Page 28 of The False Start (Off the Bench)

“Go!” he calls out, and the car shifts slightly as he pushes from the back. I hit the gas but the tires only spin mud.

“Hello,” a disembodied voice says. “It appears you may be in need of assistance.”

“Uhm, Cal?” I call out. “Is your car talking to me?”

“If you do not need assistance, please respond now by pressing the No Assistance Needed button on the center screen. Otherwise, we will connect you with our on-call professionals.”

“Cal!” I yell. “Your car is asking if we need help.”

He appears at the window, breathing heavy and cheeks pink with cold.

“I don’t think we’re moving any time soon, so yeah might as well.”

He rounds the front of the car and slides into the passenger seat.

“Weird, I’ve never been in this seat before,” he mutters, and shrugs just as a ringing sound fills the car.

“Hello, this is the Mercedes on-call hotline. Do you need immediate assistance?” A male voice asks from the other end of the line.

“We spun out and are stuck in a ditch,” Cal responds.

“Understood, sir. Let me check your location and see how far the nearest tow truck is to you. Can I put you on a brief hold?”

“Sure.”

Cal looks over at me, “I’m sorry about this.”

“It’s not your fault. It could literally happen to anyone.” It’s happened to me twice now.

“I should’ve just driven slower.”

“Cal, it’s okay. We’re both okay.”

He opens his mouth to respond, but the man on the other end of the phone comes back at that moment.

“Mr. Basset?”

“Yes?”

“I’ve located you off of I-43 near Haven, Wisconsin, is that correct?”

I check the map and nod.

“Yes, that’s correct,” he affirms.

“Unfortunately, there are no tow trucks available in your area available within the next three hours. We recommend finding a place to wait indoors until we can confirm a tow truck.”

I sigh, and it’s only covered up by Cal’s groan.

“We’re in the middle of nowhere. Where are we supposed to wait?”

“One moment, sir.”

I pull out my phone and see a bed-and-breakfast only about half a mile away near the lake. I show him the screen. The look in his gaze is questioning, and I nod.

“We may have found somewhere to wait. How do I contact you to tell you where to bring the car?”

“I can provide you with a phone number now.”

He takes his phone out. “Great. I’m ready.”

After giving him the number, the on-call agent says, “Please call that number and have your information as well as the new address available. Please also take your keys with you and lock your vehicle behind you when you leave.”

“Thank you.”

“Is there anything else I can assist you with today, sir?”

“No, thanks.”

“If you’d like to take a survey rating the service you received today, please stay on the line. If not, you may disconnect by pressing the Dis ?—"

Cal hits the Disconnect button on the display, cutting off the call.

“You could’ve at least taken the survey,” I tease.

He levels me with a look.

“Okay okay, too soon.” I force a laugh, and he tries to join me, but it comes out sort of strangled.

“How far is this place you found?”

“The Lake Lodge is about half a mile and should be just off the next exit.”

“Is there anything in your suitcase you absolutely need for the next few hours?”

I think through my meticulously packed extra underwear. “I’m probably okay. I just wish I’d brought a warmer coat.” I zip my North Face fleece up to my chin.

“Hold onto that thought.”

He gets out of the car and pops the trunk, rummaging around until he pops back in with a blue-and-grey winter hat and a sweatshirt. He hands both to me.

“Put those on, and they should help.”

“Are you sure? You’re not dressed much warmer than I am.”

“I’ll be fine. We play in weather thirty degrees colder than it is right now.”

“It’s not that far. You should at least take the hat.”

“Lila, I’d rather be a bit cold and know you’re warm than us both be a bit cold. Just put them on.”

“Yes, sir.” His eyes darken slightly and there’s a swopping sensation low in my gut.

“Ready?” I ask, once I’m dressed for the elements.

He nods and opens his door, coming around to shut mine behind me. He holds his hand out for the keys. I drop them into his waiting palm, and he locks the car twice before slipping them into his front pocket.

“Just promise me you won’t text Katie about it yet?”

“You just don’t want Theo to know.”

“I’m man enough to admit you’re 100% correct. But still, please?”

“I’ll wait to tell her until we at least know how long it’s going to be.”

“Deal.” He sighs. “Let’s go then. Hopefully they have a kitchen and maybe a hot shower we can use.”

We start off down the side of the highway, and I’m grateful I had the foresight to wear my bulkiest shoes on the drive.

I couldn’t have picked a better pair of shoes to wear on this fun little hike through the icy roads than my L.L.Bean boots, though I might have gone with slightly thicker leggings.

As we’re nearing the exit, I slip, nearly falling flat on my ass, but Cal catches my arm, pulling me up easily.

“Here, let me take that.” He takes my purse off my shoulder and loops it over his neck, seeming completely unbothered that he now has a cross-body purse slung around him.

“You don’t need to,” I argue.

“I should’ve offered earlier, I honestly didn’t notice you had it.”

“I just figured having my charger might be good.”

“Yeah, that’s smart.”

“Okay, it should just be up here to the right off the exit.” I point toward a heavily forested area with one road winding through it.

In the dark, away from the streetlights of the interstate, I’m feeling less brave about my plan to walk to a strange place.

Cal takes my hand in his and trudges forward. The warmth from his fingers flows into me, and I know, without saying anything, that he knows I’m not feeling great about our little adventure anymore, but he won’t let anything happen to me.

A small sign appears out of the darkness, lit by a single small spotlight.

THE LAKE LODGE

“Well, this is it. Serial killers or no,” I joke.

Cal gives me a wan smile. “Come on, let’s face our fate.”

The Lake Lodge comes into full view. A large log cabin, with bright windows, red shutters, and what would be a charming garden in the summer but is now just a lot of leafless bushes poking out from underneath a fresh layer of snow.

We walk up the stone-lined pathway and hesitate at the front door.

Cal glances at me for a split second before he gives a one-armed shrug and pushes it open.