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“I know. But we’ll take care of that. I’ve already set an appointment for you to take a written and driving test,” he tells me. “We just need to get a car on order for you. It will probably take a little time for them to get it in with all the modifications we’ll want.”
“You did what?”
“I’ve set your appointments,” he says. “Two weeks.”
“Are you kidding me? I’m not even close to being ready.”
“We’ve got two weeks to get you ready. You’ll be fine. Trust me.”
I shake my head and run a hand through my hair. My head is spinning, and I don’t know what to think about any of this. It makes me feel like a charity case. And I don’t enjoy feeling like somebody’s charity case. Taking me to a hockey game is one thing, but buying me a car is something else entirely. It’s too much.
“Lane, this is too generous. I mean, I appreciate the thought and all, but—"
“What do you think about Hyundais? I like my Santa Fe and you seemed pretty comfortable behind the wheel after a bit,” he says.
“Are you even listening to me?”
“I’m listening. I’ve just decided that we’re going to get you a car.”
“Why are you being so stubborn about this?”
He turns to me, his expression no less stern, but this time I see a glimmer of fear hiding deep in his eyes. Lane reaches out and takes my hand and pulls me to him, wrapping his arms around my waist and looking down at me.
“I’m being stubborn about it because what happened last night scared me, Lanie,” he says gently. “I don’t want you walking alone. Especially not until we can find out who this man stalking you is and put a stop to it.”
My expression softens as I look into his eyes. I thought last night might have something to do with this sudden urge to get me a car. I step back and look at the cars in the row we’re standing in front of. I don’t know if it makes me materialistic, but the idea of having a car of my own is appealing. I just can’t quite get over the idea of letting him buy one for me.
I’ve never been comfortable with other people buying me things and have always paid my own way. My attitude has always been that if I can’t afford to buy it on my own, I don’t need it. So, even entertaining the notion of letting him buy me a car fills me with a rising tide of anxiety.
“Besides, having your own car will give a sense of freedom you’ve maybe never felt before,” he says. “I mean, wouldn’t you like waking up one morning and deciding you just feel like taking a road trip and seeing something new?”
I laugh softly. “When have you ever gotten the idea that I’m a road trip kind of girl?”
Lane shrugs. “Well, I kind of like having an adventure now and again.”
"Oh, do you know?"
“I do.”
“Well, hey there, folks.”
We both turn to see a man in a nicely tailored, dark, three-piece suit walking toward us. His dark hair is slicked back, he looks like he spends a lot of time in a tanning booth, and his eyes are unnaturally white. The man just looks slick and like he just walked out of central casting for a casting agent looking for a car salesman.
“I’m Dante,” he says as looks at Lane. “Buying your daughter her first car?”
My cheeks immediately flare with heat, and I look away, doing my best to keep the smile off my face. Lane simply looks at Dante with a deadpan expression. The salesman, seeming to realize he just stepped in it, clears his throat and pats down his slicked-back hair.
“So, anything in particular you're looking for? It looks like you’re looking for something electric maybe?” he asks, wisely trying to pivot away from his faux pas.
“What was it that made you think Lanie here is my daughter?” Lane asks, obviously not letting him off the hook.
“I just… I mean, it was an assumption. A bad one and I shouldn’t have made it. And I apologize for that,” he stammers.
I glance at Lane and see him looking at the salesman, obviously enjoying watching him squirm beneath his scrutiny. I can tell he’s not quite done torturing Dante just yet.
“Tell me what brought you to that assumption, Dante,” Lane presses.
The salesman sighs. “I just thought with the obvious age difference… Again, it was a poor assumption to have made and I can’t tell you how sorry I am.”
