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Then it rang.
She flipped it over only to push a button and then threw it back down. “Sorry about that. It’s on silent now.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Shouldn’t you answer that?”
“It’s just work. My boss is on my ass about coming in. Apparently, they’re short-staffed. I was only expecting to stay here for a little while, so I told them I’d be heading back today.”
“It sounds pretty serious.”
“Amy, it’s fine. I can’t evengetto work right now. They’ll have to deal, even if he makes true to his threats to fire me.”
I leaned back. “You could if you had a car.”
“Amy,”she hissed.
Levi watched me curiously, so I figured it was time to explain. “Since Emma needs a car, I keep telling her to take mine for the time being so she can get around.”
“And you don’t want to?”
“Of course not. You’re nice and all, but I’m not taking away my sister’s independence just so I can have my own. She worked hard for the car and paid it off. She gets to keep it.”
“I at least live in a city with public transportation.”
“Nashville’s transit system sucks.”
“But it still counts,” I said. “You live in a small town with no other options. If one of us has to have a car, it needs to be you.”
“You don’t need to solve my problems.”
“I’m not gonna force you into this, but weneedto talk about it. And that’s what we’re doing.”
“There’s nothing to talk about. It’s still a no.”
“So the issue is that you don’t want Amy to not have a way around, am I right?” Levi asked.
“Yes,” Emma replied. “She doesn’t have to give her car to me. I’ll figure something else out.”
“But—” I tried to say, but Levi held up his hand.
“I think you should take Amy’s car.”
Emma narrowed her eyes. “Of courseyouwould say that.”
“And I’ll buy her a new one.”
The table went silent.
“T-that’s n-not necessary,” I stammered.
“No, it is. You need a vehicle and so does your sister. The problem’s solved.”
“You’re just gonna buy her a car?” Emma asked. “What kind of stipulations does that come with?”
“None.” He said it like it was easy.
“And what happens if you get in a fight and she has to leave but your name is on the car?”
“The car will be completely hers. I won’t put my name on it.”