least twenty miles away. We were going to be gone awhile. I let out a frustrated sigh. Today of all days, I didn’t have time for this. Luckily, I felt my phone in my back pocket. I’d call Mikayla while my dad was preoccupied looking at tires. Damn it! I didn’t even have her number. I’d have to call information to get her grandfather’s number.
“All right, stop your fretting,” my dad announced, misinterpreting my brooding. “I’ll take you to breakfast before we get the new tire. You can order whatever you want, no matter the price.” He shook his head. “I never met anyone in my life who thinks about food as much as you do. You’re going to eat me out of house and home. That scholarship of yours better include a meal plan,” he joked, pulling into a local grease joint.
The smell of dirty oil and fried food hit me as soon as we pushed open the door. The booths were covered in red vinyl and showed signs of wear. Normally I tried to stay away from places like this, but right now I’d eat just about anything. I ordered the special, rightly named the rubbage plate—two hamburgers, mac salad, and home fries. I washed the meal down with a large chocolate milkshake. My dad silently watched me eat, ordering only a cup of coffee for himself.
It was almost noon by the time we pulled into the supply store’s parking lot. Half the day was already gone and I still hadn’t called Mikayla. I helped my dad unload the flat tire and then I took off in the opposite direction.
I called information and had the operator connect me. The whole time I waited I was hoping that Mikayla would understand why I wasn’t going to be able to go on the hike like I’d planned.
On the tenth ring, someone finally answered. “Hello.” The person on the other end sounded annoyed.
“Hi, this is Dooner. Is Mikayla there?”
“Oh hi, Dooner. This is Emma,,” she responded, her tone changing “Aren’t you such a gentleman to call to see how I’m feelin’?”
I rolled my eyes, even though she couldn’t see me. “Look, I only have a sec. Can I talk to Mikayla, please?”
“Do you mean Mike? Because she hates it when people call her Mikayla.”
“Yes, I mean Mike, Mikayla, whatever. Just please, can I talk to her?” I was starting to get exasperated. My dad would be looking for me soon.
“I’m sorry, Dooner, but she can’t come to the phone right now. She’s in the shower.”
I peered around the corner and saw my dad. I quickly turned down another aisle. Keeping my voice low, I added, “Well, can you take a message for me then?”
“I’d be happy to.”
I paused for a second to gather my thoughts. “Please tell Mikayla that I’m sorry, but my dad has me running errands and helping him on the farm. I’m not going to be able to get together like we planned. I’ll call back later when I’m done. Maybe I can stop by after dinner, or something.” I hated making excuses, but in this case it was the truth.
“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure she gets the message,” promised Emma.
“Thanks,” I responded, lacking enthusiasm. I had a bad feeling that Mikayla wouldn’t get the message that I called. She’ll probably assume I’m blowing her off. I sighed, feeling defeated.
I stuffed my phone back in my pocket just as my dad walked toward me. “I’m all set with the tire.” He motioned me to follow him. “Come on, I need to grab a few other things while we’re here.” I felt like my one chance with Mike was gone.
It was four o’clock in the afternoon by the time we were finished putting on the new tire. I couldn’t believe how long it had taken. “I’m calling it a day,” announced my dad as we put away the tools. He must need a drink, I thought. Hell, if I drank I’d grab one too after the day I had.
I turned on the shower and washed away the sweat and dirt. I felt terrible about screwing things up with Mikayla. I knew I should call her and explain what happened, but I
“All right, stop your fretting,” my dad announced, misinterpreting my brooding. “I’ll take you to breakfast before we get the new tire. You can order whatever you want, no matter the price.” He shook his head. “I never met anyone in my life who thinks about food as much as you do. You’re going to eat me out of house and home. That scholarship of yours better include a meal plan,” he joked, pulling into a local grease joint.
The smell of dirty oil and fried food hit me as soon as we pushed open the door. The booths were covered in red vinyl and showed signs of wear. Normally I tried to stay away from places like this, but right now I’d eat just about anything. I ordered the special, rightly named the rubbage plate—two hamburgers, mac salad, and home fries. I washed the meal down with a large chocolate milkshake. My dad silently watched me eat, ordering only a cup of coffee for himself.
It was almost noon by the time we pulled into the supply store’s parking lot. Half the day was already gone and I still hadn’t called Mikayla. I helped my dad unload the flat tire and then I took off in the opposite direction.
I called information and had the operator connect me. The whole time I waited I was hoping that Mikayla would understand why I wasn’t going to be able to go on the hike like I’d planned.
On the tenth ring, someone finally answered. “Hello.” The person on the other end sounded annoyed.
“Hi, this is Dooner. Is Mikayla there?”
“Oh hi, Dooner. This is Emma,,” she responded, her tone changing “Aren’t you such a gentleman to call to see how I’m feelin’?”
I rolled my eyes, even though she couldn’t see me. “Look, I only have a sec. Can I talk to Mikayla, please?”
“Do you mean Mike? Because she hates it when people call her Mikayla.”
“Yes, I mean Mike, Mikayla, whatever. Just please, can I talk to her?” I was starting to get exasperated. My dad would be looking for me soon.
“I’m sorry, Dooner, but she can’t come to the phone right now. She’s in the shower.”
I peered around the corner and saw my dad. I quickly turned down another aisle. Keeping my voice low, I added, “Well, can you take a message for me then?”
“I’d be happy to.”
I paused for a second to gather my thoughts. “Please tell Mikayla that I’m sorry, but my dad has me running errands and helping him on the farm. I’m not going to be able to get together like we planned. I’ll call back later when I’m done. Maybe I can stop by after dinner, or something.” I hated making excuses, but in this case it was the truth.
“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure she gets the message,” promised Emma.
“Thanks,” I responded, lacking enthusiasm. I had a bad feeling that Mikayla wouldn’t get the message that I called. She’ll probably assume I’m blowing her off. I sighed, feeling defeated.
I stuffed my phone back in my pocket just as my dad walked toward me. “I’m all set with the tire.” He motioned me to follow him. “Come on, I need to grab a few other things while we’re here.” I felt like my one chance with Mike was gone.
It was four o’clock in the afternoon by the time we were finished putting on the new tire. I couldn’t believe how long it had taken. “I’m calling it a day,” announced my dad as we put away the tools. He must need a drink, I thought. Hell, if I drank I’d grab one too after the day I had.
I turned on the shower and washed away the sweat and dirt. I felt terrible about screwing things up with Mikayla. I knew I should call her and explain what happened, but I
Similar Books
