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dad matches my savings dollar for dollar, I can’t afford it.”
    “Seriously?”
    “Yep.”
    “That blows.”
    “To an epic level. Which begs the question, why are they wasting their time talking about it? At length.”
    We both stared through the windshield in silence at my dad and Chloe a few yards away talking earnestly with the excessively jovial man sporting the golf shirt and khakis over a physique that said he swilled just a bit too much beer after quittin’ time, if you get my gist. I squeezed my eyes shut, sending pretty-please-with-sugar-on-top vibes toward the (pointless) negotiations. Which took forever. Almost as long as the engine perusal, if you can believe that. If only I could read lips.
    After a series of shrugs, chin rubs, gestures, and nods—and a whole lot of jolly blabbing—Mr. Golf Shirt finally shook my dad’s hand, then walked away.
    No one looked giddy, but then again, why would they?
    Definitely a good-bye handshake.
    “Darn,” I said to Dylan, deflating as Dad and Chloe approached the car, heads down. I wanted to throw a fully unwarranted and inappropriate seventh-grade-esque tantrum. I swear. “I knew it. You’d think the safety features would count for a few extra thousand on my dad’s part, but oh well,” I said, trying to leach the shakiness out of my voice and stay positive. “I’ll find something I can afford.”
    When they reached the front bumper, I glanced at Dylan. “Come on.”
    We reluctantly got out of the car. My car. Wah! My best, most perfect car in the history of motor vehicles.
    My dad crossed his arms. Pursed his lips.
    “Too expensive, huh?” I asked in a depressed tone, knowing the answer already. I don’t even know why I bothered to ask.
    Dad blew out a breath, bestowing an apologetic cringe. “It is a little more than I wanted you to spend, m’ija —”
    I nodded, with unexpected tears stinging my eyes. I couldn’t believe I had to walk away from my car! But Dad was being generous with his whole fund matching deal, so I wasn’t going to act like a jerk. “It’s okay. That’s what I fig—”
    “So…you’ll have to work to pay me back for half of the difference.” He eyed me.
    Time skidded to a stop.
    I blinked, replaying his words in my head. “Heh?”
    Dad shrugged. “The car has excellent safety features—a big plus in my book. In fact, the Subaru Outback is the only all-wheel-drive car that I’ve never seen roll.” He winked. “Besides, you look good in it, and it’ll last for years.”
    Dylan and I bug-eyed each other across the hood.
    I gulped back my burgeoning excitement, smoothing my palms against the sides of my shorts as I tried to remain calm. No sense jumping to conclusions just to be smacked down by reality. I mean, I could be hallucinating right here. For all I knew, Dylan and I were still sitting in the car watching Dad and Chloe talk to the man with the bulbous belly.
    “Wait. Just wait a sec.” I gulped. “Dad, do you mean—?”
    “I need to sign the paperwork, my dear daughter, and the car’s yours. That’s what I’m saying.” He grinned. “Congratulations.”
    My jaw went slack. He’d been pimping me, faking like it was just too pricey and all that! I started jumping and squealing in a highly uncool way considering my boyfriend was witnessing the entire spectacle, but I didn’t even care—that’s the thing!
    I had my dream car!
    I threw my arms around my dad and kissed him on the cheek. “I’ll wash it every week and get the oil changed every three months, and—cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye—I’ll never speed.”
    Laughing, he lifted me off my feet and spun me around, then set me down. Lowering his chin, he said, “Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Lila Jane. Just be sure to drive safely always.”
    “I will, I swear. I love you, Dad.”
    “Love you, too. Let’s go sign those papers, I’ll call my insurance guy, then we’ll get out of here.” He patted his