Page 97 of Flipping the Script

The spare was gone.

“Goddamn fuckingidiot!” I shouted at myself.

I’d gotten a flat and used it about a year ago, the day before I had to leave to get back on tour. I’d been in such a rush I forgot to get a new one and hadn’t replaced it since.

Angrily, I put the trunk back together and closed it with way more force than I’d meant.

What the hell was I supposed to do now?

This stretch of road was right at the edge of my property, so I was sort of in No Man’s Land. It was about five miles to my cabin and probably about seven to my closest neighbor.

Just to be dramatic, I stomped over to the driver’s seat and flopped onto it, leaving the door open as I pulled out my phone.

I only had fourteen percent battery left.

Whatever. I just needed to turn the car on and idle for a bit, and I could charge it. It wasn’t the most environmentally conscious thing to do, but I didn’t have another choice.

Leaning over, I dug through the mess of things I’d stacked on the seat to bring up with me. When I couldn’t find my cord, I checked the center console.

“Oh, hell,” I stopped searching as I remembered where it was.

I’d charged my phone at work earlier and left it at my station.

Fuck.

Panic tickled my chest, but I breathed through it and unlocked my phone.

This wasn’t good, but it wasn’t the end of the world. I had enough battery to call for help.

I paused, my finger hovering over the screen. The only person I could think of was Jesse. He was a mechanic, so he’d be able to help if there was more wrong with the car than just the flat.

I could text my sister or Adam, but they were about as good with cars as me. And I knew they were going to a party close to their old college tonight, so they’d probably already started drinking.

And I sure as shit wasn’t calling either of my parents. The last thing I needed was to give them more ammunition they could use to rag on me about how irresponsible I was.

I really didn’t want to do this, but I had no choice.

Sebastian: how much do single tires cost?

I put my phone on my leg and leaned back in my seat. I probably could have thought of a better way to open the conversation, but it was too late now.

My answer came less than a minute later.

Jesus: do I look like AAA?

Sebastian: no but you are a mechanic

Sebastian: seems like this would be in your wheelhouse

Jesus: depends on the tire

Jesus: why are you asking me this?

Sebastian: because I have a flat

Jesus: can you get your spare on?

Sebastian: about that….

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