Save Me

4. The Perfect Gentleman

Photo is not my own and I do not own the rights. How I picture Elliot.
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The drive to my apartment is quiet other than Elliot asking for my address so he can plug it into his GPS. I've been admiring his truck. He has a GMC Sierra Denali 2500HD. This truck is a beast, it's also my dream truck! It's black on black and it's perfect.
"Why did you do that?" He asks me without taking his eyes off the road.
"Do what?" I act dumb.
"Yell off the top of your lungs what you yelled? Did you know I was on the phone?"
"No" I lie.
"I just wanted to make sure you heard me through the door. I'm sorry."
He has one hand on the steering wheel and the other resting on the arm rest. He doesn't say anything else and turns up the radio a little louder. I take it as my queue that our short conversation is over.
After a few more minutes I start feeling like crap. I'm looking out the window and see we still have about 10 more minutes of drive time.
"I need to pull over and put diesel."
I look over and his low fuel light is on.
"Okay."
He pulls into a Racetrack and jumps off his truck. He looks back at me and asks "do you need anything?"
"No thanks." I don't know why I'm the one acting all shy now. Guilt maybe.
He closes the door and walks to the back of the truck. I can see him through his gigantic door mirror. He's putting fuel and I take this opportunity to really look at him for the first time. He's wearing bootcut jeans with boots and a white t-shirt. He's pretty tall, if I had to guess he's probably about 6'2. He's lean but not too lean. He has light brown hair. He's attractive.
I start to question myself why did I do that when he's been nothing but kind to me. Is this me punishing him for what another did? Or judging him based on the actions of another? I am now thoroughly mad at myself. I could have had a potentially good friend and I just ruined it. I don't have any friends anymore. They all took his side. I watch him get back in.
"Is anyone going to stay with you or do you have any room mates or a boyfriend that stays with you? I'm only asking because the nurse said you need to be careful. Do you have someone that can pick up your meds? She said you aren't supposed to drive for a week."
Yup, I'm an asshole I think to myself.
"Would you mind stopping at the pharmacy on the way into town. It's right down the road from my apartment. I can have someone pick it up for me when it's ready."
He nods his head.
His cell is connected to his truck and his cell starts ringing.
'Babe' flashes over the huge screen.
He glances at me with a warning look and then presses the green button to answer the call.
"Hey babe."
"Hi babe, are you almost back?"
"Yes, we just need to make one more quick stop at the pharmacy and then I will be heading your way."
"Okay, drive safe and see you soon, love you."
"Love you too." He ends the call.
So that is what a healthy relationship is like I think in silence. My ex would have never believed me.
"I'm sorry if I caused you any trouble earlier. If you need me to explain anything to your girlfriend later I can."
"No, it's fine. I already explained."
"Okay."
We pull into the CVS pharmacy Drive-Thru. I hand him my prescriptions and again our hands touch and we both get zapped by this electric shock. I look over at him incredulously. I can't believe it happened again. Why do we keep shocking each other. He takes the prescriptions and rolls down his window and places them in the basket without looking at me or saying anything.
A few minutes later a young woman comes to the window and says "Good afternoon, drop off or pick up?"
He answers, "drop off, two prescriptions."
"Okay, did you write your name and number on them?"
He looks over at me and I say "No, sorry."
I always forget to do that.
"What was that honey you have to speak up, your truck is too loud."
He turns the truck off and answers for me "No, may we borrow a pen please ma'am?"
She nods and throws a pen in the basket and pushes it back out to us. He grabs it along with my prescriptions. This time he sets them down on the center console. He's trying to avoid touching me. I take them and fill them out on my lap and place them back on the center console as he did and remove my hands. He grabs them and places them back in the basket. She takes the contents from the basket and says it will be ready in 15 minutes because they are slow today if we want to wait. Elliot looks like he's mentally debating what to do. He finally looks over at me and says "Do you want to wait?"
"No, it's okay. You've already done more than enough. I will call my mom to come pick them up and bring them to me later."
"We are already here Carolina." How does he know my name? Oh yeah, he saw me write it down, duh.
The lady at the window decides to provide her unsolicited opinion, "he's right. Just give me a few," and then proceeds to walk away without waiting for my response.
"Thank you" I say quietly.
He doesn't respond or look at me. He's just looking towards the pharmacy window.
I start to sweat after a few more minutes. This lady clearly can't tell time. It's already been 15 minutes and she still hasn't returned.
"Would you mind rolling down my window too or turning your truck back on please?"
He finally looks over at me and sees I'm sweating badly. "Yeah, sorry." He decides to turn the truck back on but leaves his window open.
I put my face in the AC vent. It feels good. The lady comes back, "it will be $15 for this one and $35 for this one because there was no generic brand. Cash only, our credit card machine is down right now."
"Are you serious, you couldn't say that before. I only have cards." I half shout beyond annoyed.
"What was that honey, I can't hear you with the truck."
I lean all the way over the center console until I'm practically on top of him and yell loudly "I only have cards!"
Elliot is pressing himself against his seat and removes his arm from the center console where it was resting before. It's only then that I notice my boobs were rubbing against his arm. I instantly recoil back to my seat.
He clears his throat and lifts his butt off the seat just enough to take his wallet out.
"Oh no, don't. Just take me to my apartment, I will have my mom come get them."
He ignores me and hands her a $50. She smiles and once again brings the basket back in and then sends my prescriptions back to us.
"Do you need a receipt?" She says. He looks at me.
"No, thank you."
He turns to her and responds the same knowing she wouldn't hear me. She nods and says "okay, have a good day."
"Do you bank with Suncoast or have CashApp? I can transfer you the money."
"Don't worry about it." He's seems exhausted. He's rubbing his eyes again.
"Look I won't feel right so please let me pay you back."
"You can repay me by not mentioning this to anyone."
Ouch that stung.
I stay silent for the rest of the ride home with my pills bag and backpack on my lap.
I don't know why but I have this urge to cry again so I look out the window the rest of the ride and bite the inside of my lip to keep me from crying.
We get to my apartment and I practically jump off the truck before he makes a complete stop.
Before I close the door I shout over the truck, thanks again and don't worry I won't."
I rush to my door and go inside as quickly as I can.