Her words knocked around in my brain until I wanted to bash my head against the wall.
Every time my heart got broken, you trampled it.
I walked down toward the shop, choosing my brother-in-law’s ear over my sister’s. I loved Jules, but we had proved a few times over our allegiances were pretty out of whack when it came to each other. A twin’s gotta be loyal and we most certainly were—to a fault.
I called Jules the other day and told her everything that happened between Miranda and Bree. Even though Jules was relieved to hear Miranda had tried to tell me, she was still pissed she wasn’t upfront from the start of ourfakemarriage—for lack of a better word.
And maybe I should’ve been more pissed about it, too. But I couldn’t bring myself to be upset with Miranda. Right now, the only person I was upset with was myself. My big, stupid self.
Jules wouldn’t see the wrong I did. And I needed hard, honest truth. Not something biased by blood. I had a sneaking suspicion if I talked to Pat, he’d shoot straight with me.
I bypassed the house and walked toward the slew of activity in Pat’s home-based business, KP Motors. The garage doors were wide open. Two guys in gray t-shirts worked on separate cars. Danny looked smug leaning against the office door, and Pat was right beside him at the workbench, working on some sort of car part.
I’d never asked my brother-in-law for advice before. It was dumb how nervous I was about doing so. But considering Jules’ and Pat’s history, he was probably the right person.
Honestly, I was so desperate, I’d talk to anyone.
Pat had grease scuffs up his arms, a backward hat on his head. He was hyper focused on what he was doing, so it was Danny who saw me first.
“Jack!” He pulled the vape out of his mouth, moving toward me.
Pat looked up and smiled.
“How’s it going?” I held out my hand and gave Danny’s a firm shake. He looked healthy, younger. “I do believe those vapes are lending you years.”
He gave a gruff laugh, thumbing back at Pat. “That’s what this one’s been saying.”
Pat held his greasy hands up, indicating he’d pass on the hand shake. “Didn’t expect you today, Jack. Truck trouble?”
The two guys working glanced over at me, probably wondering what project I had for them. “Nope. Truck’s fine.”
I didn’t say anything else and stood there like an idiot, feeling dumb for walking down in the first place. Maybe I should’ve settled for talking with Jules.
Pat glanced up the hill toward the house. “Does Jules know you’re here?”
“No. I haven’t gone to the house yet. I wanted to come down and say hey.” My neck prickled with heat.
Say hey? Seriously?
The last twenty-four hours, I’d felt like nothing but a total loser. This moment wasn’t helping. I guess I lost my personality somewhere in the emotional jumble.
Pat frowned, trying to figure me out. He wiped his hands on a shop towel. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah—I feel like an idiot. I was hoping to talk to you, but it’s still work hours.”
“No problem. We are almost done here anyway.” He tossed the towel back on the workbench and moved toward the garage doors.
“Pat, I should’ve made sure you were free. I can come back another time or wait till later.”
He clapped me on the back. “Stepping out early is the fun part of being the boss.” He looked back at Danny. “Finish that for me, will ya?”
Danny nodded, but he’d already picked up the part.
“Office fridge is stocked. Can I get you something?”
“Actually, yeah, water would be great.”
Thirty seconds later, we moved out of the garage into the yard. There were cars lined up alongside the shop. Not haphazard. They were in two orderly lines. Looking down the hill from their house, it wasn’t a junkyard. It looked professional. Honestly, the fact he was able to pay two guys to work for him was pretty cool.
