Fish spilled out the staff door, slammed it behind him, and leaned against it for good measure. The music assailed him; it really was ridiculously quiet in the staff area.

Before he could work out how to get those two women out of his room, Jack, a bartender, walked past him and a better idea hit. He grabbed his friend’s arm. “Jack! Thank God. I need to leave. Is there any chance you could take over in the booth?”

“What? Where are you going?”

“Family emergency.” He dared not tell the man, who was as popular as Fish when it came to female patrons, that he was running from two beautiful women who’d offered to keep him company, minus their clothing. He’d never live that down if anyone found out. Plus, Jack would likely elect to keep the ladies entertained, instead of taking over the music for the rest of the night.

“Well… it’s been a while since I last used the equipment. Can you give me a quick refresher? With the new booth all lit up, everyone will know I’m up there, instead of you, so I need to do a decent job.”

“Sure. Come on.” Fish pulled the tray from Jack’s hand and placed it on a table as he pulled him toward the DJ booth. They slipped inside and he flicked on the internal light. Twenty minutes later, with Jack moderately confident, Fish pulled his car keys from his pocket and made a break for the carpark.

He dipped his head as his six-foot frame burst through the door. As the security guys shook his hand, he took a moment to let them know about the women who’d learned the code for the staff area, so they could take care of it.

Eyes on the ground, he quickly walked to his car, trying his best to avoid any more attention. The last thing he needed was for another woman to recognise him; all he wanted to do was get home and relax. Maybe he’d have a beer in front of the TV and forget this night had ever happened.

Maybe I’ll consider a career that somehow involves music but not available women.

His car was parked at the far side of the carpark to leave the closer spots for customers. He imagined women would rather park in the fully lit area than where his car waited in a pool of darkness. It was after one in the morning and the carpark was less busy than usual. On a warm night like tonight, people were more inclined to use public transport to have a night out in Melbourne. In winter, this space would be jammed tight with cars, as everyone wanted to get home as fast as possible with the heater blasting.

As he neared his vehicle, he noticed a woman sitting with her legs crossed on the bonnet of a blue car. Silver jewels on her black jacket glinted under the lights as she tapped away on her mobile phone. She was several cars away, but he tucked his head down further. It was highly unlikely she was waiting for him, but this night had been so crazy that he wasn’t taking any chances. He skirted around her car and walked the final few feet to his without making eye contact.

Lights flashed as his alarm clicked off and he slid into the front seat of his black Mazda. He loved this car. It was his first brand new vehicle, and he’d paid for it with cash—something that still amazed and impressed him. The best perk of being a semi-well-known DJ was extra gigs on top of his job in the club. In the past six months, he’d played several weddings, a graduation, and three Christmas in July parties, all of which, combined with his savings, had allowed him to buy this car.

It might have been small, but he owned it outright, and every time he breathed in the new car smell, he was proud of his efforts. A thought he’d had several times in the last few weeks popped into his head now as he breathed in the scent, again.

I need to get my own business sorted out. It’s time.

He slipped the keys into the ignition and let his eyes close as the engine kicked to life and his stereo sent a nightclub beat howling across the carpark. The sound washed over him and the sub-woofer installed on the rear dash reminded him of the sounds he could create in the club. He loved loud music—always had—and he smiled as he thought about the fee from Jordan and Luke’s wedding that had paid for this one sub.

The car eased forward as he flicked through his songs, keeping his eye on the road in front of him. After a moment, he frowned and gripped the steering wheel tighter. The car felt heavy, like he was driving through mud. He glanced down to check that the hand break wasn’t engaged, and after another couple of moments, he accepted there was a problem and stopped the car. He got out, leaving the car running, and walked around it to look for the problem.

For several seconds, he stared at the cause of his troubles before letting out a roar across the quiet carpark. “Aaaaaarrrggghhh… Goddammit!” He punched the car and immediately bent to make sure he hadn’t damaged his pride and joy. A flat tyre wasn’t a big deal under normal circumstances—he’d changed plenty of them in his time. The spare tyre was fully inflated and could be easily changed. “Fuck it! I just wanted to get home!”

