Page 58 of Heresy

He’s quiet for a second, the sound of paper shuffling in the background.

“Can’t tell you that until we order the part. The tow fee was one hundred and fifty bucks. And for us to lift it up and diagnose was seventy. Hourly rate for labor is seventy-five an hour. If repairs take two hours, you’re looking at roughly $375 before the cost of the part itself.”

Groaning, I sit up straight in my bed and pull my knees to my chest. There’s no way I can afford that tonight, with or without the part. I mean, maybe, but it will wipe me out.

Then again, what choice do I have?

“Why do I need to come in before this is all finished? I can authorize everything over the phone. I’m good for it.”

I can’t tell, but it sounds like an annoyed sigh blows over his lips.

He’s quiet for a few seconds before finally explaining, “Ah, yeah, well… we used to do that, but then people started authorizing stuff, we put in the work and they pay for it by credit card. Next thing we know, they dispute the charge, claiming we didn’t have prior authorization in writing, and we’re out whatever we made on the job.”

“That’s horrible.”

It sucks that people have to be so shitty. It makes life harder for the rest of us.

“Yep. The entire situation is a pain in the ass, and nothing against you, but I’d like to get it over with. So if you can just come in and sign—”

There’s urgency in his voice, and I feel bad for keeping him on the phone so long. He probably has better things to do, and I’m slowing him down.

“Okay. I can be up, dressed and ready to go in a little under an hour. But I don’t have a ride there.”

Adding a taxi bill on top of this is impossible, not with what’s left in my account. I think I can still barely manage it without having to ask for extra if the price stays within range of what he’s already told me.

More shuffling of papers, this time a little more urgent.

“Actually, we have a valet service that can pick you up. It’s free, if that helps.”

Glad that this mechanic was first on the list I searched last night, I can’t help but think they have amazing customer service.

“Perfect. I’ll be ready in an hour.”

“Yep,” is all he says before the line goes dead.

Now I’m absolutely sure the poor guy was in a hurry.

Not wanting to keep the valet waiting, I hurry through a shower then pull on a black T-shirt and some jeans. By the time, I’m lacing my Converse, a horn sounds in the parking lot.

I peek out my window to see a white van, the same tow driver from last night walking around the front to lean against it. He glances up at my dorm building, a pair of sunglasses hiding his eyes.

Grabbing my purse on the way out, I’m quick to lock my door and head downstairs, the sun now fully over the horizon but not yet hanging bright in the sky. Chilled by the early morning temperatures, I run up to the van and apologize.

“Sorry for that. I meant to be outside when you arrived so I didn’t keep you waiting.”

The corners of his lips tug up.

“It’s not you who should be apologizing.”

Before I can ask what he means, Priest opens the passenger side door and waits just long enough for me to climb in before he slams it closed.

I watch as he rounds the front end, his hands tucked in his pockets and shoulders slumped. The man looks miserable.

Guilt settles over me that he was up late last night saving me from a parking lot and early this morning driving me around yet again.

As soon as he climbs into the driver’s side, I turn to him.

“Please tell me you weren’t the one who had to inspect my car. You look like you haven’t slept at all.”

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