The drizzle kept falling, soft and relentless. My clothes were soaked through, and the cold cut into every inch of my skin like a blade.
I called Leo ten times. Every single call was rejected.
I tried texting him. He'd blocked me.
There was no point calling again. I understood that now.
Not unless I agreed to hand over that seventeen thousand dollars to his sister.
But why should I? I'd earned that money myself, every last cent. Why should I just give it away to her?
I hugged my knees on the steps outside the rest stop and sobbed.
People walking by stared at me with all kinds of looks, but I didn't care. I was too deep in my own misery to notice.
I didn't know how long I cried. It wasn't until my legs had gone completely numb from the cold that I stood up like a machine and made one final call.
Ten minutes later, the highway patrol arrived.
They helped me into the cruiser first, wrapped a warm blanket around my shoulders, and handed me a cup of hot water.
My whole body was frozen stiff. It took a while before I could even form words.
"I got into a fight with my boyfriend. No, wait. My ex-boyfriend. He kicked me out of the car and drove off in it. My car."
That Mercedes was a graduation gift from my parents.
After Leo and I got together, I saw how miserable his daily subway commute was, so I let him borrow it.
That was a year ago.
I could let go of the fact that he'd abandoned me on the highway. Fine. But my car? What right did he have to take my car?
The officers ran the plates and got ahold of Leo, telling him to bring the vehicle to the station immediately.
He told them he was already home and that he'd return the car after the holiday.
I almost laughed from the sheer audacity.
His hometown was still three hours away from here. There was no way he'd made it home that fast.
He had no intention of giving my car back.
The officers frowned. They called him again, warning him that if he didn't bring the car in immediately, there would be legal consequences.
Leo hung up on them. When they tried again, the phone was off.
I took a deep breath and forced myself to stay calm.
Leo Sullivan, you just wait.
This holiday is going to be hell for you.
In the end, I waited at the station with the officers until my parents arrived.
My mom pulled me into her arms the second she saw me. She took my ice-cold hands in hers, then touched my face, red and raw from the cold. Her eyes welled up instantly.