Miss Mechanic

I ran into my truck and tore away from her house like if I didn’t, Jamie would follow me outside and drag me back in to finish that conversation.

That was not happening this morning.

I drove across town to my house. I’d barely pulled up behind my sister’s car when the front door opened, and Aunt Greta stood there, her surprisingly tiny frame seeming to fill the entire space.

“Where have you been?” she said before I’d even shut the car door.

“I stayed with a friend last night.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You don’t have any friends.”

Thanks, Greta.

“I have a couple. Can I come and get changed? I have to go to work.”

Greta stretched her arms out and grabbed the doorframe. “Not until you tell me where you were last night.”

“Oh, Christ.” Roxy stopped behind her. “Aunt Greta, he had dinner with Jamie last night. Where do you think he stayed?”

Her eyes widened. “You took her to dinner and then slept with some hussy?”

I dropped my chin to my chest and shut my eyes.

“No, Aunt Greta,” Roxy said. “He slept with Jamie.”

“Thanks,” I snapped.

“Oh.” Aunt Greta tilted her head to the side. “As long as you used protection.”

“Yes,” I ground out. “We used protection.”

She paused. “All right. You come and get ready to work, dear.”

I slipped past her and headed straight for the stairs. First, Jamie’s Mom. Now, Aunt Greta. Was this indicative of how this day was going to go? Because I wasn’t a fan of it.

For the second time this morning, I took a set of stairs two at a time. Then I slammed the door to my bedroom so everyone would know to leave me alone.

Not that it stopped my sister barging in like it was her room.

I threw my shirt into my laundry basket. “What?”

“You really stayed at Jamie’s?”

“Nah, Rox, I slept in my truck on her drive.” I grabbed a clean t-shirt from the drawer and pulled it over my head. “Why? I didn’t realize my life was subject to being torn apart by everyone.”

“Jesus, what bit your balls this morning?”

“I just want to be left alone. Yes, I stayed at Jamie’s, and yes, I’m going straight to work to avoid more of this bullshit questioning. Now get out of my room before you see me naked.” I unbuttoned my jeans to emphasize my point, and it was all she needed. She bolted, shutting my door behind her.

Shit, I was hungry and I needed a coffee, since I’d been forced to abandon mine.

I changed my boxers and jeans and sat down on my bed. Resting my elbows on my knees, I leaned forward, clasping my hands and staring out of the window.

Questions. So many fucking questions. I didn’t need them from my family, because I had enough of my own to answer.

How did I really feel about Jamie?

That was the prevailing one. That was the one it all boiled down to, and the one I couldn’t answer, because I didn’t know how to put it into words. She’d gone from being the biggest pain in my ass to a source of amusement—from that, she’d been tolerable, but now…

I wanted her around. Both in and out of my garage, and that was the terrifying thing. It’d been two weeks, and I’d sworn I wouldn’t give in. I’d sworn I’d never hire her, but now, firing her seemed impossible. Not only was it cruel, it was unnecessary.

There was enough work for both of us.

She was fucking good at what she did.

And hell, I wanted her to want to be around me. I wasn’t the easiest person to get along with a lot of the time, but we’d already established that to be a shared trait.

I just…wanted her.

It was that simple. I wanted her. All of her. Not just what I already had. I wanted more of her.

Whatever it meant.

I grabbed my stuff from the bed and headed downstairs. I knew my sister would be in the kitchen, with Charley already on the bus to school at this time. Pops would still be sleeping, and Greta had likely gone back to bed because, well, this was too early for her to be awake.

I was right. It was completely silent except for the clink of Roxy’s spoon against the side of her bowl. She ignored me steadfastly as I moved to the coffee machine. Even when I glanced over at her, she never looked up from scrolling down her phone.

Guilt settled in. I’d let my frustration over my own inner thoughts get the better of me.

I finished making my coffee and sat down with her. “I’m sorry, Rox.”

She finally looked up at me. “Don’t be. I deserved it. You’re clearly in a bad mood.”

“Well, that’s what happens when you get caught half-naked in someone’s daughter’s kitchen.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “Her dad?”

“Her mom. Thank God.” I explained the awkward encounter and how I’d escaped further questioning, but probably set myself up to feel Jamie’s wrath.