Dear Ethan: A Second Chance Romance

Chapter 19: Car Troubles

*Jodie*

"Not again!" 

I swerved over to the side of the road and got out of the stalled car.  A Jeep beeped behind me as they drove around.

This was the second time this month.

I opened the compartment and put on a glove before stepping out of the car to examine the hood. Except this time my car was smoking too.

This is what I get for driving a ten-year-old car.

I speed-dialed Sam's number on my phone but instead got her voicemail machine. 

"Sam, I'm going to be late this morning. My car broke down and I'm going to need to get this towed." I hung up and called the towing company. They promised to be there in 45 minutes. I sighed, leaning against the door.

My phone pinged with notifications. We were already getting a few online orders. I texted Andie to tell Marsha that we would need to fulfill those orders by EOD tomorrow. She texted back right away. On it boss! I smiled. It was fun having someone younger join the cake crew.

I answered messages as I waited while cars zipped by. I couldn't sit in the car with it smoking like that so I just stood by the side of the road, alternating between texting and shoving my hands in my coat pockets, stamping my feet to stay warm. At least this didn't happen before I got onto the highway, I thought, trying to stay positive. 

I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket again. It sure was turning out to be a busy morning already. But instead of an order notification, it's a message from an unknown number. 

My eyes flew open. It was a message from Ethan.

Ethan: Hey, it's Ethan. Hope you don't mind but Sam gave me your number. How was your night?

I balked at the message, feeling my cheeks warm despite the cold.

How? When? My phone pinged again. It was Sam.

I quickly opened the message.

Sam: Ethan just stopped by this morning looking for you! I gave him your number. Hope that's okay!

I could almost hear her maniacal giggling in my head. That's why she didn't answer her phone. She was too busy chatting up Ethan. I groaned.

How I was going to get out of this one? I breathed out. Just be mysterious. He doesn't need to know all you did last night was stay in and watch Netflix.

Jodie: Hey, it was good.

Delete.

Jodie: Hey, it was chill.

Delete.

Jodie: Hey, it was groovy. 

No, no, no. I go to hit delete but end up sending the message instead. Ahhh! I watched mortified as the three little dots appeared. Why was he replying to my lame message?

Ethan: Groovy? Sounds like you had an interesting night. You sleep in?

I debated over telling him my misfortune. But I had time to kill. The tow truck company wasn't going to be by for a while. I stamped my feet trying to stay warm and typed with numb fingers.

Jodie: No actually I was on my way to work and my car decided to start smoking.

Ethan: You're kidding.

Jodie: Nope, it currently looks like a burning toaster.

The three little dots reappeared while he was typing.