Totaled (3 page)

A short time later, we arrived back at my truck. Bubba walked over to it and asked me to pop the hood. I did as he requested and the second it was raised, a cloud of smoke followed. Even after over an hour of sitting there, it was still smoky as all hell. I knew that wasn’t good.

Bubba knew before he even had a tool in his hand that it was a busted radiator. He let me know that it was “gonna cost a purdy penny” and said that he would have to order one in, which would take a day or two to arrive.

What in the hell am I going to do for two days?
I started to pace around, wondering how in the hell I had managed to get myself into this situation.

“Well, I suppose you can stay with me until it comes in,” Mick offered, coming up to stand close to me. “We got a spare room.”

“Oh no. I couldn’t dare impose on you like that,” I said charitably, feeling a little panicky at the thought. “You don’t even know me. I appreciate the offer very much, but isn’t there a hotel nearby or something?” I didn’t want to be dependent on anyone else. Never again.

“Hogwash! You’ll hole up with me. No sense in payin’ for a room when I got a perfectly fine one for free.”

“What about your wife, your family? Won’t they care if you bring some stranger back home with you?” I questioned, noticing his wedding ring.

“My ol’ lady won’t care a bit. She’ll be as happy as a puppy with two peckers to have some company. Our kids are all gone. We’re what they call ‘empty nesters,’ ya see, so she gets bored with just talkin’ to me all the time. You’ll love her!” he declared, patting me with a firm hand on my upper back.

“If you’re sure she won’t mind,” I said again. “I really don’t want to impose.” And I didn’t. The idea of staying at this guy’s house for two or more days scared the shit out of me. I wanted to be a far away from Phoenix as possible, as fast as possible, and I ended up stuck here? I didn’t even know where
here
was.

We walked back over to Bubba, who was still bent over under the hood tinkering around.

Bubba called a local guy he “always uses” to tow my truck back to his “shop” so he could get a closer look at everything. He told me that the radiator was definitely shot, my main head gasket on the motor was blown, and that I could really use new front brakes. I told him to go ahead and fix all of it and to please change the oil as well. He never even asked me how I was going to be paying him, which made me think these people were awful trusting…but whatever.
I
knew I was good for it.

We drove to Mick’s house, which was about three miles away from Bubba’s, way down a dirt road, and I was relieved when we finally pulled up to a quaint little brick home with a nice wraparound front porch. It even had a bench swing mounted up. Flower beds were in full bloom all in front of the house and they were certainly patriotic—there was an American flag hanging next to the door and a yellow ribbon on the front door. I couldn’t help but think that this is what a house was supposed to look like. Not just a house, but a home. I’d never really had one of those.

Mick walked in the front door with me following close behind him with my bags. “Joan? I’m home!” he called out. “And we’re gonna have a guest for dinner!”

She walked around the corner saying, “Oh? A guest, huh?” She gave me a welcoming smile as she dried her hands on the front of the apron she was wearing.

I reached out my right hand, but she just came in straight for a hug.
Okay, we’re doing this.

She was so short, maybe 5′2″, and dainty. She looked like she could be Jennifer Lawrence’s mom, like an older version of her. I’d bet anything she was gorgeous when she was younger. She had kind eyes with crow’s feet wrinkles around them and a warm smile. And she hugged me like I was her family, firm and true, with little rubs on my back during the embrace.

“Pleased to meet you, son. I’m Joan, but you already heard that, huh?” she asked as she hugged me tight.

“Yes, ma’am. Nice to meet you too. I’m Drew. Thank you so much for welcoming me into your home,” I said appreciatively as I broke the hug and stepped back.

“Not a problem. I love visitors. Why don’t you boys go wash up and relax for a bit? I’ve got two chicken pot pies in the oven and by the look of your size, we’ll be spoonin’ in to both of ‘em,” she said, giggling at herself.

Chapter Three

BREE

We didn’t get through ten steps of our short hike down the tucked away path and up the sand dune to the secluded north beach before Sue started bitching.

“WHY did we decide on the north end? I’m going to break my leg before we even get there,” she whined. “There’s plenty of good beach that’s not all the way in Katmandu!”

I laughed aloud. “It’s Timbuktu,” I corrected her, bending down to pick up my flip flops and continuing the walk through the sand barefoot.