“Is something wrong?” a female voice spoke over his shoulder. He closed his eyes as he waited for the come on. “Are you okay?” she asked when he didn’t answer.

“Yep. Great.”

“Flat tyre, huh?” She stood beside him and he realised she was the woman who’d been sitting on the car bonnet. “Don’t you have a spare?”

“I have a spare.”

“I can help you change it, if you don’t know how.”

“I know how to change a tyre!” he growled in her direction, making her take a step sideways.

“Sorry. I’m just trying to help, since you seem wildly outraged at the injustice of a simple flat tyre.”

He sighed and turned to where she stood, watching him and still holding her phone in her hand. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to sound so angry. The problem is I lent my jack to my neighbour, and I can’t change the tyre without it.” He stared at the flat again. “He didn’t return it, and now I’ll have to call roadside assistance. Saturday nights are notoriously slow, and I suspect they attend the single women first.”

“Where do you live? Can you get the jack back?”

“I’m only five minutes from here. The guy works nights, though, so a lift there won’t even help me.”

“Oh, I wasn’t offering you a lift.”

“Of course not. Sorry.” He kicked the tyre and pulled his door open to remove the keys. The carpark fell silent, and he pushed the door shut before engaging the alarm. “Guess I’ll go inside and wait.”

He took two steps toward the club before she spoke. “There is another option.”

“What’s that?”

Here it comes...

“If I lend you my jack, will you give me a lift home?”

“Why don’t you drive yourself home? Why are you prepared to get in a car with a complete stranger late at night?”

“Well, I know we haven’t met, but I do know you work at that club—I saw you tonight when I was there with my girlfriend. So, I’ll text her, and if anything happens to me, they’ll know it was you.” She grinned at Fish, like she’d conjured up the most foolproof plan. As he considered her words, she put her phone in front of her and a light flashed in the darkness. “There, I can even send a picture.”

“You didn’t answer my first question.”

“Ahh… that’s the most ridiculous thing that’s happened to anyone tonight. I urged my friend to leave with her fiancé while I had a quick last visit to the toilet. Unfortunately, we all forgot that my car keys were in her handbag since I didn’t bring a purse. Of course, they headed to his house and now they’re thirty minutes away.”

“They got a long way before you realised.”

“Yeah. I tried to call a taxi first, but it took me twenty minutes to get through and then they told me the wait is more than an hour. By the time I called her, she was almost in bed. So, she’s going to get dressed and come all the way back. If you could drop me off, though, that would be better. Win-win.” She grinned at him and he couldn’t help but laugh at her hopeful expression. “Oh, and before you ask the next obvious question, I can get you the jack because the lock on my boot is broken. Look.” She walked to her car and banged her fist right above the badge. Like magic, the trunk popped open. “See?” She grinned at him before bending to dig around in the dark. She emerged with the jack and held it out. “Do we have a deal? A lift for a lift?”

He laughed as he took it from her. “We have a deal, but please tell me you don’t live an hour away. I’ve had a difficult night and I’d really like to get home before dawn.”

“I’m five minutes, promise. That’s why I’m trying to avoid having my friend come get me tonight. We can swap keys tomorrow if you can drop me home.”

“Sounds fair. What did you mean by a lift for a lift?” She frowned at him; for a moment, he thought she would laugh. He was used to women laughing at him—or rolling their eyes, or sighing.

Instead, she took a breath and explained. “Um, I give you the jack, you lift the car up, and then you give me a lift home.” She watched his face as he considered her words. “I thought it was funny, but maybe not.”

“Ahh… I get it. Okay, let me change this sucker and we’ll be on our way.” He pulled a towel from his car and placed it on the ground before kneeling on it. “Send your friend my picture, so I’m not tempted to kill you.” Silence filled the air behind him and he turned to see her shocked face as she stared down at him. “Err… that was a joke. It seems neither of us have a sense of humour tonight.”

