Monday.
I called the shop and asked to speak to Daryl as promised. He told me to stop by the shop around 11:30. As soon as we hung up and I started searching my closet for something cute to wear. Finally deciding to keep it simple with a loose tank and ripped jeans. I slid on my favorite ankle boots and checked myself out in the mirror. Cute and casual. Just what I was going for. I finish doing my hair, opting to leave it down in loose curls rather than throw it into my typical ponytail. I finish my makeup and do my homework for class the next day. By the time I'm done, it's time to head to Dale's. When I pull up, I go into the office and meet Rosita. She calls out into the shop for Daryl. He meets me in front of the office and follows me to my car. Even covered in grease the man still looks amazing.
"Daryl, meet Tink." He scoffs as I introduce him to my car, a 92 Toyota Corolla. She's a natural blue and has lots of dents. She belonged to my parents who passed it down to Maggie, who passed it to my brother Shawn and then to me. When Shawn bought his own car, I got Tink, and she was in rough shape. My dad and Otis (a family friend) tried to help by replacing some parts, but she still is in need of some TLC.
"Let's pop the hood and I'll take a look." Daryl looks at her for a few minutes and then tells me she needs a tune up and a couple of other things. He assures me it won't be expensive and I'm thankful. I have some money saved from working at the clinic, but not a lot. And I really don't want to spend all I have on repairs. "You'll need to leave it here for most of the day. I'll call you when it's done. You got a ride home?"
"Maggie's working. I can just get an uber."
He frowns at that. "Give me a minute and I can give ya a ride. I was gonna take my lunch after you left anyways."
"Are you sure? I'd hate to take up your lunch."
"Yeah. Give me five minutes and I'll be ready to go." He disappears in the shop and I can't believe he's going to take me home. I try to remain calm. In the past, I get too excited too fast about a guy and then am left disappointed when I find out they just don't see me that way or they aren't looking for a relationship. After a several stacked up disappointments, I told myself I wouldn't get too excited about a guy again. Not until I know he for sure is interested in me too. Daryl may have flirted with a couple of times. but that doesn't mean he likes me back. He's just being friendly, I tell myself. "You ready to go?" I smile and nod as he directs me to his truck. I tell him where I live which is less than 15 minutes from the shop. "Ya hungry? I get a full hour for lunch. We could grab a quick bite on the way there?"
"Sure, sounds great."
A few hours later…
"Bethy, I am home." Maggie calls.
I get up off my bed and head to the living room to meet her. "Hey how was work?"
"Good. Not too busy. How was your day?" She shrugs off her cardigan and sets her purse down on the kitchen table.
"It was good. Dropped my car off at Dale's this afternoon. Daryl is supposed to call me when it is done." I say as I sit on the couch.
"Oh, that's right. I forgot you were doing that today. You should have reminded me, I would have picked you up. How did you get home? Did you take an Uber?" She asks as she plops down on the couch next to me.
"Actually… Daryl took home on his lunch break." I try to keep my face neutral.
"Oh." She looks at me intrigued. "He must like you if he offered to take you home and sacrifice his lunch."
"No, he doesn't and he didn't sacrifice his lunch. He gets a full hour. We stopped and got lunch on the way here." I explain.
Her eyes get bigger at that. "You two went on a date and you didn't tell me?" Her voice gets a little higher.
"It was not a date." I protest.
"Did he pay?" She counters.
"Well… yes but-"
"Then it was date. That is the very definition of a date. A guy picks you up, you go do an activity and/or share a meal and he takes you home."
"It was not a date. The whole thing was very casual. He was just being nice. I needed a ride home and we both were just hungry at the same time. That's it." She just stares back at me like I am the biggest idiot. "Don't look at me like that. It wasn't a date. If it was a date, we wouldn't have gone to McDonalds' and ate it in his truck."
"Whatever you say Bethy." She concedes. "Changing the subject slightly, you mind if Glenn comes over later?"
"No of course not." She thanks me and retires to her room. I stay on the couch and turn on the TV. I turn on Friends and don't pay attention since I have seen every episode dozens of times. Instead I let my mind wander to this afternoon and my lunch with Daryl. I was the one to suggest McDonalds'. He wanted me to pick a place and it was the first place that I could think of that was on the way to my apartment. I didn't want to take up too much of his lunch hour. It was a little awkward at first since we don't know each other well. But thankfully the ride to the drive through was quick and gave us a distraction. On the way to the apartment, the conversation was easy small talk. He asked about my classes and I asked him about work. He teased me a little about the movie when I admitted I was just now getting over watching it the other night. Once we were done eating, I thanked him and he told me he'd let me know when my car was done. And that was that. Sure we flirted a little and yes he did pay for my food but that was just him being a gentleman. Right?
My phone buzzes with a text from Daryl.
D: Hey girl. Your car is ready to be picked up.
B: Great. What time do you guys close?
D: 6:30
I glance at the time it was 6:00 already and Maggie was in the shower.
B: Okay. I will try to make it there before you close. Thanks again for everything.
I try not to think about it too much before I send another message.
B: You're the sweetest.
D: I try.
"Mags! Daryl texted me, Tink is ready. Hurry up, they close in 25 minutes!" I yell.
"Okay I am coming!"
While I wait on her, I go to my room and brush my hair and reapply some makeup. She and I get there right at 6:30 and I see Daryl standing at his truck which parked right next to Tink. I hop out of Maggie's car. "Sorry we're late." I tell him apologetically. "Maggie took forever getting ready to go."
He shakes his head and puts his hand on the small of my back leading me to the office. "Didn't mind waiting."
I smile at him unsure what else to say. I pay my bill and he hands me my keys. He walks me to my car. I wave to Maggie letting her know I'm good for her to go. She gives me a look and a wicked grin. I glare back at her and she drives off. I turn back to Daryl. "Thank you again for getting Tink in on such short notice."
He looks back at me and the way he is looking at me has my stomach in knots. "Wasn't nothin'." He looks like he wants to say more but then he looks down at his boots instead.
The silence stretches between us and suddenly I feel awkward. "Well, I guess I will see you later." He nods and I get in my car and drive home. I try not to think about him but I can't help it. My car smells like him. All grease, nicotine, and leather. I realize I haven't had it this bad for a guy in a while. Not since Zach, freshman year of college. He was gorgeous and we went out on a few dates. He flirted with me heavily and we talked on the phone every night for a couple of weeks. I really liked him. One night, he came with me to meet Maggie at the bar. I introduced him as my boyfriend, then he hit me with he didn't want to be exclusive. I was devasted and couldn't believe I has misread the situation so poorly. Maggie reassured me later that he lead me on and he was just a dick. It may have been true, but it has made me skittish with guys ever since. Maggie says Daryl likes me now. Maybe I shouldn't be so scared of rejection. By the time I get home I have a newfound confidence and decide to text Daryl.
B: Tink's running great.
D: Glad to hear it.
B: She's a lucky girl getting to spend all day with you today. (winky face)
D: Stop you're makin' me blush.
B: Good night Daryl.
D: Night
I lay down on my bed and close my eyes, grinning from ear to ear. That is until I hear moans coming from the wall I share with Maggie. I pull my pillow over my head and cover my ears praying they don't get any louder.