Page 2 of Wrong Number, Right Mechanic
“That’s okay. I’ll call back later. Have a good day?—”
“Lyla? Is that you?”
I froze, my hand white knuckling my phone.
Just hang up! No harm done.
“Lyla, I know it’s you. I’d recognize your voice anywhere. You’re back in town?”
“Listen, just have Joe call me when he can, okay? Thanks, bye.”
“No, wait. What’s going on with your car? Maybe I can help.”
“I don’t want your help. My mom gave me this number to speak to Joe. So that’s whose help I want.” My tone was cold, my tongue sharp, my defenses on high alert.
Jaxon was my high school sweetheart. And he broke my heart in two.
“Don’t be that way, please.”
“There’s no other way to be, Jaxon.”
I heard a scuffle and a growl, the sound vibrating through the phone.
My heart doubled in speed.
The sound of my blood coursing through my veins echoed in my ears.
That sound…that one sound from him…
How does he still have so much effect on me?
“Maybe I want to help you. Fix some wrongs between us if it’s even possible to?”
“So let me get this straight.” I steadied my voice as best I could. “Now that you know I’m back home in Appleridge, you want to help me? But five minutes ago, I was barely a thought in your mind.”
“You’re never barely a thought in my mind, Lyla. It’s the opposite. I never stop thinking about you. Every day, you dominate the space in my head.”
I said nothing. I believed him because I felt the same way. I woke up and he was on my mind. I went to bed, and his face was the last one I pictured before drifting off. I told myself lies every day, that I didn’t care, didn’t love him, but it couldn’t be farther from the truth.
He might’ve cracked my heart in two, but it wrapped itself up and continued on beating for him and only him.
Such a traitor.
“It’s easy to pick up the phone and call. Or text.”
“You’re right, it’s not. But I didn’t think you wanted to talk to me.”
“You thought correctly.”
“Let me at least help with your car. I can’t have you driving around worrying about breaking down.”
“It’s been ten years. Ten years of me on my own in the big tough city. I think I can handle it.” I said, my voice softer now. Dammit, he was already working his magic.
Thoughts of breaking down on the mountain infiltrated my head. Been there, done that. Senior year of high school, car broken down on the side of the road, and me in a full-blownpanic. My mom came to my rescue and got me a tow. But I’d never forget how terrified I was, alone on the dark street.
Now, it was the end of summer, with fall right around the corner, and then winter, which brought a shit ton of snow. I needed the car repairs done sooner rather than later.
“I have no doubts you can’t. But this is about safety. Especially with winter coming?—”
