Buc Ee’s

At 11:47 p.m., nineteen-year-old Carla pulled her midnight purple 2022 McLaren 765LT Spider into a Buc-ee’s in Texas. The car had forged satin-black wheels, carbon-fiber aerodynamic details, orange brake calipers, a custom titanium exhaust, and a stunning tan-and-black leather interior. Its low silhouette and aggressive styling made it impossible to miss. After hours of driving beneath the enormous Texas sky, Carla was ready for a break. The Buc-ee’s parking lot was still buzzing with life. Giant rows of gas pumps glowed beneath the canopy, families wandered toward the entrance, and trucks lined the lot like sleeping giants. Carla parked beneath a bright light, stepped out in her oversized charcoal hoodie, faded denim shorts, white sneakers, and silver headphones, then locked her car. Inside, the store was practically its own little universe. Shelves stretched endlessly in every direction, filled with snacks, drinks, souvenirs, and enough beaver-themed merchandise to fill an entire bedroom. Carla grabbed a basket and wandered through the aisles, eventually picking up a Texas-style smoked turkey sandwich, a container of mac and cheese, jalapeño cheddar sausage bites, a bag of sour cream and onion chips, and a large frozen Dr Pepper. She also grabbed a warm chocolate chip cookie before heading to the checkout. Outside, she settled at a picnic table near the edge of the lot, where the warm night air carried the distant hum of engines. She unwrapped her sandwich, took a long sip of her frozen Dr Pepper, and watched headlights glide across the pavement.