It was Saturday afternoon when my Uber rolled up in front of the home of my Dad's best friend, a man I have always called Mr. Wilson. He was in the driveway working on my old Jeep which had decided to crap out on me Thursday night as I drove around town with several girlfriends. A last girls night out before they went off to college; I would be staying in town to go to the local community college and help with my parents restaurant.
I could see Mr. Wilson's long legs but nothing more, as the whole top half of his body seemed to be inside the hood of my 2001 Cherokee. He wasn't a mechanic but should have been. Anytime anything went awry with one of our cars, we took it to his house and it was fixed within a few days for the cost of parts and maybe a case of beer and a home cooked meal.
I thanked the driver and got out of the car. I stood at the edge of the driveway, suddenly feeling awkward, I pulled my black mid-thigh skirt down a bit and glad I still had on my less than provocative white tank top and button up from my shift at the restaurant. I had turned 18 in January of this year, and something about the way Mr. Wilson had been looking at me the past few months made me... uneasy.
"Nicolette, how are you?" I hear his voice and it snaps me out of my thoughts. He wipes his hands on filthy work pants, takes a swig from a Bud Light bottle and looks me up and down. "She's almost ready."
"Hey Mr. Wilson. That's great! Thank you... Um, I'm alright. Just got done for the day, brunch ran really late." I walked up to him as he went back to tinkering, his eyes darting at back and forth between his work and my ample curves.
I stood there, listening to the sounds of the residential neighborhood around us and the clinking under my hood, trying to figure out the best way to tell him I didn't really have the money to pay for the work he had put in.
"I really appreciate all of this Mr. Wilson, like, oh my God, so much." I began. "We are so lucky to have you help us out with car troubles. Particularly when we are strapped for cash... like I am now." He stops and his hazel eyes lock in tight with my green ones. I continue. "It's just that I have this girls trip for Labor Day weekend and all my funds are tied up right now, but I'm sure Dad will take you out for a few beers and a steak dinner.." I trail off, not knowing what else to say.
"Nicolette, I did everything that I could and she's gonna take you a lot more miles." He stands up and lowers the hood, pushing it closed. "I've known you for a long time and the labor, I'll cover it, I always do. But the parts are $500. Even."
I smile nervously, "Like I said Mr. Wilson. I have like, zero dollars and it would mean a lot if you could just help me out and like, not charge me this one time."
He grabs his beer moves closer to me and stands in front of me, although I am 5'10", I felt intimidated by his 6'2" frame. He rubbed his fingers on the shop rag over his shoulder. "I can't let those parts go for free Nicolette. Your Dad know you're expecting this for free? This was my whole Saturday and a lot of money that I spent." He takes a healthy swig then pulls my car keys out of his pocket and dangles them in front of my face. I can smell him, sweaty, a little like car oil and a small hint of cologne. "You want these back little girl?" I quietly nod yes, afraid of the implication of his tone.