True Love, Tips and Tattoos

I didn’t bother turning my blinker on, because it hadn’t worked in forever. Letting my foot off the gas, the car slowed down and I rotated the steering wheel gradually to the right. At the gas station entrance, there had been a small dip where the road met the concrete parking lot. When I rolled over it, a loud crash came from behind me. I looked in my rearview mirror but didn’t see anything, so I kept moving. My car sounded really loud after that, as I pulled up right next to the air pump.

Wasting no time, I grabbed the air hose then pulled it to the front driver’s side tire, and secured the nozzle over the valve stem. Reaching back inside the car, I searched through an ashtray full of pennies to find two measly quarters for the machines. The air came on instantly and vibrated my eardrums.

Carefully I watched the tire fill and when it was done, I dropped the hose and went straight for the vacuum. There were crumbs, grass, and trash all over the floorboards. The hose sucked it all out really fast, starting with the driver’s side. It might be a clunker, but it would be a clean one, and all I had. Quickly I threw the hose across the seat and started to get out. The machine would turn off any second, and I didn’t have any more silver change to put in it. As I got out, something startled me. I was face to face with a small tattoo. It happened to be on the wrist of a guy standing inside the door of my car.

He stepped back, and I got out of the car. Still surprised, I looked up at him. He was tall, probably 6’2” or more.

“Can I help you?”

The guy had a nice, freshly shaven face.

“I think this is yours.” He held up a rusty metal object. It sort of looked like a muffler.

Then it hit me.

“Is that my muffler?” Horrified, I ran to the back of my car and looked to see if mine was still attached. It wasn’t.

“Yep, it fell off back there.” He pointed to the street.

“I knew I heard something hit the pavement,” I moaned. “Great, that’s all I need.” I shook my head in disgust.

The guy kept quiet. His dark hair and robin’s egg-blue eyes were an intriguing combination, if I were interested, which I wasn’t. He looked about nineteen or twenty. I’d never seen him before, but that didn’t mean anything since I didn’t go around looking for guys. JJ might’ve known who he was. I’d have to ask her. Wondering what he drove, I looked around the area.

“Where are your parents?” His question didn’t make sense.

“Um, my mom’s at work, why?” What difference did that make?

“What about your dad?” That seemed really nosy.

“Well, he’s dead, if you must know.” That should shut him up.

“Oh, sorry. Well, I just wondered. You shouldn’t be driving without a license. That’s against the law, you know. If you get pulled over, your Mom will get fined, and it won’t be cheap.”

Ha! He thinks I’m a kid.

“Thanks for the advice. I’ll be sure to remember that.”

I didn’t waste my time correcting his perception of me, since I was used to it. He did look pretty cute, though. That had been the first time, in two years, that I’d given myself a chance to even notice a guy.

He handed me the muffler and turned to walk in the direction of a little building that shared the parking lot with the gas station. Inconspicuously, I watched him walk toward the tattoo shop. His jeans were distressed and loose fit. Something about him made my stare linger. I found he had a nice butt and great hair. Maybe his shoulders caught my attention since they were very broad and muscular through his white tee. I preferred tall guys. Not that every guy wasn’t a giant compared to me, but I’m pretty sure I liked very tall guys.

Giving my head a shake to shed the image of the tattoo boy, it sort of surprised me that he actually held my thoughts that long. Get a grip, Dru. He’s just a stinkin’ guy. After flipping the trunk, I threw in the muffler then started the car.