Alone Together

03

Rowan Warner

As if my life couldn't get any worse, the next morning on my way to work, I had a flat tire. So I was stranded on the side of the road at eight in the morning. I let out a loud groan when I got out of the car to see my back tire was flat, banging my hand on the side of the car in frustration as I pulled my phone out to call Dad.

"Rowan," Dad answered. That was how he always answered the phone to anyone. It was never a greeting, always their name. Unless it was a number he didn't recognize, then it was "yes?" or "what?"

"Dad, I have a flat tire," I told him.

"Where are you?"

"On Becker Street, just before the intersection," I said.

"I'll send one of the boys to change your tire," he replied.

"Thank you."

After we hung up, I got back in the car and waited. I was probably the only of my Dad's kids that didn't know how to change a tire, but it wasn't for lack of trying on his part. He wanted me to learn at least the basics of car maintenance, but I never showed interest. Me and cars just didn't get along.

It was only about twenty minutes later when someone from the shop showed up. I got out of the car, expecting to see Dean or Adam, but was instead greeted by Graham.

"Oh, hi," I said.

"Hi, can you pop the trunk?" he asked, gesturing toward the back of the car. I pressed the button on my key and Graham got to work, pulling the spare tire out of the back.

It was warm this morning and Graham was wearing a gray t-shirt with his mechanic pants, his skin glistening in the sunlight and his brown curls falling over his forehead.

I tried to keep my eyes off him as he worked. I didn't need to be thinking about Graham's glistening skin or how good he looked in what he was wearing. Not only was it weird since we were roommates now, but Adam would kill me if he ever found out.

He jacked the car up and got the lug nuts off before replacing the tire. I backed off when I realized I was standing right behind him, watching the way his muscles moved under his shirt.

God, what was wrong with me?

Graham stood up to his full height once the spare was on and picked up my flat tire with him before turning to face me.

"There, you're all set," he said. "I'll take this to work and see if I can patch it up."

"Thanks, Graham," I replied. "Sorry my dad sent you out here. I was expecting Dean or Adam."

Graham shrugged. "It's no big deal."

I didn't think anything of it when Graham followed me to the front of the car and watched as I turned it on. Then he nodded when he looked at the dashboard.

"Your Dad told me to check your mileage because he thinks you're way overdue for an oil change," Graham explained. "He was right."

"How can you even tell?"

"He keeps track of your mileage every time you get it changed," he told me. "You should've gotten it done, like, two months ago."

I let out a sigh. "Can it wait?"

"I would say yes, but I'm on orders from Chuck to make you go to the shop if you're overdue."

"Fine."

Graham tapped twice on the hood of my car before walking back to his, my tire in hand. The two of us drove back to the shop. Graham brought his car around back while I just parked mine in front of one of the garage doors and walked inside.