Page 33 of But For You

“I bought you a van.”

My sigh was long. “I’m going to take it back as soon as I get my insurance money and get a new van.”

“Like I said, if you decide that’s best, that’s fine with me.”

“It’s not fine with you.”

“No, it’s not, but I’ve never had any luck giving you gifts.”

“I can’t fall in love with it. I can’t afford it.”

“You may give me what you get for your van from the insurance company, and we’ll call it even.”

“But it wouldn’t be.”

“But it could be,” he said, his eyes locked on mine. “For once.”

“Aaron—”

“If the roles were reversed, would you buy me a new van? I mean, if I had the kids and had a strict monthly budget, would you do it for me?”

“Well, yes, but⁠—”

“Do what you want,” he said, about to lean back.

I grabbed hold of his forearm. “Don’t be a dick.”

“Then let me do something for you,” he grumbled at me. “I have a lot of money, and I do for my family and friends because I can. I don’t expect you to put out just because I⁠—”

“Okay.” I laughed at him.

“Okay, like okay?”

“Okay like I’ll drive it for a month and see what’s what.”

“It has a stellar safety rating.”

“The car costs more than I made last year.”

“With all the added bells and whistles? Yes, probably.”

“Aaron—”

“You have never ever let me do a thing for you in years of friendship. Perhaps just this once, since it’s not just for you and the insurance will pay for a third of it easily …”

“I’ll see what Sam says.”

“Good.” He smiled at me. “Now, so you know, everything’s done. The registration will come in the mail, but you have copies in the glove compartment in that zippered pouch, yes?”

“And the insurance?”

“Is there.”

“You transferred my insurance from my old van to this new one?”

“Not exactly.”

I squinted at him. “What does that mean?”