“I said nothing.”
“Your face is saying enough.”
Outside, snow had slowed.
Jake walked Sophia to Mercedes.
She touched the door handle.
“Jake.”
“Yeah?”
“I’m glad the car broke.”
He smiled.
“Mechanically, I disagree.”
“You know what I mean.”
“I do.”
Sophia hesitated.
“If I ask whether you want to do this again, does that violate blind-date etiquette?”
“I don’t know.”
“I haven’t dated enough to know.”
“Me neither.”
She smiled.
“Dinner?”
“No roadside emergency required?”
“I can probably arrange one.”
Jake looked at her.
“Yes.”
Sophia’s smile changed.
Not polished.
Not careful.
Real.
“Goodnight, Jake.”
“Drive slowly.”
“Yes, Dad.”
He pointed.
“Date canceled.”
She laughed, climbed in, and drove away.
Jake remained beside his truck until her taillights disappeared.
Then his phone buzzed.
Avery.
HOW BAD WAS IT
Jake smiled.
He typed:
Car broke down. I fixed it. She was the date.
Three dots appeared instantly.
Then:
THIS IS LITERALLY A MOVIE
Jake wrote:
Go to bed.
Avery:
DO YOU LIKE HER
Jake stared at the question.
Snow landed on screen.
He finally typed:
Yes.
Then put the phone away before he could think too hard about what that meant.
The next morning Sophia’s Mercedes arrived at Morrison Auto at 8:03.
Jake looked up from a Subaru.
Sophia stepped out wearing jeans, boots designed for snow this time, a cream sweater, and the same enormous chocolate coat.
Jake smiled.
“Improvement.”
She looked down at boots.
“I bought traction.”
“Still expensive.”
“Judgmental.”
“You’re at mechanic shop.”
“It’s part of service.”
Avery was sitting in office before school because Leah had an early shift.
She saw Sophia through window.
Then turned to Jake slowly.
“That’s her?”
Jake felt immediate dread.
“Avery.”
“She’s really pretty.”
“Use inside voice.”
“That was inside voice.”
Sophia entered.
Avery stood.
Jake wiped his hands.
“Sophia, this is Avery.”
Sophia looked suddenly more nervous than she had on roadside.
“Hi.”
Avery examined her.
Jake could almost hear checklist.
Sophia smiled.
“I heard you picked the sweater.”
Avery’s eyes flicked to Jake.
“He told you?”
“Yes.”
“You’re welcome.”
Sophia laughed.
Jake sighed.
“School.”
Avery ignored him.
“Do you actually hate olives?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
“Why good?”
“Dad puts them on pizza and says they’re normal.”