“That’s the charge before detailing it, the oil change, putting in a new filter and plugs and changing the wipers.
Oh, and you had a brake light out.”
I started hyperventilating.
Mr. Greasy Coveral s watched me like I was a particularly inept performance artist. Then he looked at Eddie. Then back at me when I yel ed.
“I don’t have that kind of money! The car isn’t even worth that kind of money!”
He looked back at Eddie as Eddie’s hand slid against the smal of my back.
“It’s taken care of,” Mr. Greasy Coveral s said at the exact same time that Eddie said, “Jet.”
“Taken…” I started to say and then it hit me. Mom, Ada and me watching through the window as Eddie talked to Mr. Greasy Coveral s.
I turned and stared at Eddie. “You didn’t.” A car swung in, Mr. Greasy Coveral s handed Eddie my car keys and got in the other car and took off. I didn’t take my eyes off Eddie the whole time.
“Tel me you didn’t,” I demanded.
He watched me closely.
“I did,” he replied.
I considered scratching his eyes out. Then I thought that probably wasn’t very nice, I mean, he just spent, like, a thousand dol ars on my piece of shit car.
Then I considered screaming. But I decided to reserve my energy. Who knew what was going to happen next and I needed to be prepared.
So, instead, I stomped to the truck. I wrenched open the door to get the grocery bags but I was pul ed out of the way and the door was shut by Eddie.
That was it, I could take no more, and I whirled around to face him.
“I’l pay you back, every penny. The minute we get upstairs, I’l write you a check.”
It would almost break the bank but I was going to do it.
“I’m not gonna take your money,” he said.
“You are. I don’t like to be indebted to anyone.” Especially not you, I thought but did not say.
Especially not you, I thought but did not say.
His hand went to my bel y and he pushed me gently against the truck.
“That’s the point. I want you indebted to me.” He what?
“You what?” I yel ed.
He closed in and I had nowhere to retreat. Anyway, I was too freaked out to retreat.
“If you’re indebted to me, you’re connected to me.
Whatever makes you take care of your Mom, your Dad, kids getting chemo and friends who make bad decisions on who to date is gonna make you stay connected to me because you owe me. You aren’t connected to me, the minute this is al over with your Dad, you’re gone. I’m makin’
certain that doesn’t happen.”
I didn’t know what to say. He’d total y figured me out.
How did that happen?