Used to it. It’s fine
Dean
It’s not fine. I’ll be sure to get y’all more invites
Me
Appreciate that but not necessary
Dean
Thanks again for saving a damsel in distress. I’m riding back with Sanford
Me
Cool. Safe trip
Dean
You too
I turn the screen off and do my best to go to sleep. My mind is still swimming with thoughts of Dean and what happened at dinner tonight. His scent, him standing up for me, his knee against mine. A strange feeling tickles back up my spine. I’m not sure what’s happening between me and Dean, but something is. I’m nervous about where it could go.
TWENTY
DEAN
It’snice to have a longer break between races. I decided to take some extra shifts at the diner. It’s going to cost more to fix my truck than I thought. The guys in the shop offered to help fix my truck once I got the new parts, but I turned them down. They have families and lives, and I don’t want them having to help me during their time off. One of the engineers lent me an extra car they had while mine sits unmovable in the shop bay, so at least I don’t have to worry about getting a rental or ride shares everywhere.
Walking into the kitchen to pick up an order, the familiar bell that’s over the door dings its chime, signaling someone new has walked in. I drop the order down at the table and notice there is someone new sitting at the counter. A woman with blonde hair cascading over her shoulders sits there. I have a feeling I know who it is, but I push that thought aside until I walk back around the counter and stop short as I stare at Regan. She’s alone this time. The friend she was here with last time is nowhere in sight, and neither is Leslie. I hand her a menu and she takes it with a nod, but makes no move to open it.
“Regan, what are you doing here?” She just continues tostare at me, ignoring the menu and everything else around us. A fire starts deep in my stomach, one I’m not sure I want to put out. No one has ever made me feel like this.
“I’m hungry. This is a diner, right?” she says, gesturing around the space.
I nod and take out my notepad and pen out of my apron. “What can I get you?” My voice is shaky.
Without hesitation, she replies, “Burger, fries and a chocolate shake, please.”
I stick the order in the kitchen window and turn back to her, leaning against the counter with my hip, crossing my arms over my chest, trying to look relaxed. “Thanks again for getting me to the Glen a few weeks ago.” I know I sent it via text, but I still feel the need to say it in person, now that she’s here.
She waves a hand. “It’s not a big deal. I’m always down to rescue a damsel in distress.” She smiles and I let out a small laugh. I’m laughing with Regan fucking Brady. What is my world coming to? “What have you been doing with your break?” she asks.
I copy the motion she did earlier, indicating the diner. “This. I need to get some more money together for the parts I need to fix my truck. It’s going to cost more than I originally thought,” I tell her.
“I can help you get the par—” I cut her off before she can finish.
“No!” It comes out a bit harsher than what I was intending. She’s just done so much already. I can do this on my own, just like everything else.
“Alright,” she says, conceding. “I just wanted to offer.”
Guilt hits me. I know she wants to help. I’m probably going to regret this, but here I am, I’m going to ask anyway.
“You can help with install, if you want. Two sets of hands are better than one, right?”
She perks up at my suggestion. My stomach dips as herface lights up. It fills me up to be the one to bring that smile to her face. It lights up the whole room, it pulls you in like a magnet, unable to resist the polarity.
“Sure, just let me know when you have the parts.”
