Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23251 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 116(@200wpm)___ 93(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23251 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 116(@200wpm)___ 93(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
I’d be lying if I didn’t admit the real reason I enjoy being here. It isn’t just the memories of my dad and not feeling alone. It’s Bronx. I get a glimpse of him almost every day and I savor those moments more than I should. I’ve been swooning over him since I was a teenager and my dad hired him.
“Just wondering,” she answers when I pull the stain stick away from her mouth.
Damn, I hate to gloat but I nailed her makeup. I pick up my bottle of setting spray and give her face a few light pumps.
“Are you ready?” She let me do her makeup and hair separately before but never together. Now she’s all done up and looks stunning.
“Move your ass and let me see.” She smacks my hip and I step out of her way. “Damn.” She leans forward to get a better look at herself and laughs. “Mitch is going to be all over me tonight.”
She’s right about that, but it isn't because of the makeup. That man is always all over her. Seeing them together can be bittersweet. I’m happy Roxy has a man that loves her so deeply, but I’d be a liar if I didn't admit I was jealous of them. I’ve watched their love story play out in front of my eyes over the last two years.
Mitch has been Bronx’s right-hand man since he started his own shop. Dad hired Roxy and suddenly Mitch was showing up all the time. The fall to love was fast, but Mitch was persistent and it was really the only option.
“My work here is done.” I pretend to dust off my hands before I clean up my vanity.
“No way. You don’t get a girl all dressed up and think we aren’t going out.” Roxy stands up and I look down at her sneakers. Her work overalls are gone and she’s in a pair of jean shorts and a T-shirt that hangs so low you’d have to guess if she really has the shorts on. It’s actually a new style, but I don’t think she’s trying for that.
“I was going to veg out.” I point to my bed and think about my DVR that’s loaded up and ready to binge. I’ve also got day-old Chinese in the fridge, so I’m golden. Okay, maybe not golden but it sounds like a solid Friday night to me. “And you’re going out with Mitch.”
“No, I’m going to the cookout and you’re coming with me.” She puts her hands on her hips, ready for battle.
There’s always a cookout on Fridays over at Bronx’s shop. All the employees hang out eating and drinking for a few hours after work.
“It’s not a car show,” she pushes, knowing I can’t bring myself to go to those anymore. Not since I lost my dad. That was our thing. We always went together to show off the Mustang we restored together. I lost that car right along with him and I haven’t gone to a car show since.
“Bronx is gonna be there,” she adds, wiggling her eyebrows.
She’s got it in her head that Bronx and I are meant to be. I never told her about how I asked him out and he turned me down. So he and I are never happening. My dad told me to never make a man tell you he doesn’t want you more than once.
Not to mention I know how women look at him and talk about him. All the girls around town want him. I did not want to fall into the group that lusts after him. I won’t chase after any man.
At the time Bronx said something about how he couldn’t. I think he was saying it because of my dad and he might have been right. I was still in high school, but all my friends were dating and when I thought about it, all I ever wanted was Bronx. I told myself that he’d turned me down because of my dad and my age, but I could be lying to myself to try and make it better. I need to move past it. I need to move on in general.
“Come on! You’re dolled up too.” She motions to what I’m wearing. I do look good today. I had a few interviews with some salons looking to fill spots. You can’t go into an interview at a salon and not look your best. None felt like a good fit, so the day felt like a bust. I could go for a little fun to lighten my mood.
“Okay,” I agree and her mouth drops open in surprise.
“You’re really coming?” she asks, not believing me. Hope fills her words and makes me feel like a jerk for always turning her down when she’s asked me before. I just wasn’t sure I could see Bronx for that long after everything that happened.