Page 58 of The Last Dance

I turn the key, but nothing happens.

I turn it again, and again, but the truck stays silent, refusing to give a guy a break when he needs it the most.

‘Come on! Come on!’ I yell, slamming my hands against the steering wheel in frustration. ‘Damn it!’

I jump out in the pouring rain and open the hood, staring at an engine that looks perfectly fine to me. These are the moments where I wish I was more mechanically inclined. I jump back into my truck, pulling my phone out to call the only guy I know who carries tools with him at all times. Ben.

‘Henry, what’s up?’ he says into the phone.

‘I need your help. My truck won’t start, and I’m stuck at the cemetery.’

‘You did it?’

‘If I told you what happened you wouldn’t even believe me. Get out here and help me jump my truck and I’ll show you instead.’

I don’t believe in supernatural signs. Like the heart just now. Like all those times I’ve felt like I’ve actually seen her, asking me questions and never responding to my answers. I think that’s why I felt so beside myself whenever it was happening. I knew it wasn’t possible.

I know when some people go through the death of a loved one they hold onto that, constantly looking for little signs that their loved ones are OK. If it works for them, great, but for me, it’s made things so much worse.

At least I thought it did. Right now though, I feel like a new man. A new man that knows exactly what he wants and it’s finally not in this graveyard I’m stuck in.

‘On my way,’ Ben says, ending the call and leaving me alone in the silence of my truck. The rain beats down against the metal, echoing through the confusion in my head. I look back out to the statue; the rain pours onto it now.

I need to fix everything I’ve ruined both for myself and for Ambri.

*

Ben pulls up in front of me, ready to face the rain in hope that a jump will start my truck. He turns off his engine and gets out as I do, the rain letting up the tiniest bit. I hand the letter to him.

‘Cables are in the toolbox.’ He tosses me his keys.

I fish around the toolbox secured in the bed of his truck for the jumper cables as he reads the letter. I know he’ll be as shocked as I was.

‘Holy shit. Too bad you didn’t read this before you took off to LA, huh?’

‘It wasn’t the right time.’ I shake my head.

‘So, what I’m hearing is that you are finally ready to pull your head out of your ass?’

I laugh, nodding. ‘You could say that.’

‘Now what?’

‘Now you help me get this truck started so I can tell her.’

Ben laughs, not moving from where he’s standing.

‘Are you fucking nuts? She’s with Noah and you’re with Karmen. No one likes the guy who’s a cheater. You’re the one that fucked that girl over, so I think you have a bit more work to do than beg her to give you another chance. You gotta earn it. You gotta figure out if she even still wants you. You gotta remind her of what you two were. You gotta make a plan. Abigplan.’

I sigh, leaning against my truck. ‘That’s a lot of “you gotta” s. But, you’re right. She deserves so much more than me begging her back.And…’ I sigh. I hate this part.‘She’s taken. I might be too late.’ I lean against my truck facing Ben, my arms crossed over my chest. I can’t stand the thought of me being too late. But that is a possibility. ‘She’d have to choose me over Noah and, well… that might not happen.’

‘You’re right.’ Ben walks over to me. ‘It might not happen, but is it a risk you’re willing to take?’

I nod. ‘It’s a risk Ihaveto take. I’ll never forgive myself if I don’t.’

---