Kelsey

You know what they say about best laid plans, because wouldn’t you know it, I blew a tire. As in one of the really big truck tires. I put my hands on my hips viewing the damage to the outside back tire of the cab. Thankfully I was at least, not yet on the freeway when I noticed the change in the ride. The problem, however wasn’t that I didn’t know how to change one. Even though doing it in a semi-truck wasn’t easy. The problem was the fact that the tire weighed three hundred pounds. At least I had the right tools to get the old one off, and I had the EZ spare kit that allowed me to get it down without having to lift the tire. Hell, if I didn’t have the upper body strength to make it as a stripper, I sure as hell wouldn’t be able to lift a gigantic tire.

By the time I’d managed to free the old tread and get the tire down, it had been an hour. It took another one to get the damn thing on the truck. Thank God for Youtube which was very helpful in giving me tips. I could see Scott now, with a stop watch yelling at me to move faster. It was probably a good thing for his health that he wasn’t with me.

I hoisted myself back into the cab, chugging down some water. Calling Nell on the radio, I let her know about my two-hour delay due to the flat. Well three if you counted the extra hour it had taken to unload because they couldn’t get the forklift up and working.

“All right, honey. But let me check the weather. You may need to stay put. Snow is moving in.”

Crap, and of course, I hadn’t brought my overnight stuff. I was sure my dad probably had an emergency kit in the back, but who knows what was in it? 

“Okay. I’m going to head on to the nearest rest stop at the start of the pass. Should be able to gauge it better there. It’s about forty minutes away.”

“Roger that. I’ll let you know.”

I was torn. Did I pull into the Walmart up ahead and get some things, just in case, or should I just try to hurry and make it home? I could almost hear my dad say better safe than sorry, and made the decision to pull into the store’s parking lot. A half hour later-because everyone was stocking up for the first snow of the season, I was back in my truck with a case of water, food and a couple of blankets, but I had lost time.

Getting back on the road, I was driving when my cell phone rang. Glimpsing down at the number, I shook my head. It was Scott, and I smelled a trap. If I answered it while driving, he’d flip. So, I let it ring, again and again. But what if it was about my dad? Surely, he would use the radio if it was important. Since I only had ten more miles to go until I was going to pull over, I figured I’d call him back.

Turns out I didn’t have to. “Kelsey, are you there?” Scott’s voice blasted over the radio. The problem with using this method of communication, however, was that anyone on the wave length could hear you.

“I’m here. About ten miles away from the rest stop.”

“Can you pick up your cell phone please.”

I could practically hear his gritted teeth on the other end, and because I was a brat, I replied with, “No can do, boss man. I’m driving. But I’ll call you just as soon as the vehicle is no longer in motion and I have it safely pulled to the side.”

He was going to kill me. But it would be the sort of death that left me smiling in the end at least.

***

Scott

I was going to kill her, right after I made sure that she was safe. Giving the go-ahead to Nell to have her hold at the rest stop, I let my dad know that I was on my way over the pass. He only raised a brow when I told him why.

I never should have let her go alone. At least she’d had a spare tire, but what if she’d blown more than one. Technically, I could’ve called our roadside assistance guys. They were great. However, the thought of her stranded on the side of the highway scared me. Then again, so did the idea of her driving in the blinding snow over the pass.

Loading up my pickup truck with chains and other emergency supplies, I started cursing at myself. If I hadn’t kissed her, I would’ve gone with her as normal today. But no, I’d gone and bailed, because I didn’t want to face the reality that I wouldn’t have stopped last night if it hadn’t been for my dad knocking on the door, or having Missy show up unexpectedly.

What was up with Missy dropping by out of the blue anyway? I don’t remember her ever being so insecure, but that’s what last night felt like. She’d called, but I hadn’t answered the phone, so she just decided to pop over. This wasn’t high school, and she wasn’t my girlfriend anymore. 

Then to make matters worse, I’d gone and hurt Kelsey this morning. It made me sick to my stomach to replay the look on her face before she’d spun around. I’d been beating myself up for it all day. Now this. I was worried about her being caught in the snow unprepared. That warred with wanting to give her a lecture on her little stunt on the radio. But like all things Kelsey, I was learning that even that was adorable.

Finally, my phone rang, and her voice came through. “Hello. You wanted me to call.”

“Yes. I did.” Smartass.

“Are you operating your mobile device with the hands-free option?”

I activated the blue tooth, fighting a grin at her prim and proper voice. “Yes. Where are you?”

“Pulled into the rest stop right before the pass with about a hundred other drivers. Nell told me to hold. Place is packed. Where are you?”

“Driving. Look, I feel bad, Kels. I never should’ve let you go alone. I feel responsible and - ”

“Stop. Just stop.”

“What?”

“I don’t want to have this conversation over the phone, and you’re not responsible for blowing my tire or for making me late because of the forklift. And you’re certainly not responsible for the weather.”

“Okay. We’ll talk in person.”

“All right. Drive safe.”

“Yeah. Do me a favor and stay in the cab of your truck. Please. There are too many people there, and I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

“Sorry, but a girl has to pee, and it won’t be in the truck. I’ll make it quick. Talk to you later.”

Shit. That meant she was getting out of the truck with all those other truckers around. Stepping on the gas I couldn’t get there fast enough.

***

It took two hours to get to the rest area, the last part of which had been through snow pelting down. My truck with snow tires had done well, and the traffic had cooperated. Dialing Kelsey’s number, I waited for her to pick up. She hadn’t been exaggerating. Every truck on the east side needing to get back was up here.

“Hello.”

“Where are you?”

“At the rest stop. I feel like we’ve already had this conversation.”

“I mean where in the parking lot.”

“Uh, over to the right next to a Safeway truck. Why, where are you?”

“About to park in back of you. See you in a couple of minutes.”