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Noticing my saddened mood, she says, “Let’s grab a coffee before heading home.”
My mood instantly perks up. “From the cafe?”
She laughs like I just recited the funniest joke. “Where else would we go?”
They have the best iced coffee in all the restaurants in a thirty-mile radius and will usually throw in an extra shot of espresso for free, depending on who is working the machines.
I make my way to one register and Mara walks to another one.
The cashiers are quick and efficient, and we both finish at the same time. We have to walk to the other side of the mall to get to the parking garage, but we take our time and people watch.
Couples hold hands and walk side by side, parents chase their kids, and older men wait outside stores for their wives to finish shopping.
Mara smiles and says, “Just think, that could be you and Damien in no time.”
“Uh, I doubt it. He isn’t the shopping kind. He orders everything online. Definitely not the type of guy to walk around a mall, but we did walk along the beach a lot at night.”
It was always so romantic, and he had a way that always made me feel special. Like I was the only woman in the world.
“Beach, mall, it doesn’t really matter where you two are. You will be happily in love.”
After the last text, I am not so sure.
“Yeah, maybe. First, I just have to get him alone and have a chat with him before living out our happy ever after.”
“You will. Even if I have to kidnap him and lock him away, it will happen.” Mara laughs, but I know she isn’t kidding.
She’s been my best friend for more than a decade, and she always has my back, no matter what. I can only hope she thinks I am as good of a friend as she is.
She frowns at me. “You are too into your thoughts right now. I think we need a triple shot in our iced coffees. Maybe add in both caramel and chocolate drizzle.”
“Caffeine and sugar in abundance. That might just be what I need.”
No more sulking. Things with Damien will work out.
We throw our bags into the trunk of Mara’s car and hit the road with our sights focused on the caffeine and sugar drink.
I search the radio for a good song but come up empty.
“Ugh. Sometimes I wish we lived in a big city with dozens of radio stations to choose from.”
“But then you have to deal with all the traffic. At least here we can set cruise control and enjoy the ride.”
The car jerks to the side and Mara has to jerk the car back into our lane to prevent going off the road.
“Woah. What happened?”
Mara turns down the radio. “I’m not sure, but that was weird.”
Loud thumping sounds from the rear passenger tire.
Mara’s eyes widen as she slows down and pulls over onto the shoulder.
When she parks the car, we carefully get out and look at the tire.
My heart sinks into my stomach. “That’s going flat.”
“Of course, I am the one to get a flat tire in the middle of the day, in the middle of nowhere, while craving caffeine and sugar.”