“It’s not the funniest joke I’ve heard today.”

“Same.” He positioned the jack near the frame of the car before looking up at her again. “For the record, her taking your keys is not the most ridiculous thing that’s happened to anyone tonight.”

“Really? What have you got that tops it?”

“You have no idea.”

“So, I’m asking. Amuse me while you change the tyre.” She squatted down next to him, rocking back on her high heels, her hot pants pulling tightly against her thighs. He was distracted when she spoke again. “Don’t you have to undo the nuts before you raise the car?”

He looked at her with a raised eyebrow. “Have you ever changed a tyre?”

She laughed. “Hell no! I always go for help. I’ve watched three separate men change tyres on my cars, though—a little bit of eyelash fluttering goes a long way—and I pretty much know what to do from watching. That counts, doesn’t it?”

“No. Now, let me get this done with no more instructions, okay?” He began loosening the nuts on the tyre as she bit her lip.

“Are you right to drive? You seemed to have a drink in your hand all night.”

“You’re observant.” He dropped the wheel nuts onto the towel one by one.

“Not really. I noticed because it seemed like your glass was never out of your hand and I wondered what would happen if you dropped it on the DJ equipment.”

“An illusion, I promise. I only drink water at work and I get the barman to put it in a beer glass. People assume it’s alcohol, I guess. I’m pleased to know the trick works, but I’m totally fine to drive.”

“Oh. Don’t you drink?”

“Oh, I drink. In fact, I can have free drinks all night at work, if I want. It’s not worth it, that’s all.”

The first night you ignored that advice, you slept with Jordan. The second time, you hooked up with Jessica. It could be time to give up drinking for real.

She laughed. “That sounds ominous.”

“You have no idea how true that is. Let me tell you the details of my night to pass the time.”

Forty-five minutes later, the tyre was changed, the tools were put away, and she was laughing as she slid into his passenger seat. “That’s the funniest story I’ve ever heard, and you totally win. What kind of a woman takes her clothes off and waits for you in an area they’re not meant to be in? What if you hadn’t had your own office?” She laughed again and gave him directions to her house.

“I know, right? Don’t forget two of them thought it was a good idea. Honestly, I wouldn’t even know what to do with two women at once. I was terrified!” He turned onto the street and flicked his headlights on. “Changing the subject now, accidentally on purpose, aren’t you worried someone will steal your car, since they can get in through the back?”

“No, not at all. It’s old and there’s no access to the rest of the car. You have to be inside it to pull the levers to get into the trunk. So, if I don’t keep any valuables in there, I’m fine. So far, you’re the first person to want my jack.” She waved her hand to the left. “Turn here.”

“How do you get into the house without keys?”

“I have a hidden key. This isn’t the first time I’ve been locked out.” She laughed and pointed, “This is me, the green house.”

Fish pulled the car up outside her home. He waited for her to say her goodbyes and be on her way, but she hesitated as she swivelled in her seat. “So, after the night you’ve had, this is going to sound really pushy, but…" she sucked in her breath, making him look at her as he waited for her to get out. “Would you like to grab lunch with me tomorrow?”

“Lunch?”

“Yes, it’s the meal between breakfast and dinner.” She grinned at him. “Sometimes taken as brunch, especially on Sunday, when one has a hangover to contend with. We could do brunch, if you’d like an earlier start.” She smiled again, and for a second, he considered accepting her offer. Before he could speak, however, the image of two naked women intertwined with Jessica telling him he was going to be a daddy reminded him of his pledge from just a few hours ago.

No more dating.

“I’m afraid I can’t.”

“Oh. Okay.”

“It’s not personal, but I promised myself tonight that I’m not going to date anyone for a while. I need a break.”

“No problem. That makes total sense.” She opened her door and stood on the damp grass. “Thanks for the lift.”

“Thanks for the jack.” He grinned at her and she gripped the door, ready to push it closed. “Hey, I didn’t catch your name.”

“Oh, well, not that it matters now, but I’m Lori.”