Harper drives a mint green 2019 Volkswagen beetle. Why am I not surprised?

He pulls out of the parking garage into the pouring rain, heading towards the destination I typed into his phone. There’s more traffic than usual today, easily blamed on the rain. I hoped he would put music on during the ride, which, knowing his taste in music, shows just how much I didn’t want to speak with him. Instead, the only noise comes from his mouth.

“I’m heading to a local art shop called Alley Cat after my photo shoot, ever heard of it?” Harper asks, one hand on the wheel and the other tapping the screen of his phone mounted to the dashboard. I’d complain if we weren’t currently at a red light.

“Doesn’t ring a bell,” I answer.

“It’s a really nifty place! I was doing some research on local art shops when I stumbled on it. They let local artists come in to set up small stalls to sell their wares. Everything is unique and handmade.” Harper must have been searching for it because a picture pops up on his phone. The shop’s certainly eye-catching, brick painted dark blue, accompanied by colorful abstract shapes and a black cat perched over the windows of the entrance.

When the light turns green, Harper puts both hands on the wheel (thankfully!) and looks away from his phone. “I got permission from the shop to shoot a video there. I wanted to promote the artists to my followers, maybe bring them in more well-deserved revenue.”

“That’s cool.” And I’m not lying, for once.

“They give art classes there too once a week. I’ve got a plan to attend one of those too, which reminds me, I didn’t add that to my calendar.” Harper’s fingers tap on the wheel. “Crap, I think it’s on that Friday. I should still be able to make it…” His words fade into indistinguishable mumbles. He reaches for his cup of coffee, taking a long sip, sighing contently afterwards.

“Sounds like you’re very busy,” I say, watching the familiar scenery go by.

“You have no idea,” Harper groans, shaking his shoulders childishly, like he’s throwing a tantrum. “I have so much I want to highlight before I leave.”

Signomi? Now my interest is piqued to the point that I’ve reverted to thinking in Greek.

“Leave?” I ask.

Harper continues, oblivious to the fireworks blazing on the back of my eyelids, “Yeah, after a drawn out battle with the landlord, where a limb or two was nearly lost, I convinced him into giving me a shorter lease agreement.”

“Congratulations. I figured that would only be doable if you offered your firstborn child.”

Harper laughs. “Yeah, I was surprised too, but it all worked out. I know I’m really lucky to have the job I have, so I make sure to enjoy the freedom it gives me. Once I’ve got some videos shot here, I’ll be moving on to the next great adventure!”

“Yes, that’s very lucky indeed.” For me as well. The loud parties and random run-ins will not be permanent nor must I begin the search for a new home. Not yet, anyway.

“So, what do you do for a living? Are you a nurse? We’re heading to a hospital, right?” Harper asks, doing that thing again where he flutters his big green eyes at me. They’re like a forest after fresh rainfall and yet they make my throat a little dry. I wish I still had some coffee left.

“I’m a physical therapist,” I answer honestly this time around.

“Wow, that’s amazing!” Harper gapes.

“I guess.”

“Why do you take the bus?” he curls his nose in confusion. “You must make mad money so you probably have a nice car.”

Mad… money? I will never understand some of these modern phrases.

“I do, but I prefer to walk,” I state the simple truth and wait for the inevitable. It’s always the same. My hand grips the handle of my cane.

But doesn’t that hurt your ankle? Are you sure it’s healthy to walk so much with that injury? Oh, you should drive more! Pfft, if I had a disability, I’d be taking advantage of it!

“I get that. You aren’t able to appreciate the view when you’re driving, huh?” Harper chuckles, startling me. “You have to stay focused on the road and you drive right past something that would have been much more beautiful had you walked by instead. I always choose walking over driving too, when I can.”

The tension in my hands disappear. They rest limply on my cane. I glance down, unsure of how to react. This is certainly a rare occurrence, not being let down, and not being looked down at.

“This isn’t actually my car—”

He’s driving a stolen car?!

“It’s Mindy’s.”

Oh, that almost took a very dark turn…

“She let me borrow it since I have a lot of errands this week. Probably not her best decision considering I had a car once… it blew up,” Harper adds, making me snort.

“How did you manage that?” I ask, biting back a chuckle.

His eyes narrow in appreciation. “That is an excellent question. Something to do with overheating the radiator. I was in the car when the engine started smoking. Pulled off to the side and got out in time for the hood to catch fire.”

My jaw drops.

“Then there was all this smoke, black as black could be, billowing out of the engine and—” Harper curls one fist up in front of him then swings out his arm fast, “BOOM! Bye bye, Intrepid. That was the brand, by the way, not the name. His name was Chad.”

“You named your car Chad?”

“Yeah, doesn’t your car have a name?”

“No.”

“You should name it.”

I click my tongue. “I’d rather not, but wait, why Chad?”

Harper shrugs. “He kind of looked like a douche bag, y’know?”

“No, I don’t. Please explain how a car looks like a douche bag.”

“He was red and if he were human he’d definitely wear a backwards baseball cap.”

Harper gets weirder every time he opens his mouth. The corner of my lips definitely twitch. I refuse to smile.

“Well, here we are!” Harper says, pulling up to the drop-off location at the hospital. I didn’t even notice we were so close.

“Have a good day at work,” he says, leaning against the wheel and smiling.

“Yeah, you too. Thanks for the ride.”

Harper waves goodbye as I step out of the car. He doesn’t drive away until I’m in the building.

Suddenly, it’s a little chilly.