First Crush, My Forever

Chapter 84

  They both smile at me like they've been waiting to hear those exact words.

  Mama looks at the salesman, her tone switching to authoritative, serious. "Show us the out-the-door price. No extras, no fluff. Just the warranty. If it's right, we'll take it. If not, we'll take our business elsewhere."

  I whip my head toward her. "What?"

  They just laugh like this is normal. The salesman blinks, stunned, then recovers fast.

  "Y-Yes ma'am," he says with a nod. "Please follow me."

  We walk inside and get directed to a small desk in the corner of the showroom. My heart's thudding like crazy. I have no idea what's going on. I sit down, still clutching the little Kay Jewelers bag like it's going to give me answers.

  The salesman disappears to talk to his manager. Mom and Mama are both quiet, like they're in mission mode.

  When the salesman finally returns, he's holding a printed quote. He sets it down in front of us and starts explaining the numbers, but my moms are already on it. They lean in, studying the sheet together like it's a contract for NASA.

  They whisper back and forth for a few seconds, nodding. Then Mom looks up at him.

  "We'll take it," she says calmly. "And we've got a trade-in and we already know the NADA value of it and will not take anything less. Plus we're putting $5,000 down today."

  The salesman's eyes go wide. I think mine do too.

  "Wait... what?" I say, staring at them.

  Mama pats my hand and turns to the salesman. "My wife will show you the K5 GT. It's parked right out front. I'll wait here with our daughter."

  He stands up quickly. "Yes ma'am. I'll have them get the paperwork started while we access the trade."

  He and Mom walk off together, chatting as they head toward the door.

  I turn to Mama, still trying to figure out what the hell just happened.

  She looks at me with so much warmth and love it almost undoes me. "Happy early graduation, baby."

  I blink. "Are y'all... helping me get the Sorento?"

  Before Mama can answer, the door swings open. Mom steps back in, her face soft, warm, knowing. She walks over, slips the trade-in paperwork into the folder on the desk, then sits down beside me like she's been waiting for this moment all day.

  "She just asked if we're helping her get the car," Mama says.

  Mom rests her hand gently on my knee. "No, baby. We're not helping."

  My heart stutters.

  "We're buying it," she says. "It's yours."

  My chest tightens. "Wait, what?"

  Mama leans forward, resting her elbows on her knees, watching me with that look. The one she saves for when I've done something she knows I can't see the full weight of yet. "We talked about it weeks ago," she says. "We didn't want to just surprise you without knowing you even liked the Sorento. But hearing you talk about it today and watching you out there... we knew."

  I glance between them, my voice small. "But why?" I feel the tears coming. "I didn't ask for this."

  "We know," Mama says. "That's why we did it."

  I shake my head, trying to process all of it. ""I just came to talk about buying a ring and maybe switching cars. I wasn't expecting all this."

  "Well, life's funny that way," Mom says with a grin. "You came in ready to give your heart away and we wanted to remind you that yours is still held too. Always."