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“Because that asshole has absolutely no idea what he just cost me,” I explain. “Now, I’m gonna have to work doubles for the next two weeks, just to make a fraction of what it’s gonna cost me to fix up the Camaro. But how am I supposed to work doubles when I can’t even drive to work?” I throw my hands up, pissed off all over again.
“Do you know the guy?” Sander asks, and the tone of his voice changes just slightly.
“No, not really.”
I watch the streetlights pass by as we pull into my neighborhood. I guess, really, it’s our neighborhood. Sander just doesn’t live in it anymore. I wasn’t supposed to either, but things happen, and dreams change faster than people realize.
“What do you mean, not really?”
Shrugging my shoulders, I say in the most don’t-give-a-shit tone I can manage, “He’s a pro racer for the city circuit. I’ve seen his face on TV before.”
“I wonder what he was doing in Sancte Alto,” Sander asks in a way that he assumes makes him sound non-interested, but really, I know he’s trying to weasel information out of me without me catching on to the fact. Typical cop. I could almost laugh.
I humor him regardless, knowing that he won’t stop until he finds out what he wants to know.
“He said he used to live here — my guess is on the north side — and was visiting a friend but that they weren’t home. Apparently, he was having a shit day because of something that happened during today’s race. I don’t know, but I guess that’s all supposed to excuse him from paying attention to his surroundings.”
Sander sits there contemplatively, and I momentarily wish I had the ability to look inside his head. I used to not have to wonder. We were so close at one time that we knew what the other one was thinking with a single look, but so much time has passed, we drifted apart.
“What is it?” I ask.
He draws in a deep breath, clearing his expression. “Nothing, but the guy definitely seemed like a jerk. I guess now I know why.”
He turns to me, and we lock eyes, and just like that, it’s back.
“Rich boys,” we echo in unison. Peals of laughter fill the truck and a sense of ease washes over me, the joke from our teenage years taking me back for a moment.
“Damn, I hope you handed that guy his ass before Frank showed up.” He smiles brightly, all straight, perfectly white teeth shining in the dim lights from the dashboard. He could honestly knock girls dead with that smile if he wanted to, but that’s not San. It never has been now that I think about it.
“Let’s just say I’m not someone he’ll easily forget after tonight,” I chuckle, knowing I definitely pissed Bodhi off with my attitude. He deserved it, though.
Sander surprises me though when he groans loudly, seemingly off-put by something.
“That better be exactly what he does after we settle this claim.”
The jealousy in his voice is so weird. I really don’t know how to respond to it. It’s not the same type of protective nature he used to have when guys would hit on me when we were younger. Of course, I only really had to deal with it in junior high. Once I got up to the high school with San, none of the guys even looked my way.
We’ve always been really close, so I kind of felt like I was just one of the guys most days. But with the way he’s acting now, it’s becoming more and more difficult to ignore. I’m going to have to find a way to sit him down and explain that while I love him, I can never be in love with him.
When we pull up in front of my house, I’m about to just say good night and hop out, but I forgot to ask about the Camaro.
“Hey, uh, where did the Camaro get taken?”
“The impound lot.” He says, and my eyes bug out. “Before you freak out, I told them that it’s just being parked there so that your mom doesn’t worry. I can only imagine the panic she’d feel seeing the car all banged up and imagining you in it.”
I stop and relax back into my seat.
“As soon as you figure something out, just call and let me know where it needs to be taken, and I’ll make sure it gets there.”
I’d argue if it weren’t for the fact that I can’t afford to move it myself.
“Okay, cool. Thanks.”
“Yeah, no problem.” He bites the corner of his lip while he watches me in the shadows.
The silence between us builds when I can’t figure out what to say.
“You better get inside and get some rest; I’ll be back at six to pick you up.”
