there was an awkward empty space where the branches grew in the wrong direction, leaving a little alcove that begged to be filled.
I woke up early, grabbed the materials I needed, and headed there.
The spring sunrise was beautiful that morning and I stood up straight, pushing my shoulders down to let my face warm against the rays. I took a step back to appraise the small contraption I’d arranged. I fiddled with the bolts before feeling accomplished enough to put my tools back in my truck.
As I pulled the tailgate down, I spotted her. Her car at least. I was too far away to see inside but when I squinted in her direction, the engine started up. It turned over so rough I was surprised to see that dinosaur of a car peel out so fast.
Weird. Yesterday morning she said she was working on her computer and fell asleep. It was possible. But two nights in a row? I began to wonder if she had somewhere to stay. I remembered the look in her eye the day before when she had dropped that armor of a façade for a split second and genuinely asked for help.
That moment had stirred something in me. Iwantedto help her. And that made me nervous. This girl could be here for ulterior reasons, and I didn’t need more occasions to engage with her. Still, she didn’t seem to know who I was, so as long as that held, I was safe.
She peeled out, slowing down when she passed the entrance where I had been working. Had she seen me? My nerves ticked up a notch.
Afterchugging the remaining hot Gatorade in my car, I gave my face a quick slap. I had to keep my guard up; she was stillmedia,after all.
Six hours dragged by at the auto shop before my shift manager told me I could go home a little early if I had gotten all the necessary quotes out, which I had. Four hours ago.
I was about to pack up when the office line rang. It was the regional AAA affiliate. There was a disabled vehicle right on the outskirts of Godot and it wasjusttoo far for them to cover.
“Riot, can you check it out? Last job of the day then you’re good to take off,”my manager, Rodger, said.
I scanned the wall of keys to the tow trucks and service vehicles.
“We got a tow here?”
“Nah, Evan had to take it out about an hour ago. It probably just needs a jump. Grab some cables and try to get it back here and we’ll take a better look.”
I sighed. My truck bed was still full of all the materials I’d used that morning but if it was an easy jump, it would be quick.
Or so I thought.
As I turned the corner, I spotted the car on the side of the road and recognized it immediately. I groaned and cursed under my breath.
I rolled to a stop, parking in front ofNicolette Parker who leaned one hip against her relic of a Cadillac and shielded her eyes.
“I don’t know what happened, it just cut to a stop, it’s never done—”She launched into her story but stopped short when my feet hit the pavement. She dropped her arms and tilted her head toward the sky.“You gotta be kidding me. Of all the garages in this entire county, they sendyou?”
My feet cut to a stop and I bristled at the sneer on her face. I turned to get back in the truck.Fuck it,she didn’t want my help, she could call one of her many resources.
“Wait! Fine, I’m sorry.”She threw up her hands.“Can you get it going?”
I bore my eyes into the whiny little witch. Her fingers ran through her blonde hair, glinting off the sun. A light gleam of sweat glistened across her chest—
I pulled my attention back to her car, walking over and popping the hood up.God, how old was this thing?
“Jesus…”I said under my breath. She took a step toward me, and I caught the brief scent of lilacs.“When was the last time you drove this thing?”
“Easton’s a big city. I didn’t need it much, and it got me from there to here, didn’t it?”
I hung my head between my shoulders and growled to myself to take deep breaths. If I could deal with convicts in prison and the judgmental people back in Godot, I could deal with a petulant city girl.
I checked the batteries and the fluids but to be honest, I wasn’t good with Caddies, especially ones this old.
“Gonna have to get a tow back,”I said.
