page29 (1/2)

“Uh, yeah?”

“Were you calling about my car?”

“Yeah, actually It’s all ready to go”

“Wow, that was quick!”

Yeah, well, he et it ready before the weekend “Got a new head gasket and new disc brakes” Along with four new tires and a co she wouldn’t notice the tires since he guessed they were a cost she couldn’t afford to bear He’d driven her car through a few puddles today in order to muddy them up a bit

“Oh, thank you How much do I owe you?”

“We can chat about it over dinner If you’d still like to go out?” He knew he’d kind of coerced her into it But he’d never force her If she wasn’t interested in him there wasn’t any point He wasn’t the type to mess around

“I’d love to,” she replied, sounding almost shy “If you’re sure that’s what you want”

“I do” Listen to the two of them He needed to find that confidence he’d once had “How about toht? I can pick you up around seven?”

“Oh, uh, would it be okay if I et my car?”

“All right That would work” Again, he got that she’d rather he didn’t knohere she lived She didn’t know she was safe with him Likely safer with him than anyone else since he never intended to allow anyone to harm her

He rattled off the address for the garage “Meet you there just before six? I’ll make reservations for six-thirty”

“That’s perfect See you then”

The call ended far earlier than he would have liked But at least he now had so to look forward to

A date with Thea He could tell this was going to be the start of so special