Read Online I Owe You One by Natalie Hyde - Free Book Online

on Frank’s desk, I caught Zach’s eye. We had been friends long enough that we always knew what the other guy was thinking, and we both knew that the answer was right in front of us. Frank. Frank could fix the truck if it needed it, he was good friends with Mr. Lee and, more importantly, he had his driver’s license. We didn’t quite know how to ask, though, so we just kept looking at each other and shrugging.
    â€œI’m not going,” Frank said without even turning around to face us. How did he know we were going to ask him?
    â€œYou’re our only hope, Frank,” I said. I meant it.
    â€œThis is your problem, not mine. I didn’t almost drown in the creek.”
    â€œWell, I guess that’s it then,” I said. “Mrs. Minton will have to miss Rachel’s race. If she even lasts that long.”
    â€œOh no you don’t. Don’t you pull that guilt trip on me,” Frank said, spinning around.
    What can I say? After years of having Mom guilttrip me, I was an expert.
    Frank put down the waffle maker. “Look. I got a business to run. I can’t just take off for a week to drive an ice-cream truck down the highway. I got bills to pay.”
    â€œWe’ll pay you,” I said suddenly. Zach’s mouth dropped open.
    â€œWhat do you mean, we’ll pay him?” he asked. “Where are we going to find the money to pay him? My allowance barely covers snacks at Lee’s and the occasional comic book.”
    â€œThen we’ll pay him some other way. Work for him for free or something.”
    Frank went back to his waffle maker. “I don’t need any help.”
    There was this little itch at the back of my brain, like I knew the answer to this and just didn’t want to remember it.
    â€œHow about running deliveries for you?” I said. “Or doing your laundry? Or your whole family’s laundry?”
    â€œNope.”
    The itch got bigger. I knew how to pay Frank. But just the thought of it made me feel sick. But in my mind, I saw Mrs. Minton’s face—strong and determined when she pulled me out of the creek, and pale and tired as she lay on her bed.
    People are more important than things, Wes.
    â€œHow about if I give you my Spider-Man comic?” I didn’t mean it to come out in a whisper.
    Frank whirled around, a look of astonishment on his face. “Are you kidding? Issue number four, where he meets Doctor Octopus? You’d really give it to me if I drive to Florida?”
    I tried not to gulp out loud as I said, “Yup.”
    Zach grabbed my arm. “Are you sure, Wes?”
    â€œYeah. I’m sure.” I tried not to sound sad when I said it. “So will you do it?”
    â€œYou really gonna give up your chance at a dirt bike for old Mrs. Minton?” Frank asked.
    â€œA man pays his debts,” I mumbled.
    â€œThat’s the craziest thing I ever heard,” Frank said. “But I’d be even crazier not to take it. That issue will complete my collection, you know.” He sounded like a kid, not a grown man with a soldering gun.
    â€œYeah, I know. So you’ll do it?”
    He paused, as if he wasn’t sure if I was serious or not. “All right. Get me some snow and a map.”
    I had to smile, despite the fact that I would never feel the wind and dust on my face as I sped across the fields and over jumps on my 250cc Hummer.

Chapter 15
    I thought time had crawled by when I was waiting for summer vacation to start, but that was nothing compared to waiting while Frank drove down to Florida and back.
    Zach and I had agreed to look after Frank’s shop while he was away, taking in work and answering the phone. I would have preferred to be swimming at the quarry or having a video game marathon, but it seemed only right that we help Frank out.
    Frank said he would email us from his iPhone. We checked the computer in the shop every half an hour for a day until finally