I thought about calling Grey, but if I told him where I was, he would get in his truck and start driving. No matter how many times I tried to convince him I could handle the situation and everything was under control, he would drive straight to me. That’s what Grey does. That’s why I fell in love with him.
Mom had packed snacks for me. I reached into the canvas bag full of pretzels and apples, and landed on a granola bar. She seemed to be the only one who understood my need to finish this trip on my own. After my graduation at Carolina, she threw her support behind my relationship with Grey. Dad wanted me to start applying for jobs, get my feet wet in the business world before I dedicated my time to a personal life. He thought I was throwing away the education I had just earned by moving to South Padre. The Palm Palace didn’t appeal to him as my hands-on training. Maybe one day he would see it in person and he would change his mind.
I jumped when I heard my phone ring. “Hey, Marin.”
“Eden, when are you getting here?”
I laughed. Marin might be as excited as Grey and I were, possibly more. “I’m getting there.”
“I still don’t know why you didn’t let Grey drive with you. He was dying to make the trip with you.”
“I know. I know.” I wasn’t going to feel guilty about it. “It’s just something I needed to do. I’ll be there tonight.” Although, at the rate this roadside assistance was going, I’d be lucky if the guy showed up by nightfall.
“I can’t wait for you to get here. I still can’t believe you are actually moving.”
I shook my head. “Me either.” I looked at the trailer behind me. “There’s no turning back now. The truck is loaded and I’m in Louisiana. I’m almost there.” My shoulders were starting to cramp from the driving and my left foot kept falling asleep. Grey was my grand prize at the end of this journey, but it would be so amazing if he came along with a hot shower.
“Wait until you see what Grey has—”
“What? What did he do?”
Marin gasped. “I’m an idiot. I shouldn’t have said anything. We’ll see you when you get here. Call when you get to the bridge, ok?” She sounded happy, but I wanted to know what secret she almost let slip.
“Ok. I can do that, but you know I don’t like big surprises. Grey knows that too, right?”
“Don’t worry. He can’t wait to see you. He’s not going to do something to scare you off the first night.” She giggled.
I envisioned guiding the truck over the bridge that peaked over the sound and careened onto the island. I’d give just about anything to be there now. I had at least nine hours of driving ahead of me. I might never make it to Grey.
“Thanks for calling. I’ll check in with you later.” I smiled as I saw the yellow caution lights flash in my mirror. I had to get this show on the road.
“Be careful, Eden. See you tonight.”
I hung up the phone, tucked it into my back pocket, and hopped out of the truck into the Louisiana heat. I swear I had discovered the breeding ground for monster mosquitoes. One the size of a beetle landed on my arm. I swatted at it and headed toward the tow truck.
“You run into trouble?” A lanky man with grease-stained jeans and a wad of tobacco in his jaw strolled to examine the flat tire.
“I did. Do you think you can get the tire changed for me?” I observed his truck, the lights flashing. It looked like a tow truck, but I was hopeful there were also some tools and maybe a tire stashed in the cab.
He lifted a ball cap from his head and scratched what little bit of hair he had. “Nobody told me nothin’ about a tire. I got a call you needed a tow.” He lowered himself to the ground, his eyes closer to the rubber donut that used to resemble a tire.
“That’s not possible. I specifically told the woman on the phone the trailer tire was flat.” I wanted to call her back and lay into her, but I had bigger problems. This was the help they sent, and now that he was standing four feet away, I wasn’t sure he would be able to do much of anything.
He spit from the side of his mouth, sending brown bits of tobacco into the grass and gravel. I tried not to stare, but this couldn’t be happening. I had to get to South Padre. I had to start my life with Grey. This tow trucker driver held my trip in his grimy hands.
“Don’t know what to tell ya. I don’t got a tire. I’ll roll back up to town, pick you up one, and I’ll be back.” He looked at his watch. “Gimme an hour.”
“An hour? You’re going to leave me here for another hour?” The traffic had slowed to a turtle’s pace. The blinking lights of the tow truck had that effect on drivers. “I’ve been sitting here two hours already.” I refrained from kicking the gravel.
“You can ride with me.” He pointed to the cab. “Sally there’ll move over for ya.” In the front seat was a long-haired golden retriever. I liked dogs, but I wasn’t about to let one I didn’t know sit in my lap.