I guess I was starting to get a little confident that spending time with Jasper could be nothing but wonderful and the universe needed to bitch-slap me back to reality. And props to her, because nothing says bitch-slap like your car breaking down when you’re three hours from home.

“I’m so sorry.” I close my eyes to avoid looking at Jasper. I mean, talk about embarrassing.

“You need to stop apologizing.” His grip on my thigh tightens. “This isn’t your fault.”

While I appreciate the effort and the fact that he’s not technically wrong, he’s not right either.

My Jeep has been on her last legs for a few years now. I should’ve traded her in ages ago. But even though I try to deny it, I’m sentimental AF. I’ve had this Jeep since high school. All my adventures happened in it. I just couldn’t get rid of it.

Until now.

The freaking traitor.

The second I get back to town I’m taking it to the chop shop.

“Drew?” An older Black man in oil-stained coveralls pushes through the door connecting the garage to the office.

“That’s me.” I step forward when I notice his eyes are trained on Jasper. “Please tell me you were able to fix it.”

I’m close to begging, but I don’t even care.

“I was able to figure out what’s wrong. You’re going to need a new fuel pump.” His gravelly voice carries a thread of remorse and I brace when he continues. “Now, I can fix that, but unfortunately, the only place I can get the piece from closed about an hour ago and doesn’t reopen until noon tomorrow.”

My stomach falls to my feet and I think I might get sick.

“Okay . . .” I draw out the word, trying to process what this means at the same time I’m trying not to cry. “So what should we do in the meantime?”

“Well, there’s not much to do. If you’re going to want your car driving back to Denver instead of on the back of a truck—which would cost you a pretty penny—you’re gonna have to stay close by. I’ll do my best to get the piece over here and I’ll work on your car soon’s possible, but there’s nothing I can do tonight.” To his credit, the mechanic looks very remorseful as he breaks this horrendous news to me. “There’s a hotel right around the corner. You can walk over there and see if they have any rooms. If you tell them Titus sent you, Cheryl will give you a deal.”