Talon(67)

"That's so cool," I say.

"What? The GPS?" he asks, backing out of his driveway. The car then tells him which way to go, and I try to hide my surprise. I seriously need to get out more.

"Yeah."

"So…you don't have a car?" he asks casually.

"No. I haven't had one in about two years."

"What?" he exclaims, swerving the car erratically as he turns to face me. "Two years? That's almost as bad as not having sex for three years. Why don't you have a car?"

"The one I had kinda died, and I couldn't afford to get it fixed or to get another one."

"So how do you get anywhere?"

"I walk or take the bus, or Kat drives me sometimes if she can."

He takes a long, glowing drag on his e-cig, then turns the volume down a little on the radio and GPS voice. "Asia, there is no way I'm letting that go on. Tomorrow, we're getting you a car. A new one."

I immediately start to protest. "Tal—"

"No," he says loudly. "No debating on this. I'm not letting my wife hoof around. Fuck that."

"I can't afford a new car."

"Didn't we go over this? I'm getting you a car. You want this one? You can have it, and I'll buy a new one."

"I don't want this thing. It's like a UFO in here."

Shaking his head, he pulls onto the highway. "How the hell does someone not have a car? I can't even wrap my head around it."

"Because you've never been poor," I mutter.

"No, I haven't. Tomorrow, we'll get you a new SUV. Something with four-wheel drive. And something low so you can get your midget ass into it."

I stare out the window, torn by my feelings. Part of me is excited about getting a car and part of me is mad at him for flinging his money around at me like it's nothing. I don't want to be bought.

"I don't even go anywhere," I tell him, still looking out the window.