Page 6 of Wrecked
“Oh...umm...he didn’t like his estimate,” she says, turning away from me.
“What did he say to you?” I push.
She stands. “Asher, it’s no big deal. Go home. I’ll wait for him to pick up his car,” she says, knocking into my shoulder as she rushes past me.
Like hell she will. I look at the computer to see who she was talking to and grab the keys to his Chevy Camaro. I drive it to the front of the building and get out, leaning against it. Lighting up a cigarette, I wait, checking behind me, every so often, to make sure Payton isn’t coming. For some reason, I want to beat the shit out of this guy for whatever he said to her.
Just as I toss my smoke, a Ford F150 pulls in, and I stand up straight. A guy in a suit climbs out of the passenger side.
“Where’s the girl I was talking to?” he yells, walking toward me.
“You’re dealing with me now,” I say, crossing my arms.
He laughs, shaking his balding head. “She has no idea how to deal with customers, or maybe it’s just men. I’d like to speak to whoever’s in charge not the help.”
This fucking prick. “You’re speaking to him.”
“You’re in charge? Great,” he says, rolling his eyes. “Well, your secretary was rude. When I wanted to discuss the price, she wouldn’t allow me. It was completely unprofessional.”
“I stood there and listened in on the conversation, and she wasn’t the problem.” I toss his keys to him and the asshole he is, he misses them.
“She needs to be taught how to talk to people,” he says, bending down to pick up his keys.
Clenching my fists, I take a step toward him. “Maybe it’s you who needs to be taught, because when I grabbed the phone you were calling her a fucking bitch. Maybe I should teach you how to be fucking respectful.”
Walking past me, he mumbles, “She must be a good lay.”
Seeing red, I push him against his car, holding onto his shirt. “You ever talk about her like that again and I’ll fucking kill you,” I say, seething.
“Asher,” Payton yells, and I look up, crashing into her blue eyes.
“Get the fuck out of here,” I whisper, pushing him against the car before backing up.
He peels out of the parking lot. Payton stands still with her arms wrapped around herself, staring past me. Walking over, I gently touch her shoulder. “Payton.”
“Why would you do that?” she whispers. Unsure of how to answer, I push my hands into my pockets and shrug. “Asher, why?”
“He disrespected you, and it pissed me off.”
“You don’t even know me,” she says, tucking a lock of long brown hair behind her ear.
“No, I don’t know you, but I know you deserve respect. Everyone does.” I hate the way I felt when that asshole was disrespecting her.
A small smile pulls at her full lips and she nods. “Yeah, they do.”
“I was going to go have a few drinks with Brett. You want to come? I think you could use one.” I’d sure as hell like her to come. Over and over while I’m slamming into her.
“Oh, umm,” she starts, pausing to look around, “you know if my dad found out, you’d probably lose your job. I’ll just go home and have a drink, but thanks.”
She turns to go back into the garage, and I make an unexpected offer, “Dinner and beer at my place. My treat. No strings. Just friends. No one will know.”
She stops. It seems like a lifetime before she answers. “You know what? Screw it. I’d like that.”
We exchange numbers, and I give her my address. On the way home, I cancel with Brett and hit the grocery store to pick up all the things I need to grill some chicken kabobs. Yeah, I like cooking. My parents taught me well.
Twenty minutes later, I enter my place and toss my keys on the small cherry table by the door.
After a quick shower, I throw on a fresh pair of jeans and a black button-down shirt. I don’t know why I’m dressing up for Payton, but I am. It's not like this is a date. She seems like a nice girl, and I don’t normally do nice girls. Maybe we could be friends, though. Wow. That’s something I’ve never done before. Friends with a girl. Hey, crazier shit has happened.
