I weighed my options. I could stay with the truck, keep an eye on my life’s possessions, and get harassed by every man who drove past; or I could ride with Hank the tow truck driver with Sally on my lap into a town I’d never heard of, and leave everything I own in this world on the side of a Louisiana back road.
Hank stepped toward his truck. “You comin’?”
“No. I think I’ll stay with the truck.” I still wasn’t certain I made the best choice.
“Suit yourself.” He opened the door. “Be back real soon.”
“Ok. Thank you.” I tried to smile, but knew I didn’t have much faith in Hank. He didn’t seem like a take-charge kind of guy.
Hank flashed his lights and made a U-turn on the highway, I presumed back to the town that had the tire I needed. I climbed into the truck, locked the doors, and turned on the radio.
I smiled as the song filled the cab. It was one of the Texas country songs Grey had introduced to me. It was only six months ago that I discovered there was an entire world of music I had never heard. Although, listening to anything with Grey’s arms wrapped around me was pure heaven.
I leaned into the vinyl seat and let the beat wash over me. Six months ago, I traveled to South Padre Island for spring break. I was alone, angry, brokenhearted, and determined. After my ex, Brett, stole my resort room, I ended up at the dilapidated Palm Palace, home to one hot handyman, Grey Lachlan. In ten days, Grey and I transformed from complete strangers to a couple who couldn’t stand to be away from each other for more than five minutes. It was the most amazing week of my entire life.
I usually skipped over the part of the story when I was back in North Carolina for six weeks, uncertain of where we stood, and Grey was in South Padre, thinking I was still someone else’s girlfriend. The day he appeared on my doorstep, everything changed.
He’s not the kind of guy to share his feelings. Driving all the way from Texas said more than any poem, song, or speech he could compose. I knew then that all the horrible things that had happened and the shitty relationship that preceded him were for a reason. A very important reason. It all led me straight to him.
I didn’t recognize the next song that played. I sat forward and hit the seek button on the radio. There was more static than music in this part of the country. It must have been thirty minutes since Hank, the tow man, left. Surely, he would be back soon.
I cracked the door just as a horsefly flew into the cab. I jumped out trying to avoid getting bitten. Shit. I walked to the back of the truck. My snacks, phone, and overnight bag were all in the cab along with an insect that would leave a welt the size of a quarter. Maybe if I left him long enough he would fly right out when I opened the door again. I took a seat on the tail of the trailer.
This was not how I pictured my move to Texas. I shouldn’t be stranded on the side of the road. I should be cruising over the Texas state line about now. I moved closer to the edge of the trailer, trying to avoid the most intense rays of the sun.
Grey could have been the one to move. He had offered to sell the Palm Palace and pack up his one-bedroom hotel room and head north, but it didn’t feel right. He had something in South Padre that I couldn’t take away from him. His grandfather had given him the motel, and even though it struggled in its first year with Grey at the helm, I knew it was going to be successful. Me, on the other hand, I was fresh out of college, no job prospects, nothing keeping me in North Carolina. It made perfect sense that I should move.
I never thought I’d be moving in with someone at the age of twenty-two, but then I never planned on meeting Grey. We tried the long-distance relationship for a month or two, but phone calls, emails, and texts weren’t enough. I wanted to see him. I missed him. The only way to fix that was for us to be in the same state. I pride myself on being a practical girl, and the practical decision was for me to move to South Padre. To the Palm Palace.
I saw the flashing yellow lights a few cars back. Finally, Hank had returned. He waved as he pulled behind the trailer.
“Got you a tire.” He beamed as he stepped out of the truck.
“Good. I was starting to worry about you, Hank.”
He walked to the back of his truck and retrieved a tire, slung it to the ground, and began rolling it toward me.
“This was the only one we had left in that trailer size.” He pointed to the flat. “Why don’t you scoot, and let me git this on here?”
I hopped from the ledge and watched as he began the process of dismounting the pancake tire. Sally must have seen this a hundred times. She pulled her head in from the window and folded herself in the front seat.
After fifteen minutes, Hank had finished the tire change process and stepped back to admire his work. “That oughtta do ya.” He smiled widely, and I noticed he had several teeth missing.
“Thank you. I really appreciate the help.” This wasn’t the time to tell him I’d been sitting on the side of the road for three hours because of him.