The longest. Movie this weekend?
Sure. My turn to pick this time, though.
I’ll prepare myself to be bored out of my mind.
Eva laughed, already thinking of what classics she could expose Molly to in order to change her opinion before the weekend was through.
* * *
“Thanks for helping me out today.” Her father accepted the towel Lily handed him when he emerged from beneath the SUV with a busted engine. “I appreciate it.”
“I don’t know if helping is the right word, but you’re welcome.” Lily wasn’t as useful as his fellow mechanics, but she supposed she was better than nothing. She leaned against the side of the car as her father rummaged through his toolbox, smothering a yawn with the back of her hand.
“Tired already? Don’t you get up earlier than this for school?”
“Yes, but not on a Saturday.” Lily took a sip from her thermos of coffee, willing the caffeine to get to work soon. “Luckily, I love you enough to sacrifice my weekend lie in for you.”
“My hero.”
Lily stuck her tongue out at him. A bell jingled, and Lily turned toward the door leading to the office.
“That’ll be the auto inspection we’re expecting.”
“I’ll go and book them in.”
“Thanks, love.”
Lily nearly turned and retreated to the workshop when she stepped into the office and found Eva resting her hands on top of the desk. Her bored expression morphed into shock when her eyes met Lily’s. She even dressed well for a visit to the mechanic. The white sweater looked cashmere, and the tailored pants clung to her legs. Lily swallowed her embarrassment at being seen in her sweatpants and an oversized, stained T-shirt.
“Are you fucking kidding me?”
Lily was thinking the same. After the way they’d left things the day before, Lily hadn’t expected to speak to Eva again for another week, at least.
“That’s not a nice way to greet the person you’re about to give your car keys to,” Lily said, reaching for the pen tucked behind her ear.
“I know teaching doesn’t pay well, but surely it’s not bad enough to need a part-time job.”
“It’s not.” Lily tapped the award sitting proudly on the desk, the name Cross Auto Repair written above Mechanic of the Year. “It’s my family’s business.”
“Of course it is.”
Lily couldn’t believe her luck. Someone above had it out for her. “My dad said you’re here for an auto inspection?”
“That’s right.”
“Can I take your registration please?” She’d already scrawled Eva’s name onto the form, printing the registration carefully beside it as Eva read it out. “And your phone number so we can let you know when it’s ready?”
“I’ll come and wait in here after I’ve run some errands, if that’s all right.”
Lily bit her tongue before she said no, wondering if Eva would be so reluctant to give her number if Lily hadn’t been the one asking. “Suit yourself. Keys?”
Eva handed them over. “It’s parked out front. Try not to scratch it.”
Lily was still muttering under her breath when she returned to the workshop.
“You okay?” Her father said when he got a look at her face.
“I’m fine. Do you want me to bring this car around?”
