I bit my lip as I pulled away from him and met his eyes. “I hate it. I know you really wanted this for me, but I… I don’t know, I hate it. I want something where I can get my hands dirty.”
“Like?”
“Well, like what I did today. I think. I’m not sure. I loved working on the bikes and figuring out how the engines worked. It was so much fun.”
“You want to be a mechanic?” he asked in surprise.
“Maybe?” I shrugged. “I think so. I’m not sure. I just know I donotwant to practice law. I’m sorry. Do you hate me?”
He sighed. “Baby girl, what the fuck ever gave you the impression I could hate you?”
“Okay, maybe hate’s too strong of a word, but you do pound your chest and grunt a lot.”
Mom let out a quiet snort and turned toward the kitchen sink as her shoulders shook from laughing.
He raised an eyebrow and stared at me for a few seconds before letting out a grunt, then pounding his chest.
I laughed, before asking, “Are you mad?”
“I’m not mad,” he said.
“Are you disappointed?”
“Maybe a little, but that’s for me to get over,” he said. “Youare never a disappointment. I just love having something incommon with my baby girl, but if you like crankin’ a wrench, we can do that together as well. Whatever makes you happy.”
“Can I quit law school?”
“You can quit law school.” He raised a hand before I could jump with glee. “But you need to figure out what you want to do before fall semester. You’re also going to either work in the shop at the club or for me if you’re not in school. Fair?”
“More than fair.” I rushed him again, squeezing him hard. “Thanks, Daddy.”
“You’re welcome.”
My heart was at least halfway light as I sat up at the kitchen island and dug into my dinner.
Cash
IKNOCKED ON my dad’s open office door and walked inside. “Hey.”
He looked up from his computer. “Hey.”
“Problem with the parts delivery from Motorworks.”
Dad frowned. “What kind of problem?”
“Less than half the order was filled.”
“Jesus fuckin’ Christ,” Dad hissed. “That’s the third time they’ve shorted us. The second time this month. What was Daryl’s excuse this time?”
“Supply chain issues.”
“We’ve never had problems with these guys in the past. What the fuck is going on over there?” Dad hissed.
I nodded. “Want me to call Daryl again?”
“No. I think this needs a face-to-face. How about you and I head out to Motorworks and pay him a visit.”
“Sounds good,” I replied.
