Page 36 of Controlled Burn

After a minute, he turned and looked at me. “I think I know what’s wrong. Let me get the jumper cables, and let’s see.”

He opened the hood of his car, retrieved the jumper cables from his trunk, and I watched as he confidently hooked them up on both his car and mine. Was it silly that I found the fact that he knew what he was doing hot? Probably, but I did.

“Go ahead and give it a start,” he said. I got back in the car and turned the key over, and the car came to life. I rolled down the window and gave him a grin. “Thanks so much. I might even still have time to get there a few minutes early.”

He chuckled and shook his head. “Not so fast there, baby boy. I need you to turn off the car, okay?”

I turned it off, and he unhooked the jumper cables and put them back into his trunk. He walked back over to stand by the driver’s door. “Okay, try it again.”

I turned the key a second time… and nothing. I looked at him, brows furrowed. “What happened?”

“It’s exactly what I was afraid of. When’s the last time you changed your battery?”

“Changed my battery? Why would I change my battery?”

“Because they’re only good for so long. Based on the age and the corrosion, I was afraid you needed a new battery.”

“Great,” I grumbled.

“It’s an easy and inexpensive fix. I’ll just run over to the auto parts store, get a new battery, and put it in.”

“Where’s the auto parts store?” I asked.

“Well, that’s the bad news. It’s on the other side of town. I’m not sure if we can get over there and back in time for you to make book club. So how about if we do this? I’ll take you to book club and drop you off. Then I’ll go and get you a new battery and install it before it’s time to come get you.”

“You really don’t have to do that. My dad said he would come over Sunday and fix the car.”

“And I have no doubt that he’d be happy to do that for you. But I’m already here, so there’s no reason for you to be without a car while we’re on duty tomorrow.”

For a second, I considered arguing with him, but the firm set of his jaw told me it wouldn’t do any good. “Okay, you can take me and drop me off. But I can get somebody from the club to bring me home.”

Thirty minutes later, I was walking up Livy’s walk to her front door. I turned back, and sure enough, Keith was sitting there, waiting for me to go inside. I gave him a wave and reached to open her door, but before my hand touched the knob, Livy jerked the door open, grabbed my shirt, and pulled me inside. I looked up to find Ezra, Jude, Toby, Joey, and Cole standing in a circle, looking at me expectantly.

“Okay, Caleb, spill it,” Livy ordered.

I knew playing dumb wouldn’t work, but it might buy me a few minutes to think.

“Spill what? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, you don’t know what I’m talking about,” she said in a condescending voice. “I don’t know. Maybe the fact that less than an hour ago, I got a text message from you saying that you didn’t know if you were going to make it to book club, and if you didn’t make it, for me to please take care of Cole. Then I get another cryptic message saying never mind, you will be here. Then you show up, being dropped off by, and I don’t think I’m understating it if I say… a serious hottie.”

“How do you know he’s a serious hottie? He didn’t even get out of the car.”

“I saw enough,” she said.

“Also enough here,” Toby said with a giggle. “We were watching out the window.”

“That was Keith. You know, the firefighter,” I admitted. I knew I’d mentioned him often enough that they would know who I meant.

“The one who comes to the library to read to the kids?” Ezra asked. “The one who’s your dad’s best friend?”

“Yeah, that one.” I probably could’ve just left it, but they all looked so disappointed that there wasn’t a juicier story. Not to mention the fact that I really wanted to talk to them about what was going on with Keith. After all, they were the ones who’d encouraged me to try to find a Daddy.

“Okay, guys, it’s a long story. And if I’m gonna tell it, I need two things.”

“Okay, and what would those two things be?” someone asked.

“A glass of wine and someone to agree to give me a ride home.”

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