“What?”

“It’s Timbuktu, not Katmandu. The expression is ‘All the way to Timbuktu,’ because it’s really far away,” I explained.

“Whatever. How’s B.F.E.? How about that expression for you? Because that’s where you’re taking me. Bum Fucked Egypt!”

I slowed down to let her catch up with me, relishing in the feel of the sand between my toes. Turning back to glance at her, I couldn’t help but shake my head.

“Why DID you decide to wear high heels to the beach?” I asked for what I swear was the eighteenth time. “That’s just stupid. And we’re going to north end because I don’t want to deal with people today. It’s way more private up here without tourists and teeny boppers. I seriously just need to relax, unwind, and have girl talk with you.”

Stopping dead in her tracks, she looked up and smiled at me. “Aww, you miss me,” she gushed. “Well, that’s all you had to say. And these aren’t high heels. They’re Lilly Pulitzer espadrille wedges. And they’re worth it!”

“If you say so. I do miss you,” I confessed. “I’m just so over working in the gym all day surrounded by nothing but testosterone and douchey egos. I need some girl time,” I declared as I linked my arm with hers for the remainder of the walk.

“Oh, you love it! You can’t tell me that you don’t at least enjoy staring at hot bodies day in and day out a little bit. Shit, can I have a job? I’m getting hot and bothered just thinking about it,” she said in jest, fanning her face with her hand. “I probably wouldn’t get much work done though. Especially not on the days when Brock Woods is in there. My God, I would drink a cup of his bath water!”

“SLOANE LEIGH ASHWELL!!! You are not serious that you have a crush on Brock Woods! That guy is the biggest asshole in Fernandina. Eww! He is so
not
boyfriend material!” I exclaimed, scowling.

“Who said anything about a boyfriend? I’d just like to get naked and sweaty with him. I heard he’s hung like a mountain yak, too. The girls at the salon call him Tripod,” she said, laughing at herself.

We had reached the top of the dune and the calm horizon came into view. It never got old.

“I never knew mountain yaks were hung,” I commented. “When’s the last time you saw a well-endowed mountain yak? Or any mountain yak, for that matter?”

“Whatever,” Sue dismissed. “Let’s set up our chairs over there.”

We trekked over to the area she’d pointed to and set up our chairs. As I staked my umbrella anchor into the sand, I chuckled to myself at my silly friend and all of her constant “Sue-isms.” She was hilarious, constantly saying things wrong with complete confidence. I
always
corrected her. She
always
replied, “Whatever.” I wish I was half as easygoing and comfortable in my own skin.

I was so lucky to have her in my life. It scared me to think of how lost and lonely I would be if Sue wasn’t my best friend. Liam and my Dad were great but I just couldn’t talk to them like I could with Sue. I often wondered what kind of relationship I would have with my mother, were she still alive. I had to learn about periods and tampons from Sue. She taught me everything female. What I knew about sex, I learned from listening to Sue and all of her adventurous escapades. She loved boys and loved sex and wasn’t bashful about talking about every graphic detail.

As I settled my beach chair, she took off her cover up and I was instantly reminded why men were so drawn to her. She’s ridiculously gorgeous. She had olive skin from her mother, crystal jade green eyes from her father, beautiful, naturally curly hair, and a flawless body with just the right amount of curves. Where I have to watch what I eat and workout consistently, she eats like she has four assholes and hasn’t broken a sweat from a traditional cardio routine since we were required to run a mile in high school P.E. class. I supposed it was only natural to compare. I didn’t normally hate the way that I looked, but in that moment, my pale white skin, tall, lanky frame, and straight brown hair seemed inferior. God, if she wasn’t my best friend, I would completely hate her.

“You seriously aren’t at least a little bit attracted to Brock Woods?” she squawked in disbelief as she laid her towel down over her lounge chair.

“Seriously. Not even a little bit. I mean, I guess he’s a decent looking guy, despite the Justin Bieber hairstyle. But then he opens his mouth. He’s just so cocky. That’s completely unattractive to me. Not to mention he’ll screw anyone who will open their legs. No, thank you!”

