of your business.”
I plan to make her my business, but I don’t dare say it out loud. Not yet, at least. “You two have never dated?”
She opens her mouth, no doubt in preparation to tell me where to shove my questions, and then lifts a shoulder. “Maybe.”
Damn. I like Colin. Now I sort of want to punch him. “How do you maybe date someone?”
“We were in third grade,” she says with a smile and a twinkle in her eye.
“What happened? Did he cheat on you?”
Juliette’s easy smile falters. “He didn’t cheat on me.”
“But someone else did?” When she gives me a look, I shrug. “I could sort of hear it in your voice.”
“Yes, someone else did, but I don’t want to talk about him.”
“Fair enough. What would you like to talk about?”
“You getting out of my car.”
“There she is,” I say, smiling. “And stop pretending like you want to get rid of me. We both know you’re enjoying the company.”
“Okay, now I really need you to get out so I can finish reading my book.”
“You see, I can’t. This town doesn’t have a taxi service, and according to Colin and my trusty Uber app, you’re the only driver around.”
“I’m off the clock.”
“How is it that this tiny town even has an Uber driver?”
She shakes her head. “You’re not leaving, are you?”
“Nope.”
“Fine. Where are you going?”
“To the nearest hotel that won’t have bedbugs.”
Juliette laughs. “You’re joking, right?”
“I don’t joke about bedbugs.”
“You really don’t have a place lined up to stay?”
I shake my head.
We sit in silence for a few seconds and finally, Juliette pulls out her phone. “You probably don’t want to stay at the hotel in town. I’ve heard sketchy things. The closest nice hotel is in the city, about thirty miles away.”
“I don’t want to go that far.” I want to be close to my business so I can work on getting things set up.
“I might have another option for you.” She fires off a few texts, tucks her phone in her purse, and pulls onto the street. “I pick up drunks.”
“Huh?”
“You asked how a small town like Benton ended up with an Uber driver. I pick up drunks. Well, I’ll really pick up anyone who needs a lift and has the Uber app, but I mostly did it for the people who are too intoxicated to drive. I wanted them to know they don’t have to get behind the wheel, that there’s another option.”
Wow. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t that. “That’s…really great of you.”
I watch her hands tighten on the steering wheel as she drags in a breath. “It’s the least I can do.”
“What do you mean?”
“You really want to know?”
“Sure.”
“If my sarcastic attitude didn’t run you off, this probably will.”
“Try me,” I say, relaxing in the seat.
She gives me a quick look and then makes another turn. “My dad was always a bit of a drinker, but for the most part he kept it under control. And then three years ago, we lost my mom to breast cancer, and in the process, I sort of lost my dad to the bottle. He drank every night to drown out the pain, and one night he got behind the wheel after a few too many shots of bourbon.”
She stops talking, takes in a staggering breath, and blows it out.
“Juliette, you don’t have to—”
“No, It’s okay. It’s good for me to talk about it.”
“Okay.”
“Long story short, he hit a car head on. Killed himself and the driver of the other car.” She takes another breath and looks at me. This time she looks a little lighter. “I don’t know that I’ve ever told anyone that out loud.”
“Really?”
She nods. “Of course everyone in town knew about it, but no one ever said a word. They just supported me and helped me pick up the pieces. The compassion this town showed me is the main reason I refuse to leave.”
“So you started being an Uber driver to help pay it forward?”
“Yeah, I guess. I mean, I’m also a nurse at the hospital, so I can only Uber on days I’m off, but I like to do what I can. I don’t want anyone else to have to go through what I went through.”
Juliette loosens her grip on the steering and moves a hand to her leg.
I reach across the car and place my hand on hers. “I’m sorry that happened.” She looks at my hand on hers and then at me. “I know you think I’m handsome,