Page 19 of Excitable Boy
Chapter Six
Tony gave thanks that the TIA police were apparently used to drivers accidentally locking their keys in their vehicles in the pick-up and drop-off areas. It only took them five minutes for an officer to appear with a slim-jim to open the door for them.
Shayla was too distraught to drive, and while Tony felt okay to drive, he wasn’t sure he should yet. So he got them out to the cell phone parking lot, parked, and sent Shayla into the restroom to wash her face and blow her nose.
She no sooner walked into the bathroom, and Tony had moved from the driver’s seat to the passenger seat, than the two men burst out laughing again.
“I’m sorry,” Mike said from the backseat, “but the look on her face when she realized she’d locked the keys inside it…” He howled. “You can’t seriously expect menotto tell this story to our friends.”
Tony hoped he could stop laughing before she emerged from the bathroom. “I’m beginning to think maybe we shouldn’t go anywhere on vacation. Two weeks safely locked in our bedroom and ordering groceries from Amazon sounds like a damned good idea.”
“You guys are freakingcursed,” he said. “The anniversary, her car, and now all ofthis?” He grinned. “Dude, you donotget to accuse me of jinxing us.”
Tony sighed. “Yeah, you’re right.Shh, here she comes.”
Bless her heart, she was so upset, and he didn’t blame her.
Now that he was home, he could see how hysterical this was. He suspected she would, too, with a little time and perspective.
And after a few orgasms.
Okay, maybe after alotof orgasms.
She slid behind the wheel and adjusted the seat and mirrors and steering wheel.
“Are you all right, sweetheart?” he asked, struggling to keep a straight face.
She nodded, and the sorrow in her eyes helped him rein in his amusement and not start grinning. “I’m sorry for the clusterfuck, Sir.”
He reached over and squeezed her hand. “Honey, the tire wasn’t your fault, and the traffic wasn’t your fault.”
“Locking your keys inside was your fault, though,” Mike teased.
Goddammit. Tony couldn’t help laughing again, even though Shayla started crying.
He leaned in and held her. “Sweetheart, I’m sorry, but this is funny.”
“Iknow!” she wailed, making Tony and Mike laugh that much harder.
It took him a few minutes to get her calmed down again, and he was able to give her a proper hello kiss. “Are you going to be okay to drive?”
She nodded, wiping her tears away. “Yes, Sir,” she muttered, sniffling. “This isn’t how I pictured today going.”
“Well, me, neither,” he said, “but we’re together, we’re going to get Mike home, and then we’ll go home and snuggle.”
Her breath hitched. “I hope whoever has our voodoo dolls is having fun, because this fucking sucks.”
“Deep breaths, pet.” He kissed her once more, then settled back in his seat and buckled his seat belt. “Check your traffic on Waze, and then let’s head home.”
She did, found the southbound Skyway was open and fine, and off they went.
They delivered Mike without incident and made the short trip from there to home in less than twenty minutes. It was nearly dark by the time Shayla pulled into their driveway and parked where she usually parked, and then shut the engine off.
They both breathed a sigh of relief.
And then Tony laughed.
Shayla giggled, which quickly grew into howling laughter of her own as they laughed together to the point of tears.
