TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "PLANT"

 

Howdy! We have another episode of "The Kicker, Part 1" with Dale's point-of-view. Don't miss the great stories from my fellow authors. Find their work HERE. Thanks for stopping by.

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At least he didn’t flood her phone with ridiculous, salacious texts. Instead she got, “Good morning.” “Goodnight.” And “How was your day?” From Robbie. Really? Did he actually have a human side?

She’d send one-word replies and never text him first. Annoyed with herself for opening the door, she gave him short shrift – minimal replies, and ignoring any frivolous texts. He wasn’t as flirtatious as she expected, but seemed to want to become friends. Hah! Friends? A woman become friends with the mad seducer? It was beyond her imagination.

“How come you don’t answer me?” he'd asked.

“Busy. Working,” she replied. He needed to get the message. Just because he wanted to turn over a new leaf, she had a long memory and would not be letting her guard down any time soon. “Maybe in the next millennium,” she muttered to herself, stuffing her phone back into her gym bag. She planted her feet squarely in the "Don't trust Robbie Anthony" camp and refused to budge.

Then it happened. On a cold, windy night in November, her car got a flat tire. It was dark and rain threatened. The last thing she wanted to do was change a flat. Since she’s never changed one before, she had no clue if she could manage alone.

She checked her bank balance. Uh, no extra money in there to pay a tow truck and a garage to change it. Frustrated, alone, and vulnerable, she fought back panic and tears.

“Don’t be a dumbass. Crying won’t help.”

A flash of headlights in her rearview mirror struck terror into her heart. Even small towns like this one had serial killers. Frozen with fear, she made sure the doors were locked.

She jumped at a knock on the window. Terrified, she glanced over to see Robbie Anthony standing outside.

“Flat tire? Come on.” He motioned for her to open the door.

She rolled down the window.

“Let me take you home. I can change it tomorrow when it’s light. I’ll drive you back to pick it up.”

Dale sighed in relief. Never had she ever thought she’d be happy to see him. Boy, was she wrong!

That's all until next week!