Page 113 of Just for Fun
I get out of the truck and kick at the tire. I wonder why I never considered getting a second vehicle? Something smaller that would do better in heavy traffic? Something I would have as a backup in case the truck broke down.
Sweat is running down my back by now, ruining the perfectly pressed shirt I got on. I am pissed at myself for not planning better.
Tires squealing as they pull into my driveway startle me, and when I look up, I see it’s a tow truck. The driver door opens, and Ray jumps out.
“One of my guys was out today, so I’m covering for him,” he explains when I raise my eyebrows in question. “I can take you to Zara’s, then I’ll come back here and check on the battery situation…”
I don’t wait for him to finish talking. Instead, I grab the flowers from the truck, slam the door shut and rush to my friend.
“Dude, I’d hug you right now if you weren’t so fuckin’ dirty,” I tell him.
When he smiles, his teeth look whiter than normal because of all the dirt on his face.
“It’s been a day, I tell ya,” he says when we are both sitting in the cab of his tow truck. “Now tell me where she lives so you don’t get in trouble.”
Once we get on the road, he turns some flashing lights on and drives like a maniac.
“We’re not just a tow truck,” he explains with his chest out. “We’re a cool tow truck.”
“Is it legal?” I make sure to ask. “If you get pulled over, it’ll delay me more than if I waited for an Uber.”
Ray rolls his eyes at me. “It’s legal. Who knew you were so tender, Kyle?”
We’d normally engage in some friendly banter, but I don’t have it in me right now. I watch the seconds go by, which they then turn into minutes. It looks like we might make it in time, but it’s hard to tell.
“Oh fuck, the traffic is backed up all the way to the exit ramp,” I say when we come to a full stop.
Ray, true to his word, shows me how cool of a tow truck we’re in. He pulls out of the line of cars and onto the shoulder, going at full speed until we make it to the exit ramp. I hold on to the door handle, scared for my life and hoping that I will live long enough to tell Zara that I love her.
Once we’re off the expressway, Ray continues driving his tow truck like a maniac, and before long, we pull into the parking lot of Zara’s apartment complex. When I look at the time, I see that I got here with one minute to spare.
I hold the flowers to my chest and turn wide eyes to look at Ray.
“Was that legal?”
Ray just shrugs. “It was legal.”
My legs feel shaky when I get out, and I forget to thank him before closing the door. Ray doesn’t wait and takes off into the street, presumably to drive like a maniac back to my house.
The flowers are still safely in my tight fist when I make it to Zara’s door. I ring the doorbell and wait. There is no movement from the other side, so I press it again. Still nothing.
“Zara!” I bang my fist against the door, hoping that it’s more effective than the doorbell.
The cell phone starts ringing in my pocket, but I am in full panic mode now as I continue knocking on Zara’s door. When it doesn’t stop, I pull it out, ready to mute it. That’s when I see it was her calling me.
“Zara!” I am yelling and I don’t know why. “I’m right outside your door, please open!”
“Oh no, how did you get there?” Panic laces the tone of her voice.
“Ray showed up with his tow truck and gave me a ride. He drove like a maniac. I almost died.”
I hear a car door slamming shut on her end, followed by some shuffling. “I can’t believe this,” she mumbles. “You left me a voicemail to say you’d be late!”
“Yeah, but I wasn’t late after all.” I look down at my shirt that’s now drenched in sweat, and I think there’s a grease stain on it, too. “I look a mess. But I’m on time.”
She doesn’t say anything, and I wonder what’s going on.
“Are you not home?” I ask. “I’ve been knocking at your door forever. Your neighbors hate me…”
