Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“Sweet Beamer,” Brett said as I pulled the car into the dock. “Dude must have some loaded parents or a sweet inheritance.”
“Knock it off already.” I hopped out and headed toward the workbench for a lug wrench, the truth of his words cutting a little too close. “Since when do you scrutinize our customers’ rides so much?”
His eyebrows scrunched together. “Uh, since we work in an auto shop where we service cars?”
“Shut it.” Besides, I wasn’t about to go there. Seth’s business was his own.
Yeah, I must’ve liked the kid—guy—because I was already acting all defensive. And I needed to cut it out, or I’d hear about it even worse.
I spent the rest of the morning giving Seth’s car a tune-up, then a new set of wheels. Once finished, I test-drove it around the block, and it ran like a beauty. He’d be able to trade it in no problem for his…what was it? A Mini Cooper, which would probably fit him better. I couldn’t help smiling as I pictured it.
After parking his car in the nearest space to the garage, I pulled out my cell to text him.
You’re all set. No rush, we’re open until 6 p.m. Let me know if you need a lift.
No, I’m good. Thanks.
Then I got back to work.
“It looks great.” I was leaning over the workbench when I heard Seth’s voice traveling from the parking lot, where Mia had obviously shown him to his car once he paid inside. “Can you tell Jake I want to thank him?”
“You’re free to—”
“That’s okay, don’t want to bother him.”
I made my way toward the garage door, which we kept open in the summer or we’d sweat to death. When I caught his eye, I waved. “Good, yeah?” I asked, inching a few steps forward.
“Perfect!” He beamed. “Thanks!”
“No problem,” I replied, and when I felt Mia curiously watching our interaction, I waved again and retreated. “Let me know if you need anything. Catch you later.”
I thought I detected a flash of disappointment cross his features, but then Mia asked him a question and he became animated again. No doubt those two would hit it off. If Mia hadn’t been there, I might’ve told him I was meeting Mom at an apartment rental after work, though I had no clue why I’d need to share that. Besides, he’d probably hear all about it next time he saw her at work.
Okay, enough of this overthinking shit. What in the hell was wrong with me? Seth was a dude I met through my mom—well, actually, through Dane. I liked him, was curious about him—which was natural, right?—and maybe we could be friendly. End of story.
When I strode toward the air compressor, Tucker was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. “What?”
“You’re acting weird,” Tucker said.
“Fuck no, I’m not.” Christ, can’t I even have friends now?
“Whatever you say.” He shook his head. “You mentioned that you need to head out a couple of minutes early to meet your mom?”
“Yeah, she wants me to see the new place she’s probably gonna end up renting.”
“Gonna be strange without her, huh?” he asked, and I shrugged, not wanting my voice to betray me. “You know, I’m surprised you don’t have any pets.”
“I would if I wasn’t gone so much,” I said, which was an excuse. Plenty of people who worked had pets. But we had a dog growing up who used to sleep in my bedroom, and when the old girl passed away when I was about ten, it’d killed me. It wasn’t fair that animals had such short lives. “Maybe I’ll consider it when Mom moves out.”
“A fish is low maintenance,” Brett suggested. “Or maybe a cat.”
Brett had two cats he totally doted on. Paybacks were a bitch, but I wasn’t in the mood to make fun of him right then. I’d definitely save up the ammunition for later.
“Nah, he needs a dog,” Tad replied. “Dogs are cool.”
“What the hell? Cats are cool too.”
“You guys are ridiculous,” Tucker said. “Back to work.”
Later, I looked up the address Mom texted me, and pulled up to the modest apartment building a few minutes after that. I figured it was only about a ten-minute drive from my house, depending on traffic. Not bad. If she ever needed me, I could be there in a pinch.
What the hell would she need you for? To kill a spider? All that shitty stuff with my dad was behind us now.
Mom met me at the door, and once we did a walk-through with the superintendent and I asked way too many questions about security and maintenance, he gave us a couple of minutes to discuss it.
Mom bit her lip nervously. “So…what do you think?”
“I think it’s nice.” And it was. Small and clean, newer fixtures, and Mom would decorate it the way she liked. She’d held her tongue too many times on choices I’d made in my own house—like the too plain dishware she was nudging me to replace with something more colorful—and now she’d finally have whatever her heart desired. I could already picture the bright, floral accessories. “More importantly, what do you think?”