Page 132 of Kings Have No Mercy

“You should get going.”

“I don’t got much on me. But the Chop Shop’s not far. I can give you a ride. We’ll have one of the guys tow the car back there—”

“No, Blake, really… it’s okay.”

“It’s no trouble. It’s what we do at the Chop Shop. You know. You worked a summer there.”

“It’s not a good idea. You should be on your way.”

“I’m not leaving you on the side of the road—”

“Please,” she snaps, irritated. “Just go!”

I take half a step back and survey her up and down. Now that I think about it, now that we’ve interacted, something’s off about her.

There’s a restraint she possesses that wasn’t ever there before. Almost as if she’s holding back. Her true personality’s bottled up inside. Trapped for some reason.

I cock my head to the side. “You okay?”

“I just need to get home. Without your help.”

“Alright,” I say slowly, taking another step away from her. An awkward beat passes between us where we don’t speak but our eyes remain on each other. I can’t put my finger on it, on what’s off about the moment. So I play along. I do as she asks. “It was cool seeing you again, Kori. Come by the Steel Saloon sometime if you get the chance. We can have a beer and catch up.”

She gives a stiff nod in answer. Restrained and noncommittal.

Eyes dark and mysterious.

Her vibe anxious.

I turn and walk away, feeling like my teenage fantasy has been crushed. The many what ifs and somedays that always lingered in the back of my mind about Korine go up in smoke. Not only is she married to some asshole she’s bought a house with, she wants nothing to do with me. She doesn’t even want to be friends.

…she won’t even let me give her a ride.

We hadn’t left off on the best of terms, but shit. I thought we were still friendly enough.

I mount my bike, revving my engine, aviator shades disguising any emotion from my face. Then I blast off, speeding by Korine as she stands stranded on the side of the road.

Leaving my dream girl in the dust.