The Rules of Dating My Best Friend's Sister(11)

“Oh. Alright.” I looked around, but the impound yard was empty except for cars. “Let me go back to the office and see if the clerk can get someone to give us a jump. I’ll be right back.”

But our string of bad luck didn’t stop there. The car wouldn’t start, even after half an hour of trying to jump it and letting the battery charge.

I finally closed the hood of Lala’s car and wiped my hands on my pants before extending a hand to the woman who’d helped us. “I really appreciate you trying. Is there a mechanic nearby who won’t gouge her for an alternator if we have you guys tow it there?”

She nodded. “Banner Auto Repair is about a mile down on the right. He’s fair.”

“Can you tow it there?”

She looked at the time on her phone. “It’s almost six on a Sunday. He’s closed for the day by now. I can get it towed over first thing in the morning, but I’m going to have to charge you for it.”

I blew out two cheeks of hot air and looked over at Lala.

She shrugged. “What choice do we have? But what about all my boxes? I don’t even have a toothbrush or clothes to wear to work tomorrow without them.”

“I’ll call Dylan, my bass player, and see if he can come get us and the boxes. He lives in Brooklyn and stores the band’s van in his driveway.”

Dylan was able to help, but we didn’t get back to the apartment building and finish unloading everything until almost eight thirty.

Lala looked around the living room, littered with boxes. “Could you please call my cell? I have no idea where I put it down. I really hope I didn’t drop it in the van since Dylan just left.”

I held up my phone. “I would, but mine died hours ago.”

Lala covered her mouth and giggled. “Oh my God, Holden. If I don’t laugh at the day we’ve had, I might have to cry.”

I smiled. “Today was a real shit show, wasn’t it?”

“I told a cop to go suck an egg and called him baldy!”

The two of us cracked up, and I nodded toward the door. “Come on. Let’s go to my place. I’ll grab a charger so we can find your phone, and you’ll grab us some cold beers from the fridge.”

“That sounds heavenly. Thank you.”

But as soon as we stepped out of Lala’s apartment and into the hall, I realized heavenly was still a speedbump away. A woman stood in front of my door—a woman I’d completely forgotten I was supposed to meet at the movies hours ago.

Anna looked at me, then Lala, and her lips twisted.

Crap. This wasn’t going to be pretty.

“You are such an asshole. I can’t believe I came all the way back over here because I was worried something happened to you since you stood me up and haven’t answered your phone all day.” She looked over at Lala. “Enjoy your fun night because that’s all you’re gonna get.” She stormed off.

“Anna, wait! I’m sorry! Something came up and my phone died and then—”

Her response was to flip me the bird over her shoulder and keep walking.

“I’m so sorry,” Lala said. “I didn’t realize you had plans.”

I shook my head. “It’s my fault. I totally forgot I was supposed to meet her at the movies.”

“Well, I think you’re being kind. Will you please let me buy you dinner? It’s the least I can do after the mess I’ve made out of your day and ruining your date.”

“Only if I can supply the beer and wine.”

She smiled. “It’s a deal.”

Lala and I ordered Chinese food, and we ate out of the cartons it came in as she unpacked and I broke down boxes. Despite all the hassle, today had left me feeling close to her the way we’d been years ago.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Sure. If I get to ask you something.” She held out her container of chicken with broccoli. “Want the rest? I’m full.”

I squinted at her. “Did you spit in it?”

She looked shocked. “What? No!”

I chuckled and swiped the carton from her hand. “I’m kidding.”

Lala rolled her eyes but smiled as she used a box cutter to open the last box. “What did you want to ask me?”

“Why did you call Owen to see if the apartment was available, and not me?”

Lala froze. “Ummm... I’m not sure. I guess he was just first in my contacts.”

That made no sense, since my first and last name both came before Owen’s. But she was suddenly avoiding eye contact, and I didn’t want to make things weird between us again, so I dropped the subject.

“Your turn…” I said.

“Hmmm?” Lala’s nose wrinkled. “My turn for what?”

“You said I could ask you something, if you got to ask me something. Now it’s your turn.”

“Oh.” She took a bunch of towels out of her box and went to the bathroom. “Okay, there is something I’m curious about,” she said when she returned.

“Shoot.” I put a piece of chicken in my mouth.

“How many women do you sleep with in a month? I mean, that’s the second one I’ve seen at your apartment already.”

I started to choke on the chicken.

Lala’s eyes widened. She ran to get my bottle of water and held it up to my face. “Drink. Or do you need me to do the Heimlich maneuver?”