“Fox!” she said in a distinct voice that seemed too low and scratchy for her bubbly personality. “What are you doing around here, hon? I didn’t think you were due for an oil change for a while.”
It surprised me how much that lady remembered. I stuck my hands in my pockets, doing my best to put on a smile that looked convincing. “No, no, I’m not here for service today.”
Her smile fell. “No? How can I help you then, sweetheart?”
I glanced at the door that led to the garage. I didn’t usually interact with any of the mechanics back there. August dropped my vehicle off for service when he could. Again, I’d been avoiding Ash Adler whenever possible and I didn’t know how to go about this without seeming strange.
“I was wondering if Ash had a minute to speak with me.”
“Ash?” She pushed a frosty lock of short hair out of her face. “I think he might. Let me go give him a holler.”
She jumped out of her seat and disappeared into the garage. She wasn’t gone more than a few minutes before she returned, beaming once again, Ash following close behind.
He wore dark-navy coveralls with the shop’s logo embroidered on the right side of his chest. He wiped his hands on a rag hanging out of one of his pockets. When his eyes met mine, they looked weary.
“I caught him right before he was about to head out for lunch,” Flora said, taking her usual seat.
Ash didn’t smile at me. I didn’t blame him. But as he approached, something in my chest tightened. As if his proximity were a threat, though I knew it wasn’t.
Not anymore.
“Fox.” Ash gave me a curt nod.
Ash had grown since the last time I’d talked to him. His boyishness had faded. He looked harder. But he seemed…good. No fresh bruises. No noticeable limp or hint of injury.
“I was wondering if we could talk,” I said, low enough that Flora would have a hard time hearing.
He raised his brows. “It’s been a long time, butnowyou want to talk?”
“It’s important.”
Ash tilted his head. “Because my sister is back in town?”
I glanced quickly at Flora, who was definitely trying to eavesdrop…and trying hard to look like she wasn’t. She stared at her computer, but her eyes weren’t moving and she leaned one ear in our direction.
“Are you willing to talk with me or not?”
He adjusted the bill of his cap, seeming about as uncomfortable as I felt. Eventually, he shrugged. “Yeah, sure. Wanna have a beer at Callie’s?”
A bar wasn’t the first place I had in mind, but it was better than here.
I nodded. The local joint was only a couple of blocks away, and I followed Ash as he led the way.
Ashslidalongneckbeer in my direction as he sat down in the booth seat opposite me. I’d chosen a table near the back corner. It was quiet in the middle of the day. Most of the patrons were regulars who sat along the bar. Quiet wasn’t always good, though, when it meant it was easier for curious ears to hear.
I’d made sure to sit as far away from anyone else as possible.
Ash took a sip of beer and leaned back against the crinkled leather cushion. “What’s so important that you had to come talk to me at work?”
Ash didn’t seem annoyed, more curious than anything else. I hadn’t seen the kid in a long while.
Not a kid, I supposed. Not anymore. The man was over thirty now.
I straightened my spine, gripping the cold glass bottle in front of me. “Thanks for agreeing to meet with me.”
Ash frowned. “Did I have much of a choice? I know you, Fox. You wouldn’t have let me avoid you for long if there was something important going on.”
The familiarity had me shifting uncomfortably as guilt hit me. Not that I’d done anything to Ash…it’s what I didn’t do.
