“Well, that was awkward,” Owen said brightly.
“What the fuck do you want?” I sliced my hand in a cutting motion before he could answer. “Actually, never mind. I don’t want to know what you want. I’m not your helper bee anymore.”
“What’s your problem?”
Jesus, this asshole. “What’s myproblem?” I took a step toward him so I could lower my voice. “My problem is you got mearrested, you dick.”
“That wasn’t my fault. And look, I’m sorry you got scooped up. I was down the road. I couldn’t do shit about it.”
“No, but you insisted on dragging me there,” I said. “And your buddy Petie flat out ditched me.”
Owen grimaced. “Yeah, that was bad form.”
“Bad fucking form,” I muttered. “Yeah. You could say that.”
“He’s never liked you, man. Not since you hustled us over that pool game. Sorry.” He shrugged like it was no big deal.
“Fine. You can fuck off. Both of you.”
“Ahh, come on. Don’t be that way. The car is running rough ever since I used that nitrous oxide. I need you to tune her up.”
I crossed my arms and braced a hip against the pool table. “Not happening.”
“You know you miss working on cars too much to stay away.”
“I’m fucking off after the semester ends,” I said. “I’ll be working in the auto shop again. I don’t need to be your free labor anymore.”
His eyes narrowed. “You fucking owe me.”
“I oweyou? How do you figure that one?”
“The car is running rough because you fucked up this nitrous oxide job. That’s on you.”
“I fucking told you it puts strain on the engine,” I growled. “You should have used it more carefully.”
“The fucking cops showed up. What was I supposed to do?”
“Jesus Christ, you used it twice in quick succession? Itoldyou not to do that.”
“I didn’t have a lot of choice! They arrested you, but you weren’t racing. You got a slap on the wrist. I’d be in real trouble.”
“Maybe you should quit, then.”
“Fuck you. Not happening.”
“Well, find yourself another mechanic. I’m out. I’m done.”
Owen looked almost as pissed as the night he tried to jump me in the parking lot after I’d wiped the floor with him at pool.
“You’ll come back,” he said. “You’re addicted, just like me. You’ll crave that hit, and when you do,maybeI’ll be nice enough to let you touch my car.”
“I wouldn’t touch his car with a ten-foot pole if it was me,” Iris said as she returned, a sheepish Sebastian behind her.
“Yeah, well, you don’t like touching any poles, do you?” Owen shot back. “Bailey loves them.” He grabbed his crotch. “Neither of you can have this bad boy.”
“Poor us,” Iris said. “We’ll try not to cry over your tiny dick.”
Owen took a threatening step forward, and to my surprise, Seb stepped in front of Iris and shoved a hand into Owen’s chest.
