Page 3 of Throttle Therapy

Jenna nodded, turning back toward the stairs.“Is there a limit to how much I can come in?Or an up charge if I’m here too much?”

“Nope.Same price if you want to spend eight hours a day seven days a week here.We do ask that you don’t put an RV in the parking lot and live here, but other than that, no limits,” Roadkill said from a few steps behind her.“I’m also open to feedback.You think of something you’d like to see, I’ll see what we can do.I can’t promise to do everything or keep everyone happy, but I try to provide a safe clean place for all of our patrons.”

“Is there an age limit?”

“Obviously, I can’t have kids in here at all hours, running around and getting in the way.That would be dangerous for them as well as our members.What do you have in mind?”

“I’ve got custody of my younger sister.I was thinking I might occasionally bring her with me.”

“How old is she?”

“Fourteen.”

“She’d be welcome, assuming she’s not running around being crazy.She can even use the equipment, with supervision.What I can’t do is give you an access card for her.She could come in with you, on yours, but she’s young enough someone else needs to be here with her at all times.”

Jenna nodded.That made sense.And not just because of the damage someone her age might do, even if they didn’t intend to.Jenna wouldn’t have been comfortable with Lacey coming in alone when the place wasn’t manned anyway.To her, it was just common sense.

“Anything else you would like to know?”Roadkill asked as they made it back to the reception desk.It looked like a couple of people had come in while they’d been upstairs and they were now setting up and using different machines.

Jenna shook her head.

“I can’t think of anything.”

“Here’s the membership form, as well as the liability waivers, and a pen.I need all of that filled out and signed, then we can get you set up.”

“Sounds good.”Jenna took the clipboard and moved to one of only a few metal waiting room style chairs along one wall to fill it out.

An hour and a half later, she walked out of the repurposed warehouse, and headed for the school.She needed to pick up Lacey, then there was homework, and she needed to figure out something for dinner.She got into her ten-year-old sedan and propped her forehead against the steering wheel as she forced herself to take five deep breaths and clear her mind.

What she really wanted to do was go home, pull the blankets over her head and sleep for about a week.But she had responsibilities, and making sure her sister made it through high school was one of them.

Pulling herself together, she put the key in the ignition and turned it.She heard a click, then nothing.The car didn’t start, it didn’t go like it was supposed to.

Jenna sighed.Why now?Why her?She didn’t have time for this.Nor the money.She wanted to cover her face and cry, but she had to figure out what to do now.There was no money for another vehicle.She got back out of the car and went back inside the gym.

“Back so soon?”Roadkill asked.

“My car won’t start.By chance do either of you know anything about cars?Or know someone who might be able to help me?”She tried not to sound desperate, but knew she failed.She fought back tears.“I need to get to the school to pick up my sister, and I don’t know what I’m going to do if I have to pay for a big repair.”

Jenna couldn’t believe she’d said all that.She hadn’t meant to.Mama had always told her she needed to learn to ask for help.But she hated having to try.Too often, she’d been made to feel as if needing help was failure of some kind.She just hated to ask.Hated to be a bother to anyone.

“Let me come take a look,” Roadkill said, as he stepped around the front desk.“Phantom, you’ve got the desk.”

The man still slouching behind the desk grunted but didn’t move or even seem to open his eyes.

Jenna turned and followed the larger man back outside.

“You said your sister is 14, does that mean middle or high school?he asked, making conversation.“You helping your folks out while they’re at work?

“No.It’s just me and Lacey.Mama passed away a few years ago.Lacey’s still in middle school.She just turned fourteen.”Jenna shook her head.“I’d forgotten how dramatic fourteen-year-old girls are.Everything is earth shattering or the most important thing in the world, from homework assignments, to who you sit with at lunch, to whether or not the cute boy spoke to you.”She rolled her eyes, wishing she could skip this stage, but at the same time knowing she was lucky to be able to keep her Lacey instead of her ending up in the foster system.“This is me.”She motioned to where her car sat, not even looking like it had betrayed her.

“What’s it doing?”

“Nothing.I turned the key, it clicked, then nothing.”Jenna sighed and unlocked the car.

Roadkill nodded.“Can you pop the hood?”

Jenna didn’t respond but opened the door and leaned in to pull the lever that popped the hood.