Chapter Thirteen
This was not how I was expecting my night to go. I was just lying on my couch mindlessly watching TV while Charlie slept with his big head on my ankles when I got the message from Juni. Picking up my phone, I decided to call Brenden. “Hey, Twinkle, what’s up?” Brenden teases.
“Well, something crazy kinda happened… Long story short… I sent you a pin. Can you go pick up the tow truck from the shop?” I say hesitantly
”Whose car am I picking up, Gavin?” All amusement gone.
“It’s Juni’s. I don't know all of the details, but I also don't care. She needs me.”
“Jesus Christ, Gavin.. okay, I’m heading in now, I'll see you guys there, I guess….” He says as he hangs up.
Pulling on my black hoodie and slipping on my Vans, I head to my garage, creeping open the door.
I hit the garage door opener and the remote start.
Heading upstairs to my bedroom, I go to my closet, grab my warmest throw blanket, and an extra hoodie in case Juni is cold.
Taking the stairs two steps at a time, I stop by the couch to give Charlie head scratches and tell him he’s a good boy, and that daddy will be back.
I make my way to the truck, I get in, my playlist automatically connects, and a song starts flowing as I type in the pin she gave me.
The forty-five minutes flew by as I pulled onto the road where she had sent me the pin.
Up ahead, I see a vehicle on the side of the road with its flashers on.
As I get closer, I see an older-model VW Cabrio.
I pull up behind her and flash my headlights twice. Stepping out into the rain and heading in the direction of her driver's side window. I knock twice and step back. Her door opens immediately. “Oh my gosh.. Gavin… you really came? This is wild… Thank you so much, “ she says sheepishly.
I force a breath from my lips as she crashes into me.
The sudden moment aggravates my slow-healing burns.
I feel her cast on my lower back, remembering the reason I’m here.
“My co-worker isn’t far behind me. He will tow your car to our shop so that we can get a better look at the damage,” I say cautiously.
”Gavin, I can’t afford to pay you guys for the tow, really, it's okay, I can leave the car here… I can just wait for my friend Peyton to get off work… she will come get me,” she says, sounding embarrassed.
”Лю-... Juni I.. I’m not expecting you to pay for anything. We are offering to help, it’s okay really," I say, still stumbling slightly over my words.
“I can’t thank you enough… I’m so sorry I dragged you out here, Gavin.” She looks so sad when she says it.
“You didn’t drag me anywhere, do me a favor, yeah? Get in my passenger seat, where it's warm. I’m going to go over the car and make sure it’s ready for Brenden to pick up.” She just nods as she heads to my truck.
Seeing the tire in person, I already know it's fucked. Deciding to try to stay dry as well, I head back to my truck. As I open the door and peer inside, she looks so small sitting there. “Are you warm enough? There’s a button there to heat your seat," I say, looking at her in the darkened cab.
“I think I’m okay… Thank you, Gavin.” A small smile on her face.
Pulling myself up inside the truck. Ah, I almost forgot, I stretch backwards, grabbing the extra hoodie and blanket I brought from home, and handed them to her.
She turns her head in my direction, emotions swimming in her eyes.
“Thank you,” she says in a small voice as she pulls the hoodie that is way too big over her head and lays the blanket across her lap.
Thinking to myself… ‘What else has happened that has made you so small in demeanor, Любовь?’
We sit there for a few minutes, just letting the music fill in the silence. “I’ll be” by Edwin McCain bleeds through the truck speaker. We both jump with surprise, and our eyes meet. ”Uhhhh, shit. My bad here,“ I say nervously, double-tapping the arrow frantically changing the song.
The look on her face has me confused until she starts to laugh. “No way you still have this!” She says, pointing at the playlist name… “But you changed the name?” ‘Juni’s Mix’ at the top of the screen on my CarPlay
Thank fuck for it being dark, or she’d see how embarrassment floods my face.
“It pops up every once in a while… when my main playlist ends, and uhhhh…” I say sheepishly.
Looking in the rearview mirror, I see orange lights flashing in the distance.
Thank fuck, Brenden is finally showing up.
“Just stay here in the truck, okay? I’m going to help him load this quickly, won’t take but a few minutes,” I say, opening my truck door.
“What’s up, Twinkle? Got her settled?” I don’t like the look he’s giving me.
“Yeah, she’s fine, we just got her settled as you showed up.”
“Have you figured out why she called you of all people?” He asks
“Not yet. I figured I’ll just get her to the shop… that gives me at least forty-five minutes to figure out what the hell is going on,” I say. Ten minutes later, the car is safely loaded onto the flatbed. And I’m beyond ready to get the fuck out of the rain.
Once I’m back in my truck, I put the address in for the shop and turn the music up enough not to be overbearing.
“Careful What You Wish For” by Bad Omens starts playing.
“So I have to ask. And please don’t take this the wrong way, Juni, because I’m not upset at all that you reached out to me or anything like that.
But can I ask why you said you didn’t have anyone else to help you…
? Like, where's your husband?” I ask, glancing over at her.
She takes a breath before speaking. “So long story short, he was rushed to the hospital today, due to a work accident. And I rushed over to the hospital as soon as I was called, but I guess he didn’t want me at the hospital,” she says with pain in her face.
“Why wouldn’t he want his wife there with him? Doesn’t that seem… strange?” I look at her, puzzled.
“There have been a few strange things going on lately. And I just don’t know. I’m just really stressed out about this whole thing.”
“You mentioned your best friend, Peyton, is working; is that who yelled at me in the parking lot of the ER?”
“Yeah, she doesn’t have a filter. I'm sorry about that.” She says, looking down at her hands.
As we are driving, I just keep feeling this urgency. I need to ask more questions. “Can I ask you what happened to your wrist?” Looking at her pointedly.
“Ha, I don’t think you’ll actually believe me, but I was home alone… trying to decorate our Christmas tree, standing on an old chair trying to place my angel on top… and the chair broke.”
“Why didn’t you wait for your husband.. uh, what’s his name.. Reece.. why didn’t you wait for him to get home?” I ask continuing the conversation.
“He was actually out of town at the time. I was trying to surprise him…What about you? Do you have a lucky lady at home?”
Laughing, I shake my head. “Nope… It’s been a long time since a woman held my attention. I’m too busy to care.” I’ve only ever cared about you, Любовь…
She hesitates at first, but then she looks at me. “So, you were walking into the ER as I was leaving… were you going to see someone or were you going for yourself?” Asking as she keeps looking out of the passenger window.
“Uh, it was a stupid accident at work. I was rebuilding a blown head gasket… and the cylinder heads were caked in oil, so they had to be soaked in lye. Well, I lost my grip and dropped it in the solution, and it splashed me, so now I’m dealing with chemical burns.” I say with a shrug.
“Oh, Gavin! You're dealing with these injuries, but you still come and help me? I don’t think I’ll ever be able to thank you enough…”
“Juni. You don’t have to thank me, okay? It’s the least I can do, and if I’m being honest, I really do miss our friendship.” I say, looking straight ahead.
“I’ve missed it too, I really have. Maybe we can leave the past where it is and start something new. What do you say?” She asks with a slight smile.
“Sounds like a plan.. Лю-… Juni. Oh, and we will be at the shop in about ten.”
“Thank you again, seriously. I’ll never be able to repay you,” she says, sounding sad again.
Coming up to a red light, I turn in her direction.
My hand is moving on its own accord. My thumb traces away the small tear that has begun to fall.
To my surprise, she slightly leans into my touch with her eyes closed.
The gesture surprises both of us; we pull away at the same time. Fuck, she feels like home.