Chapter 1The Tow-Away Zone

I got home late from my internship, only to find my deeded parking spot taken by a brand-new Porsche. It took me forever to track down the owner.

When I did, she refused to move, hitting me with a laundry list of excuses: “It’s your fault for coming home so late,” “Just find another spot,” and my personal favorite, “What if you’re a creep trying to rape me?”

I thought about it all night. Then, I had a plan.

The next day, I got a call. “Sir, you’re a civilized person. Don’t stoop to her level.”

I laughed. “Don't be so sure. I’m not civilized at all.”

* * *

I landed my dream internship at a major bank. As a graduation gift, my parents bought me a brand-new electric car, a sleek Xiaomi SU7. They wanted my commute to be safe and comfortable. I was so grateful I almost cried.

I posted a picture on Instagram, thanking my parents for being the absolute best.

A few minutes later, my boyfriend, Matt, texted me.

‘Babe, I got good news too! I landed that new job! It’s a $3k raise!’

Double good news!

I agreed to meet him for dinner, driving my new car. We’d been together since college. His family situation was tough—his mom was partially paralyzed, and his dad ran a food truck. He was, to put it mildly, broke. But he was gorgeous.

I’m an only child. My parents own a few businesses and got lucky with some real estate. We’re in completely different worlds. My parents weren't thrilled about him and told him he needed to buy a house before they’d even consider marriage.

Matt swore to them he’d have a down payment within three years.

To help him, I never asked for gifts. But Matt had all the ambition and none of the hustle. Whenever I suggested he could pick up some gig work on weekends, he’d sigh.

“I’m already exhausted from my 9-to-5, babe. I have no energy. Maybe next weekend.”

But "next weekend" always turned into "I’m sick" or "I have to work."

The house was just a test. I knew it. But watching him flake out, again and again, was chipping away at my feelings. The cute, talented college guy wasn't cutting it in the real world.

We hadn't spoken in almost a month. I was this close to breaking up with him when he sent that text. He finally got a new job. I was genuinely thrilled.

I pulled into the restaurant, excited. But Matt just gave me a quick, distracted hug. His eyes were glued to my car. He immediately asked if he could take it for a spin.

I hated to kill his vibe, but... “Matt, you still haven’t passed your driver's test. And this is a parking garage. What if you hit something?”

His face fell. But he recovered quickly, launching into a speech about his new job. I was happy for him until he mentioned the commute.

“Wait, it takes you two hours each way? By bus and subway?” I did the math. “The raise doesn’t even cover the Uber fare if you’re late. You’re really going to spend four hours a day on public transport?”