I’d take ‘of the car’ out of the first sentence. No one will read “I slid into the driver’s seat and slammed the door” and think tractor or go-cart. Specify what type of vehicle it is only if it’s not a car.

Maybe Jeremiah is an illegal alien. In some European nations people have tighter circles of personal space—being close to people is the norm. We like to keep our distance and wear deoderant in America, it could be a cultural thing. The first sentence tripped me up, but otherwise I enjoyed the conversation. Smooth writing.

Thanks, Tad! Changes made.