She's With Me

Will I See You Again?

The towing place wasn't too far from Josh's house. Maybe a 20 minute drive. True to her word, Evie updated Kelsey through text while they drove about how his bandmates had scared the shit out of her when they walked in unannounced. Kelsey thought it was hilarious that Evie had instinctively hid from them. But Evie didn't find it as funny. She didn't tell Kelsey the way that they'd looked at her when she came around the corner. She didn't tell her that she'd felt so naked, like they were looking right through her and how forced the smile Danny had given her. And she didn't blame them. She wasn't anything special.

Despite feeling crappy though, she kept up the jovial banter with Josh all the way to the impound lot. It was a sad looking white cinderblock building that looked sketchy as hell in an equally sketchy looking part of town. Evie's busted red sedan was parked safely out back behind the building with a bunch of other vehicles that were in various states of disrepair. She rummages around her bag for her keys as Josh joins her out in the gravel lot.

"That your ride?" he called out cheerfully as he approached.

"Unfortunately," Evie grumbled, walking towards the car, "Ugly as hell but she's never let me down."

With a firm twist of the keys, the driver door pops open and she pokes her head in briefly to check and make sure everything was in its proper place. "I remember my first car," Josh chuckled, "It was this gross little Kia my mom got for me. I wrecked it 6 months later, taking a corner too quickly."

"Did she get you a new one?" Evie snorted, shutting the door behind her and turning to face Josh who was also smiling. "Yeah, she did. But, I had to share my brother's car until I could get a new one. Can't tell you how many times we argued over who would get to have the car for the day." Josh chuckled.

Evie joins Josh back in front of the car, tucking her hands in her pockets. She wanted to say that she wished she had as good a relationship with her siblings as Josh did with his, but the words were stuck in her throat. She really did wish that. But it was virtually impossible to talk about her brothers and sisters without feeling emotional. Josh clears his throat a bit, "Well, um... I know that was a pretty eventful first date but... I had fun. Hope you did too."

A small smile tugged at her lips, "I did," she nodded, "It was really eventful but, the good kind of eventful."

"So... Do you think I can see you again sometime soon?"

Evie turns to look at Josh in utter bewilderment. He wanted to see her again? After this fiasco? She hesitates but only for a moment. "Y-Yeah– I think so. Just shoot me a text or something and we can plan. I'm sure you're still a busy guy and everything..." Evie said, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear bashfully.

"Not for you, mama." Josh chuckled, turning on his heel to head back towards the gates they'd entered through. Leaving behind him a red-faced Evie. He stops briefly to give a wink for good measure, waving his hand goodbye. "See ya soon Evie!"

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She did make it back home, eventually. When she stepped in through the threshold of the front door, Kelsey was waiting for her. Evie was greeted with a big hug from her best friend that startled her more than anything. "I was so worried about you!" Kelsey exclaimed, pulling away from the hug, "When you didn't text me after lunch, I thought that this guy had done something bad to you."