“It might do you some good to get screwed,” she said bluntly as she lay down on her stomach. “Sex is relaxing, you know? Maybe all these years of pent up sexual frustration are making you even more stressed out.”

“You
cannot
be serious. I’m not just going to go sleep with some guy because I’m stressed out.” Just the thought embarrassed me.

“Well, it relieves my stress. Why have you held out all these years anyway? You aren’t really that religious, so it can’t be the whole ‘waiting for marriage’ thing. What is it? I don’t get it,” Sue commented and stared pointedly at me, waiting for an answer.

I hesitated and thought for a second about what my reasons really were for holding on to my virginity for so long. I honestly haven’t really ever thought about it until recently. I guess it’s pretty unusual to be a twenty-two-year-old virgin.

“I don’t really even know, to tell you the God’s honest truth. I’ve just always been so busy with other things. Mom died when I was so young and I sort of had to almost step into that role, ya know? I had to do the cooking for the most part. I had to watch out for Liam to make sure no one hurt him or took advantage of him. I had to help my dad around the house and the gym, all while having no real friends besides you,” I confessed with sadness in my tone. “And no one has exactly presented me with the opportunity.”

Flabbergasted at my statement, Sue scoffed and picked up her head. “You’re on crack if you think no guys want to sleep with you! You really have no idea how beautiful you are, do you? Everywhere we go, you turn heads.”

What is she talking about?! I’m practically a wallflower.
“Uh, no!” I protested. “Those guys are looking at you!”

“No, they’re looking at you. They just talk to me. No offense, Bree, but you don’t exactly put out the most welcoming vibe to men. You’re kind of…um…unapproachable?” She said it like it was a question, her cheeks pinking.

“I’m not unapproachable! I’m just not interested in the guys around here. I guess I’m just so turned off by the guys at the gym that I have a bad taste in my mouth about the whole dating thing,” I explained. “And who has the—”

“Not every guy on the island is like the guys at your gym,” Sue interrupted. “There are plenty of smart, funny, beach-loving men who don’t fight to choose from.”

With a sigh, I prepared to defend myself. “It’s not that I think every guy in town is the same cocky hothead that I’m constantly exposed to. I just…I don’t know. That’s all I’m ever exposed to, and I’m so over it. I want to meet someone nice and fall in love and live happily ever after. I do. I just don’t have the time to meet normal guys. Every time I try to do something for myself or take a day or two off, Liam needs me, or Dad needs me, or the gym needs me. What about what I need?”

The sound of my whining voice made me sick, never mind what Sue was probably thinking. I wasn’t trying to be so woe-is-me about my life, but I sounded pathetic.

“Okay then. It’s official!” Sue said with excitement. “It’s now my summer mission to find you a man! Give me until the end of September, and that V-card is GONE!” She rested her head back down on her chair and covered her face with the edge of her towel.

“Oh no! No you don’t!” I protested. “I don’t need help. I don’t have time for your shenanigans and you will most certainly not be collecting my V-card. I’ve held onto it all this time, now I feel like I don’t want to waste it on just anyone. I kind of want it to be special.”

She lifted up the towel to see me again. “Special?” she mocked. “Like how? Losing your virginity isn’t exactly a special experience. It hurts. You bleed all over the place. It’s super awkward. And you’re sore the next day. How romantic.”

“You make it sound awful,” I responded, disappointed. “It can’t be that bad.”

“Says the person who’s never lost her virginity before,” she joked. “Trust me. It’s awful. There’s nothing romantic about your first time. You might as well just get it over with now so that when you actually are with someone you really want to be with, it can be a good experience. I’m just looking out for you.”

“Well, hear me when I say this, Sloane Ashwell. I will not lose my virginity to just anyone. I will at least be in a relationship and care about the guy before I give that part of me away!”

Sue seemed to accept her defeat when it came to this particular topic. For now. I don’t know why it even mattered to me at this point. I just
wanted
it to be special. Special-ish at the very least. I’d like to be comfortable with the guy that takes it away as opposed to some awful wham, bam, thank you, ma’am one night stand kind of experience. I’ll never get it back. There’s only one chance to get it right. I wanted to be in love and feel passion and heat, and I guess I wanted to feel cherished a little. In my mind, it’s a special gift. I didn’t want to waste it.