Page 11 of Debts and Desires
I found my notebook and pencil, shoving them behind me before I unlocked my door and stepped out. It felt great to stretch my legs, but I was suddenly aware of how full my bladder was. I wanted to get in his truck and sit as soon as I could. And standing next to him didn’t help. I felt small beside him. Exposed. He had to be at last six feet, maybe more. He was broad, muscled with dark brown hair and stubble across a squared jaw. And so fucking gorgeous.
“Keys in it?” Mr. Grumpy asked. I realized I’d been staring at him.
“Oh, yeah… yes, they are.” He didn’t say anything else as he walked back to his truck and began messing with levers and buttons. I took that as my cue to cross in front of my car and head toward the passenger side of the tow truck.
It took me a moment to pull myself up, but once I was in, I was thankful. The rain started pouring harder than before. The cab was warm and smelled surprisingly nice, like citrus and wood with a small tang of grease.
A rumbling from behind had me looking through the window at my back and wished I didn’t. If I thought he looked grumpy before, I was wrong. His eyes met mine, and I quickly turned back around, cursing myself for being so difficult.
The driver’s door opened a little later, and the cab shook slightly as he effortlessly climbed in. He pulled his hat off, shaking his head slightly as he combed his soaking wet hair back. He placed the cap backwards and put the tow truck in drive.
5. NOT SO MUCH A KNIGHT
August 27
Five minutes of awkward silence was about as much as I could stand.
“I’m Emogen Brighton, by the way. I go by Emmy,” I chirped, extending my hand towards him. He glanced over briefly, then stretched out his hand while keeping his other one firmly on the steering wheel.
“Carter Black,” he grumbled. Carter’s grip was firm, his calloused hand rough against mine. There was something about his presence, a hint of mystery mixed with a touch of arrogance. I was curious about him, even as I sensed a certain guardedness in his demeanor.
“Well, Carter Black, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” I said with a bright smile, trying to break through the coolness surrounding him. “Thanks for stopping to help me.” He grunted in response, his gaze fixed ahead on the road. “So, are we heading back into town? Hudsonville, I mean?” He nodded. “Are you from there?”
“Yep,” he answered curtly, his squared jaw clenching afterward.
“For how long?”
“Whole life.”
“Do you know Tyler Ward?”
“Unfortunately,” he muttered. I ignored his comment, not wanting to stir up any trouble that may have surrounded the two.
Carter didn’t say anything. “Thank you,” I said again. “Being stuck on the side of the road in that rainstorm was no fun at all. But then you showed up, like my very own knight in shining armor. Well, maybe not shining armor, more like coveralls. But you get the idea,” I chuckled.
“Trust me, I ain’t no knight,” he said.
“I don’t believe that for a minute,” I said. “I bet you have a wife at home who thinks the world of you, don’t ya?”
“Nope.”
“A girlfriend?”
“Nah.”
“Boyfriend?”
“I like pussy.”
“Oh.” My face instantly heated from his brash words. “Well, still. You seem like a great guy,” I offered. A few seconds of silence passed before I felt the need to talk more. “You wanna hear something funny? I was actually mad that you came when you did,” I chuckled.
“I can let you out if you want,” he said. I laughed again.
“No, that’s okay. I was joking. Just meant that another hour and I probably would’ve had that song done. Maybe. That’s what I was doing, writing a song. I’m a singer.” He said nothing. “The rainstorm actually inspired me,” I continued, enthusiasm lacing my voice. “The rhythm of the raindrops, the melody in the thunder. It was like nature’s own symphony, begging to be captured in a song. So, I grabbed my notebook and started scribbling down lyrics.”
What I didn’t say was that I used my encounter with the robber in the alleyway as some inspiration, too. After the adrenaline disappeared, I used it for creativity. And a distraction, as if the situation wasn’t real.
“It just kind of hit me. And it sucked that I didn’t have myguitar with me. But that’s what you heard, me in the throes of creativity. That happens sometimes.” I paused for a breath, realizing that I had been talking nonstop. This poor man was probably regretting his decision to help me. “Sorry,” I whispered. His jaw clenched.
