Page 22 of Wreck Me

It was impossible for me to focus during my anatomy class when the only anatomy I kept thinking about washers. Listening to the professor drone on about whatever we were supposed to be learning about was a lost cause—I couldn’t pull my thoughts away from Isla. I think we were studying muscles of the upper body? Or was it lower body? Maybe today was the lecture on blood flow?Who fucking knew.My attention span was non-existent today, and I made the decision to skip the rest of my classes early on. There were only two more. I’d just pull the assignments from the student portal and catch up later.

My stomach grumbled, and I leaned back in my chair, pulling my phone from my pocket and swiping to Isla’s messages. I had an idea, and after our date last night and our far too innocent goodnight kiss after all the dirty promises I had given to her earlier in the night, she owed me.

Okay, fine, so she didn’t owe me shit, but damn, did I want to make her think she did and then happily collect the debt.

I sent off a text, logistics circling my mind as I planned another date in my mind.

Skip your next class and come on a picnic with me.

A picnic? Where?

Down by the river.

C’mon, live a little and play hooky with me.

You’re a bad influence. Isn’t it a little cold for a picnic? It’s the middle of November.

I’ll keep you warm, Starlight.

Text bubbles floated to the screen, then disappeared again. Self-doubt crept in and I wondered if she was about to decline. I couldn’t blame her if she did. I knew while she may have hated the degree she was working toward, she still took school seriously.

I mentally fist bumped the air when I saw her message pop up.

Okay, what time should I meet you?

I’ll wait for you outside your class. It ends at 11:30, right?

Sure does. See you then.

I sat my phone down, locking the screen before tapping on it again to see the time.Shit.I hadn’t realized it was already almost eleven, and if I wanted to pull this off, I needed to get a move on it. I had to run home and get everything we’d need and make it back to campus to grab my queen.

As discreetly as possible, I slid my notebook into my beat-up faded blue JanSport backpack I had been using since the fourth grade. At this point it looked more gray than blue, and had been hand-sewn in a few places to mend some holes that had appeared. I should have replaced it back in high school, but it had always been a luxury I wasn’t interested in wasting money on. It’s not like I had a ton of it.

Slipping out of my chair, I pulled the backpack strap onto my shoulder and awkwardly shifted my body through the aisle, making my way out the door as quietly as I could, not chancing a look over my shoulder to see if the professor had noticed. His lecture never faltered, so I assumed he hadn’t.

When I made it to my car, I practically dove into the driver's seat and flipped the engine, cringing as all the maintenance lights turned on and stayed on. Fuck if this car wouldn’t be the death of me someday, not because of a car accident, but because it was liable to explode at any given moment from the amount of things needing to be fixed, replaced, or changed under the hood.

Remember the end goal, Caleb. Degree. Police Academy. Career.

But the thought of driving Isla in this death trap had my knee bouncing as it idled in the campus parking lot. Keeping the car in park, I used my phone to look up auto body shops in town and called the first one with decent reviews. A few of them even said they took good care of their customers, so it seemed promising. The phone rang endlessly and I thought maybe I’d have to move onto the next one, but finally, someone picked up.

“Dave’s Auto Repair, Dave speakin’,” a gruff older man answered. The owner, it was safe to assume. Unless Dave the owner was so narcissistic he’d hire employees named Dave too.

“Uh, hey, Dave,” I began, blowing out a breath from the nerves I was feeling. I hated asking for favors. “Two questions for you. Does your shop give free estimates? And do you offer payment plans?”

Dave grunted on the other line. “Estimates are free, kid. But we don’t do payment plans.”

My heart plummeted down into my stomach. I knew the amount of work needed on this car would take me months, if not a year, to pay off. But there were other shops to call. I’d keep calling until I found one that could help. Pushing down emotions I wasn’t interested in dealing with, I responded, “Alright sir, thank you for your time.”

As I pulled the phone away from my ear, feeling defeated by one quick call, I heard Dave again.

“Hey, kid. Just bring your car in for an estimate and I’ll see what I can do, dependin’ on how much of a bill you rack up. Can you be here before twelve?”

I glanced at the clock, seeing it was now five past eleven. If I brought my car to Dave, there’s no way I’d be back in time for Isla, but if I didn’t, I might miss this opportunity. Quickly, I weighed my options. Her safety meant more to me than a picnic by the river. I just needed to text her with a quick change of plans.

“Yes, sir,” I confirmed to Dave. “I’ll head over now and can be there in fifteen. Should I just ask for you?”

Change of plans, Starlight. Head to your apartment and wait for me there. I need to make a quick stop and then I’ll be over.

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