Page 12 of If the World Was Ending

“I do,” Colby chirped because he had no idea what else to say.

The officer paused, his nose scrunching up as if it hurt him to process this story. He looked at his ticket book and back at Hunter and then at Colby, who had the common sense to rub his forehead gingerly, drawing attention to the injury for some sympathy. The officer sighed. “I need this thing off the street in the next twenty-four hours. Tow it if you have to. If it’s still on the curb tomorrow, I’ll impound it, and the fine will be hefty.”

“Thanks, sir. I appreciate the twenty-four hours. I will get it off the street if I have to push it. I promise,” Colby said, and the officer nodded.

“Yeah. Sure.” The officer walked back to his car across the street.

Once he was gone, Colby stared at Hunter in awe. “Dude, you can fucking act. I believed every word you said.”

Hunter smiled. “Thanks. Now, can you tell every casting director in the city?”

“I would if I could,” Colby replied.

He turned to stare at the van. The city had come and removed the tree limb. They were probably the ones who called the cops about the van. He hopped into the driver’s side, the door opening smoothly, but Colby knew better than to take that as a good omen. Leaving the door open in case the thing started to smoke or tried to implode and he needed a quick exit, Colby stuck the keys in the ignition, closed his eyes, and turned. It rumbled and grumbled, but it started.

“Fuck yes!” Colby cheered.

Hunter smiled but then shook his head. “You still can’t drive it. I mean, look at it. There’s definitely structural damage, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the axle was fucked. That fucking back door is likely to fly open or something.”

“There’s a mechanic one block over on Fairfax. I could ask him to give me an estimate.”

Hunter’s smile turned soft, like he was about to break bad news. “He’s the fucking devil. He replaced my alternator belt with pantyhose. For real. Plus, he doesn’t do body work.”

“Fuck.” Colby sighed and rested his head on the steering wheel. “Well, I need a place to store it while I call insurance. I can’t let the city impound it. Maybe Trader Joe’s can let me stick it in their underground parking?”

“I have a parking stall,” Hunter said.

Colby turned his head to look at his new guardian angel. That’s what Hunter had to be, right? Because the guy showed up at exactly the right time, more than once. And he was quick with solutions. “It’s the last spot down the driveway. Leandra usually parks there, but I’m sure she won’t mind for a bit. I use the street pass. If that cop had asked me to go upstairs and get it, we’d have been hooped because it’s in my car over there.”

Colby followed Hunter’s extended hand, which seemed to be pointing to a beat-up red Kia Soul. “But one pass and two cars on the street don’t match.”

“I can get a second one. The city allows two per household.”

“How much is a street parking pass these days?”

“Eighty bucks for the year.”

Colby had a hundred and forty-eight bucks in his bank account, and he got paid Thursday, so he could swing that. He bit his lip. “If you let me park there for, like, a week, I’ll buy your second parking pass. But the catch is I have to be able to live in the van too.”

“You’re gonna live in my parking spot?” Hunter looked perplexed.

“Yeah. It’s walking distance to work, and I honestly don’t have anywhere else to go,” Colby admitted. “Just until I can sort out the insurance and shit. Seriously, a week, tops, and then I’ll figure something else out. Promise.”

Hunter seemed to consider it. Colby held his breath. It was a lot to ask of a guy who was basically a stranger. Hunter cocked his head and squinted at Colby, the sun gleaming off his glossy almost-black hair. “Admit it. You were wooed by the breakfast burrito and can’t walk away.”

What the fuck? This guy… Colby barked out a laugh. “I mean it was a fantastic burrito.”

“Yeah. Let’s do it.” Hunter started walking backward down the sidewalk, toward the narrow drive that skirted the side of the apartments and had parking spots tucked under the building. “Just don’t run me down. I have a job this afternoon.”

“Like an acting job?” Colby asked as he pulled the door closed and rolled down the window.

“Just a background thing, but it pays, and I get to be on a set which feels like something.” Hunter shrugged.

“Cool!”

The van made a weird sound as Colby pushed it into gear, but it worked. He was able to maneuver out of the parking space and into Hunter’s designated spot at the back of the building. Colby turned off the engine and locked up the van after he hopped out. Hunter was standing at the end of the driveway, staring at the van. “I’ll text Leandra and let her know the plan. And then I’ll swing by City Hall and pick up the second pass.”

“I have to get to Trader Joe’s, but I’ll Venmo you the money. Just text me,” Colby offered.