“That’s good. Mark said he’s going to run some final simulations just to be sure.” I nod, finishing packing up my tools. “What’s got you so distracted?”
“Nothing,” I say, probably too quickly. “Playing catch up is hard, is all.”
Steve shakes his head at me. “No, it’s something—or, should I say, someone—else.”
I nervously rub the back of my neck and sit on a nearby stool. “Is it that obvious?”
Steve leans up against the car and laughs. “Very much so.”
“Fuck,” I say on an exhale. If Steve knows, then everyone knows.
“You punched Hicks in the face for her. Obviously you have feelings for her. You wouldn’t risk your future like that if you didn’t.”
Alright, fair point.
“I love her,” I admit to him. I don’t know why I’m telling him. He’s really become a father type figure since my parents cut me off.
“I know you do,” Steve says softly. Not the response I was expecting. “Just be careful. I don’t want you to get hurt or potentially let this opportunity slip through your fingers because you are competing against your girl.”
“I can handle it.” I hope it sounds more believable than I feel, because I’m definitely losing focus. Regan is constantly on my mind, consuming most of my brain space where racing used to take place. It’s a new feeling for me.
When I pick Regan up, she climbs into my truck, and I can’t stop staring. She is wearing a blue sundress that looks absolutely stunning. The neckline is dipped so low that I wonder how her tits don’t fall out of it.
Fuck, stop staring at her tits, you idiot.
She buckles her seatbelt and locks eyes with me, a bright smile on her face, her perfect hazel eyes shining. I’m not sure how long we sit in her driveway, I just can’t look away.
She’s just so—perfect.
“What?” she asks, pushing a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. For once, she’s kept her hair down. It’s usually always up in some kind of ponytail, but the few times I’ve seen it down, it’s definitely my favorite look on her.
“You’re beautiful,” I say as her cheeks flush to a bright pink.
“So, umm, where did you want to go for dinner?” I think for a moment, and then I know the perfect place.
When I park in front of The Meadows Diner, Regan seems a bit confused.
“The diner?”
“Yep,” I reply enthusiastically. “It was the first time we had a somewhat civil conversation.”
She laughs as I help her out of my truck. Before the day she stumbled into the diner with her friend, we had only exchanged hostile words. That’s the day I think I started to fall, and fall harder than I ever expected.
I wave at everyone who is working tonight, greeted by smiling faces and welcoming energy. I lead us to a booth toward the back of the restaurant. Ms. Rosa comes over to greet us and take our orders.
“Well, hey there, Dean,” she drawls in her thick southern accent.
“Hey, Ms. Rosa. How're you doing tonight?”
“I’m doing just fine, dear. So glad to finally meet you.” she says, looking at Regan.
“Regan, this is Ms. Rosa. She's been here since the dawn of time,” I joke. She swats my arm at my comment. I rub my arm like she wounded me and chuckle.
“Nice to meet you, Ms. Rosa,” Regan says.
“The pleasure is all mine, dear. It’s about time someone taught this one how to be a gentleman.”
Regan gives a small snort. “Someone had to. Though I think we still have some work to do.”
