Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 106774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Gianna sighs. “That means you don’t read enough. If you read more books, you wouldn’t have time to worry about your debt.”
“That’s a responsible take on things.” I laugh. “Besides, I can’t sit still long enough to read a book for fun.”
“Audiobooks were made for a reason, Astrid.”
“So were books about personal safety, but you ignore those.”
She laughs. “Sometimes you have to risk things for art.”
Her joy over this urinal and the sense of adventure she feels about the process brings a smile to my face.
If there were one thing, one habit, that I would adopt from someone else, it’s Gianna’s passion. She throws herself into random art pieces, recipes, and side quests she unearths as a wildly successful advice columnist. It’s something I could never do. The lack of structure makes me itchy, and I feel the overwhelming need to put it all on a calendar … and take the fun out of it.
“Want to meet at Stupey’s for overpriced sandwiches?” Gianna asks. “My treat since you bought last time. I think Audrey’s going to be around this weekend. The three of us haven’t been all together for two whole weeks.”
“Sure.” I glance back at the truck again. It’s still behind me despite nearly every other pump available. Weird. I consider pointing out how aware I am of my surroundings and suggesting that Gianna do the same. But she’s too fixated on the urinal to listen now. “I’ll drop it in the chat, and we’ll work it out.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
My boss’s name flashes across my infotainment center. At the same time, the black truck revs its engine. Is he revving that thing at me?
“Hey, Renn’s calling me,” I say, glaring at the truck. “Text me when you secure the toilet and you’re on your way home.”
“Urinal, Astrid. Ur-in-al.”
I laugh. “Bye.”
“Bye, friend.”
I tap the button to accept Renn’s call, push in the brake, and then move my hand to the gear shifter. But as soon as I touch the knob, the truck revs again—and that stops me in my tracks. He’s definitely revving his engine at me.
“Hey, Renn,” I say, watching the behemoth behind me. Irritation snakes its way down my spine. “What’s up?”
“It’s been a hell of a morning. I didn’t catch you in the middle of anything, did I?”
“Nothing much. Just waiting out some guy who’s overcompensating for something by having an extra-large truck.”
Renn pauses. “Waiting him out? For what?”
“He pulled in right behind me even though every other pump but one is open. I’m at the gas station, by the way. And because I haven’t rushed to get out of his way, he’s revving his engine at me.”
“Oh.”
“What can I do for you?”
“Don’t get arrested? That would be great.”
The engine roars again—louder this time.
“Can you hear that?” I ask, my fingers gripping the steering wheel.
“Yeah, I can. Are you able to leave?”
“Sure, I could. And I would if he hadn’t tried to bully me.” I roll my window down and hold my hand out, palm-side up. “Now, I’m going to sit here until he leaves.”
“Astrid.”
A large, thick forearm sticks out of the driver’s side window, mimicking my gesture. Fucker.
“Why did you say you called?” I ask, annoyance stinging my cheeks.
Renn sighs as if he doesn’t know what to say. It’s like a part of him wants to continue persuading me to leave, but the rest of him knows it’s pointless—and that side is right. I’ll gladly back down from a skirmish if I’m wrong. I’ll even apologize. But in this case? I’m not. So I won’t.
“I have a proposition to discuss with you,” he says.
“That sounds vaguely interesting.”
“Will you move?” a voice shouts from the truck.
I mute Renn. “Yeah. When I’m ready!” I yell back before unmuting my boss. “Do you want to discuss it now or later?”
“Do you think you can swing by my office this afternoon?” Renn asks.
“Some of us have things to do today!” he shouts again.
I hit mute and then stick my head out the window. “Then pick another pump!” I settle back in my seat and huff before unmuting Renn again. “Sure. I have a couple of errands to run for Blakely, and then I’ll be free.”
“That works.”
A horn blasts out of nowhere, the sound echoing thanks to the awning covering the gas station. I jump, anger prickling my scalp, and unbuckle myself. He did not just do that. “I’ll see you then.”
“What’s going on?” Renn asks.
“I gotta go.”
“Astrid, what’s happening?”
I pop the handle, and my door swings open. “This asshole just honked at me.”
“Let it go.”
“Thanks for the advice, Elsa,” I say, my finger hovering over the button to end the call. “I’ll let you know when I’m on my way. Talk soon.”
I drop my fingertip against the red button, then fling my legs out of the car, slamming the door behind me. I storm toward the truck, my anger singeing the edges of my restraint.