Nineteen

Chapter Fourteen

He's wearing a gray t-shirt with a pair of cargo shorts. He's wearing a pair of tennis shoes to match his black hat.

"You look great." He says as I make my way to him.

"Thanks. So where are we going?" I ask.

"I was thinking a pizza place across town, so we'd have to drive. Miami is much different than home, where walking was not an option," he responds.

With the talk of driving, I remember that my car is in need of an oil change. My dad made sure he reminded me multiple times before I was left here a few days ago.

Has it only been a few days? I feel as if I have been here for months.

"That sounds good. Can we take my car? I have to get an oil change somewhere. I still don't know the area."

"Yeah, there's a garage a few minutes before the place. We can drop your car off and walk the rest."

We walk across the grass to the parking lot until we get to my car.

"Wow, when'd you get the mustang?" He says as he steps around to look at it.

"After graduation," I say as I get into the drivers seat.

He climbs in beside me and says, "It's a lot better than my Jeep. A lot newer too."

He gives me directions until we are sitting in the parking lot of a garage. It's larger than any garage I've seen, but everything down here is.

We walk into the building to see a young man at the desk.

"Can I help you?"

"Yeah, we just need an oil change for a 2017 mustang." Link says.

He takes the keys and points us to a waiting room across the hall.

"I'm going to go to the bathroom." Link says to me as we sit down.

"Okay."

My phone. I left it in the car.

I walk out of the room hoping they didn't take my car back yet. I'm relieved when I see it still in the same spot we left it.

I open the door and sit down, looking around the seats for my bag.

"Ma'am, I can take your car back now," I hear a young man say. I know the voice.

I look up to see Collin standing in front of the car. He's dressed in a pair of work pants and a dirty t-shirt. He has grease covering his face, making his brown eyes more vibrant.

I step out of the car and he says, "Emory? Is this your car?"

"Yeah," I say and smile at him.

"If I would've known I could have given you the oil change for free. You'll have to let me know next time." He says as he hands me the keys.

"Pull it up into the garage on the left. I don't want to get your seats dirty."

I do as he says before getting out and saying, "I didn't know you worked at a garage."

"You do now. How are you feeling after the party last--"

He stops when Link walks behind me and touches my shoulder.

"Hey, I was looking for you,"

The air is thick now as I introduce the two. "Collin this is Link. Link meet Collin."

Collin puts out a dirty hand for a shake and says "Nice to meet you, Link."

Link shakes it and gives a smile in the shape of a line.

"Well, I better get this car ready for you two," Collin says as he walks across the concrete floor.

Inside the waiting room Link says, "So was that your friend?"

"We just met a few days ago. I went to a party last night and he brought me home."

"You? At a party? What else could surprise me?" He laughs.

For a moment I consider telling him about my boyfriend, but decide against it as a young man brings me my car keys and a bill.