Page 54 of Rumor Has It

“How long you here for, Hatcher?” Riley asks. He doesn’t realize how much I loathe my old nickname.

I rub the back of my neck. “I’ll tell ya, but you have to stop calling me that. I hate it.”

“Whoa!” He holds his hands up. “What’s that about?”

“Pecker-head Thorton, I can’t get away from him,” I growl. “He’s such a dick.”

Chord nudges Walker, as if I can’t see them. “You gonna knock the rust off your ole man’s ’68 while you’re here?”

“Maybe, I hadn’t thought about it.”

Chord checks his phone when it pings. “I’m down for a ride, just let me know.”

“Sounds good.” I run my hand through my hair. “I guess it could use a fresh tank of gas.”

Walker grins, fist bumping Riley when he holds his hand up. “That’s what we’re talking about. Just let someone know, and we’ll go with you. Show you around town.”

“Alright, it’s a plan.” And just like that, I can’t stop smiling. We cut up and laugh all the way back to my place. I have to admit, it was a good night. The first in a long time.

***

“Seriously?” I tap the steering wheel. “You’re bailing on me, all of are bailing on me!”

Walker’s voice is low. “I’m sorry, man. Reese was called into court this morning. I had no idea Riley and Chord couldn’t go.”

“It’s fine, I think I’ll drive down Main and head on back.” I switch ears with my cell, starting my dad’s ’68 Camaro up with a thrum. Damn, it still sounds great.

“You should take it for a tune-up; it sounds rough,” Walker says over the engine’s hum.

I quirk my mouth. “Are you kidding me? It sounds great!”

“Apparently, you can’t hear that hesitation,” he quips. “Can you at least feel it, or have you lost all your car knowledge?”

I rev the motor, letting it purr. “No, it’s perfect.”

“If you think; it’s your funeral.”

I hit the gas again, waiting for any signs of a hiccup. “I think it’s fine.” My phone beeps, and I pull it from my ear to see my mom is calling. “Hit me up later. I’ve got to get this.”

“Will do!” Walker ends the call as I click over.

“Hey, gorgeous. Are you okay?”

Mom still speaks like she can’t hear on a cell phone. Yes, she’s yelling. “Boone! Your dad asked if you’d take the car in and have it put on those machine things, to make sure it’s running well.”

“Mom, it’s running great!” I press the peddle, firing it up. “See? Runs smooth.”

She gets louder just as I back off the gas. “Could you just do as he asks?”

“Okay, you don’t have to yell at me.”

She giggles. “Oh, Boone! Hush, you did that on purpose.”

“I’ll find a place, and grab dinner on the way home.”

“Find a place?” she murmurs. “No, he said take it to Mack’s.”

My heart begins to rumble, mimicking the car. “O-okay.”