For a moment, pride swelled within me. Despite everything—the walls I'd built around myself—I’d done something good today.
Beth deserved this.
I drove through town with a newfound sense of purpose, ready to make things right with her.
I drove through town with the Impala purring beneath me, a mechanical beast come to life. My grip on the steering wheel was tight, knuckles white. Each turn brought me closer to Beth’s place, and with every passing second, my nerves twisted tighter.
When I finally pulled up in front of her house, I killed the engine and sat there, staring at her front door. My heart hammered in my chest like it was trying to escape. I could feel the weight of what I was about to do pressing down on me.
What was I even going to say? Everything sounded stupid in my head. "Hey, sorry I’ve been a jerk." No, that sounded too simple. "I’ve been an idiot." That seemed too obvious.
Why was I bothering? Maybe she’d be better off without me complicating her life.
I ran a hand through my hair and took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. But the doubt kept creeping in.
And then I heard it—a voice cutting through my internal turmoil.
“You just going to sit out there all day?”
I looked up to see Beth standing on her porch. Her arms were crossed over her chest, blue eyes narrowed like she was ready for a fight. She wore a thick sweater and jeans, her hair loose around her shoulders, catching the light in a way that made her look almost ethereal despite the fierce expression.
My heart skipped a beat as I fumbled for the door handle and stepped out of the car. The cold air hit me like a slap to the face, but it did little to calm my nerves.
Beth stood there, waiting. I could see the hurt in her eyes masked by determination.
“Beth…” I started, but no words followed.
She raised an eyebrow, waiting for more.
I swallowed hard and tried again. “I?—”
Still nothing.
Her gaze softened just slightly as she uncrossed her arms and took a step forward. “Daryl,” she said quietly, “what are you doing here?”
Her question hung in the air between us as I struggled to find my voice. All those rehearsed lines melted away under her piercing stare.
This was harder than fixing any car.
It was harder than anything I'd ever done before.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. "I got you something."
Her brow furrowed. "What?"
I gestured toward the Impala parked in front of her house. "The car."
She glanced at it, then back at me. "I don't understand."
"I… Your car is shit."
Her eyes went wide, and she stared at me in disbelief. "Did you seriously come over here to tell me that?"
"I want you to drive where… where you don't need me to fix your car up," I said, struggling with the words.
Beth looked at me like she was trying to figure out a puzzle.
"This is coming out all wrong," I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck.
