“No need. I changed your oil too and replaced your brake pads.”
My eyes grow wide. This man is full of surprises. He may be all moody and mysterious, but now and then I get to see a softer, kinder side to him.
“Thank you. I appreciate that.” My chest warms as tingles course through my belly. No one has ever been so attentive with my car before. Or me. It makes me wonder how attentive he was with my mum. There are so many questions I have buzzing around my head and the more time I spend with him, the more questions pop up.
Little things I never even thought of before, like what she liked to eat, what was her favourite band, favourite movie? Did he watch soppy movies with her?
Despite my never-ending questions, I try not to push it. Each time I mention my mum, his eyes dull. He still carries that pain, almost afraid to let it go because it’s all he has left of her.
He parks the pickup. “You can thank me with dinner.”
Another eye roll, but how can I resist? “I’m gonna check out my car first.”
8
KANE
Watching her eyes sparkle when she turns over the engine and hears the old girl purr makes my heart stutter.
“She’s never sounded so good.” She slides out of the mini, throws her arms around me, and kisses my cheek. “Thank you for taking care of her.”
I hold her close for a beat too long. It’s her I want to take care of. I’d wrap her in cotton wool if I could. Lock her in the house and keep her forever.
“Right, I’ll take a shower and then thank you with dinner.”
“Hurry up. I’m starving.” I pat her backside.
She sucks in a sharp breath with parted lips. I quickly remove my hand and run it through my hair. The flush in her cheeks gets my dick’s attention. Thoughts of her flushed in my bed flash through my head. The thoughts disappear as quickly as she does.
Once again, I’m alone with her car, fixing up the one thing that will take her away from me. I shouldn’t be touching her like that. Last night, after a few beers, I let myself touch her in ways I shouldn’t have. Stroking her ankle ended up giving me a semi. I had to pretend it was thoughts of her mother, but Ali never even entered my mind. It was all Vi. We can never cross that line. Having these wicked thoughts of making her mine is only torturing myself. Vi’s just another dream that will never be.
While she showers, I give her car a polish, wanting the old girl to have a full makeover before Vi takes her out again. The flowered vinyls hide a multitude of sins, so I make sure to be careful they don’t peel any more on the edges and show more of the blebbed pink paint job and rust.
The look she gave me when I told her I’d fixed her car was worth spending all day in the garage. I have Dom’s girl’s car to sort, but Dom said there was no rush. When her face beams, my chest lightens and for a moment, I’m that boy again, the person I was before. I haven’t seen him for a very long time. Violet’s able to bring out the best in me from one look, and damn, it feels good.
Wiping down the dash and interior, the glove box drops open, spilling out a few CD cases and school books into the footwell. I place them back into the compartment, then pick up a crumpled piece of torn paper with black ink splotches and scribbles all over it.
Barely sixteen, but the things I’ve seen
Though the experiences I've had weren't so bad
Second best is better than third
And at least I wasn't a nerd
The foster homes weren't much of a drag
As long as I got to smoke a fag
The endless run of losers in my bed
Was to find a prince to love me instead
But they turned out just the same
Using me for their little game
Will I ever find what I've been searching for
