I get out of the shower and check my personal phone; no notifications are there. I grab my work cell and see two missed calls—one from a local tow company and another from a random number. It’s Saturday, and we’re closed, so it sucks to be the sorry fucker that got towed to our shop. I toss the phone on my bed and head over to where D has hung up my suit. I get my pants and dress shirt on, only to hear my phone buzz again. Damn, someone isn’t getting the hint. Before I pick it up, the buzzing stops, and a voicemail appears. I don’t know why I feelobligated to open it. Shit, I couldn’t even work today if I wanted to.
The dial tone beeps, and then I hear it—her silky voice. The sound travels straight to my heart, tightening in my chest. Her voice sounds a little shaky and unsure as she leaves a message.
“Hi, um, this is a message for the mechanic for Gears & Wheels Motors. My car broke down, and the tow truck driver said you’re the best, so he brought me here. But I see you’re closed, so I’m leaving the car here and will get it on Monday… Hope that’s not a problem. My name is Jenna Waters, and it’s the grey compact SUV. Thanks a lot!”
Before the voicemail ends, I’m already straddling my bike and ripping out of the lot. We might not be together, and she may have walked away, but I will always be there for her. Her being stranded at my shop alone leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
I drive through the quiet streets until I see my shop. As I get closer, I see the grey compact SUV, but no Jenna. She must have called for a ride. I drive up to the entrance just in case she’s still here, and that’s when I see her. Standing in the alcove in front of the front doors. She’s wearing an olive-green floor-length dress which matches the color of my tie. It slips over her curves like running water. Her brilliantly red hair is pulled back into a low bun, and small curled pieces hang loose around her face, framing her angelic features. She’s clutching a thin black piece of material around her upper body and has a phone pressed to her ear.
I take a moment to study her. She’s even more beautiful than before—if that’s even possible. I finally hoist myself off my bike and remove my helmet. Jenna finally turns to me, and her shimmering emerald eyes hold me in place. Her mouth drops open and then quickly closes.
“I’m g-going to have to call you back,” Jen says into the phone. She doesn’t move, just stands there and rakes her gazeover my body. I can’t help the frown that forms on my face; her teeth are chattering, and her lips are almost blue.
“No, Mar, I have to go. S-see you at the ceremony.” Jenna removes the phone from her ear and holds it at her side. We just stand there staring at each other for a minute, both not quite sure how to handle this. Finally, she breaks the silence.
“Did someone send you to help me? Because I have this h-handled,” she says, waving a hand toward the car. The tips of her fingers are almost blue from how cold she must be. How long has she been here, and why didn’t she wait in the car?
“I can see that,” I reply. “Why didn’t you wait in your car?”
“Answer my question first,” Jenna shoots back, raising an eyebrow and crossing her arms.
There’s my little badass.
“No one sent me,” I say, shaking my phone in the air. “Got a voicemail saying a stubborn teacher needed some help.” I meet her eyes again, and this time they widen when realization hits.
“Wait, you’re the mechanic the tow truck driver had me call?” She glances around at the shop. “I didn’t know.” Her voice drops to a whisper.
“Babe, now you have to answer my question.” I close the distance between us and wrap my arms around her. She’s ice cold and stiffens at first, but quickly sinks into me as I hold her tight. “Why didn’t you wait in your car? You’re freezing. Where’s your jacket?” I pull my shop keys from my pocket, still not letting her go, and open the front door. Warmth spills out, and Jenna practically moans in gratitude.
“T-the driver left with the keys. I think it was an accident, and by the time I realized, he had already taken off. I tried c-calling him a few times, but the call kept dropping,” she says through chattering teeth. Her body is trembling so hard I don’t know how she’s even standing. I’m going to have a word with whoever the fuck left her stranded here.
“I have a blanket in my office. You okay to walk with me and get it?” I ask, my voice low as I bury my face in her hair. The familiar scent of lavender and vanilla washes over me, and the tightness in my chest starts to ease.
“Y-yes, please,” she stammers, still shaking, as we make our way toward the back of the shop. My office sits at the far side of the garage, with a large window looking out into the work area.
“I tried to get a ride service to pick me up, but you have the worst service h-here. None of my apps would open,” Jenna grumbles. She looks down at her phone and then suddenly smacks her forehead.
“The cake.” She turns abruptly out of my arms and starts heading back toward the entrance. Before she gets too far, I slide my arm around her waist and pull her back, grounding her.
“What?” I ask, searching her beautifully scrunched face.
“The cake! That’s the only reason I was driving out here. It’s in my car… but I don’t have my keys. Oh God, Marley is going to freak!” Her voice pitches higher with every word, her panic rising.
“Can’t do anything about it right now. Let’s get that blanket first, and then we’ll figure everything out from there.” I turn us back toward my office. Jenna’s hands grip my suit jacket for warmth, her trembling still constant.
As we walk, I can feel her putting space between us. It’s like she just remembered we haven’t spoken in months. I tighten my arm around her waist, unwilling to let her pull away.
I unlock the blue metal door and hold it open for her. My office isn’t large, just big enough for a desk and two extra chairs for meetings. I grab a soft, plush black blanket from the basket under my desk. Sierra keeps extra gloves, socks, blankets, and other necessities for working in a cold garage during the winter months.
“Here,” I say, draping the blanket around Jenna’s shoulders as she sits in one of the chairs across from my desk. Unconsciously, I rub my hands up and down her arms, trying to warm her.
“Thank you,” she says shyly as a shiver runs down her body. I need to put some space between us, I need to talk to her about everything that’s happened with us. I may not get another chance. I decide to sit in my chair, rolling myself forward until my legs are under the desk. Leaning forward with my elbows on the smooth wood, I rake my hands through my hair. Jenna glances at me quickly, then averts her eyes to look around the room, clearly trying to avoid the conversation hanging in the air.
“You need some pictures on the walls or something to make this space more inviting,” she finally says as she rubs her hands together.
“That’s what you want to talk about right now? How ‘inviting’ my office is?” I ask, not bothering to hide the disbelief in my voice.
“Axel…” Her gaze drops to her hands before lifting back to meet mine through those long lashes. Her green eyes are filled with sadness and something else—something that twists my gut. The color is starting to return to her cheeks as she straightens, pulling her shoulders back. “I’m really not sure what to say,” she admits quietly.
