“Oh, good. Well, have a good weekend.”
“You, too, Saint. Drive safe.”
“You, too. I mean, yeah. Drive safe to your house. Or apartment. Condo?” He winces. “And enjoy the cookies. I added a splash more bourbon to this batch, so it might be a little stronger.”
“I’m sure they’re just as delicious.” I barely hold back a giggle. He’s acting like he doesn’t actually want to leave, which is crazy, considering no one wants to spend their night with a stranger in a mechanic shop.
Finally, he says goodbye one last time and walks out. I lock the shop door but stand at the window and wave him off. When his tail lights disappear out of the parking lot, I grab the broom and start sweeping.
Halfway through, Merv slams the door open, startling me so much I drop the broom.
“Damn you, Merv, how many times do I have to tell you the door doesn’t need to be slammed open? You scared the shit out of me.”
“Why the hell are you still here?” He scans the lobby, like I’m hiding something, but he gets distracted when he sees the cookies. He beelines for the counter, popping open the container and grabbing four.
“Patrick took off with a customer’s keys, so I had to wait with him until he brought them back.”
Merv munches on a cookie and tilts his head. “The big guy with the van? The one who made these?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I tell ya, Mikey, that man fancies ya.”
I scoff. “He does not.”
“Why the hell else would he come all the way down here for service? There’s gotta be a mechanic in that small town of his.”
“He was picking up supplies or whatever. It’s not like he can drive back without a fuel pump fuse. He’d break down halfway up the mountain.”
“I saw the way he was lookin’ at ya. Think maybe he’s being a little cautious about it, but he wants to ask ya on a date. If he keeps bringin’ cookies to win your affections, though, I won’t complain.”
“He’s not going to be back,” I protest.
Merv throws his head back and laughs. “Right. And I’m gonna get married again.” He shakes his head, his face fixing into a serious scowl. “I know you’ve had a rough go of things, kid, but don’t be lettin’ it scare ya. That man’s a good soul. He’d treat ya right, I just know it. Don’t shut him down, okay? I want you to be happy, even if I’d hate to lose ya.”
I roll my eyes, but affection for Merv fills my heart. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“We’ll see about that. Text me when ya get home, I’m gonna finish up payin’ the bills before I head out after ya.”
“Will do. Night, Merv.”
“Night, Mikey!”
I finish cleaning up the lobby, shut off the lights, and lock the garage bay doors before I make my way to my shoebox studio apartment two blocks away. The sun has almost fully set on the horizon, painting the sky in pinks and purples. My mind wanders back to Saint’s question.
Are you fulfilled, Mikey?
I’ve never put much thought into it. I go to work, come home, eat, read or watch TV, and go to sleep just to wake up and do it again. On the days I’m not working, I go to the laundromat or grocery shopping. I have a simple life, and I don’t need the added stress of another human being coming in and wrecking my routine.
Even if my routine is a bit… boring.
I shower then settle on my small sofa with the latest L.K. Bailey book. She’s my auto-buy author, one I’ve been following since the beginning of her career. She writes the spiciest, most addictive dark romance that always has me on the edge of my seat.
I’m at the part right before the bodyguard is going to confess his feelings for his boss’s sugar baby when my phone rings.
“Hi, Kelly.”
“Hi Mikeymoo, time for our weekly check in. Anything new?”
