“Well, he’s not new. He’s been there since September.”
Bri tapped the steering wheel after she shut the engine off, lifting a brow.
“Is there something you want to tell me?”
“No. Maybe.” I shut my eyes and leaned back on the headrest. “Between us, okay? At least, for now.”
She blew out a long breath and nodded. “Always. You know that.”
At Brianna’s warm smile, the tension in my shoulders melted a little. I met her not too long after I first met Dad, and we had a connection right away. I’d trusted her with my secrets for most of my life, not that this was a secret. Or, at least, I didn’t want it to be.
The only one who knew about my crush on Anthony was Marley, and I still hadn’t answered her “Well??” text from this morning. She’d bet me five dollars that something would happen between us last night, and although I’d called her crazy, deep down I was hoping I’d lose.
After we settled at a table and the waiter took our orders for French toast, Brianna clasped her hands under her chin.
“I’m ready when you are.”
I didn’t realize how long I’d been holding in everything about Anthony and me until it poured out. How he’d ignored me at first when he found out I was his boss’s daughter, brainstorming over his comic, all the time we’d been spending together, and how all the feelings between us came to a head last night. Though, I left out some details.
Brianna was still a parent and she didn’t want to hear thereallyamazing parts about last night as much as I didn’t want to tell her about them.
“You’re his muse!” Brianna gaped at me. “That’s amazing to have inspired someone like that. He sounds wonderful, and it seems like you’re crazy about him. I don’t understand why you look like something is wrong.”
“I’msocrazy about him, Bri.” I fell back in my chair. “Dad is what’s wrong. I don’t think he’s too happy about it. Or he won’t be when he finds out.”
Brianna shrugged. “He expected this, eventually. We both did. At the beginning when you used to help out after high school, the mechanics were older, and they became like your uncles. Now, since your father is trying to play up the custom end of the business, he’s hired younger guys over the last couple of years. And in case you aren’t aware, you grew up gorgeous.”
I folded my arms and shook my head. “Bri, stop.”
“I’m telling the truth. You were beautiful at sixteen, and now you’re stunning. Anthony isn’t the first mechanic to notice you, but he’s the first oneyou’venoticed.” She lifted a brow. “You’re a sophomore in college, none of us have a say in who you date. He said as long as no one treated you cruelly, and you both kept it professional at the shop, he was fine with it.”
“I don’t know. He gives us these looks sometimes.” Anthony wasn’t wrong when he said Dad didn’t seem too happy about us hanging out at work so much. I noticed it too, even though I’d tried to deny it when he brought it up. “Anthony keeps saying he owes it to him to not date his daughter, but that doesn’t make any sense, especially after what you just said. Has he…mentioned Anthony at all? Like if he had a problem with him or something?”
Brianna shook her head. “Not at all. Any time he’s brought up Anthony, it’s been to brag. How talented he is, how he’s not only a good mechanic but is helping them offer new customizations, that he’s a hard worker. I’ve heard nothing but good things.”
“Hmm,” was all I could reply, more confused now than ever.
“Why don’t you stay over, tonight? Talk to him about it when they get home. This should be an amazing time for you, and for once, I don’t want you to worry about everything.”
I squinted at Brianna as the waiter placed our food and drinks on the table.
“I don’t worry—”
“You do, ever since you were a kid. You could never just relax and have fun without worrying about all of us and what we thought. You finally met someone you really care about, and you shouldn’t have to hide it. I’d bet you’re right and your father already knows. But if it feels better to come clean, just do it tonight.”
I shook my head as I dug my fork into the bread. “I think Anthony and I should tell him together. Believe me, I don’t want to hide it, Bri. In fact, I think I,” I swallowed a mouthful of bacon as a confession became trapped in the back of my throat.
Brianna’s brown eyes widened. “You think you love him.”
I fixated on a pool of syrup on my plate before I had the guts to raise my head and nod.
“Yes. I don’t think—I do. Which is crazy since it’s only been a couple of months.”
A wistful smile lifted the corners of her mouth. “I’ve loved your father since I was five, so I don’t know what the appropriate amount of time to grow to love someone is, I just did.” She shrugged and reached over the table to squeeze my hand. “I promise, it will all work out, okay?”
“Okay,” I told her with not as much conviction as I wished I’d had.
“Just be happy, Vic. Please. That’s all any of us want.”
