Molly sighs like she’s seen some shit. “More equality, less racism, less misogyny, more love.”
There’s so much approval and admiration in Hawk’s face that, for a moment, I’m terrified that he’ll develop a crush on her. It’s a documented thing, men and babysitters, ask anyone. Besides, she’s beautiful and smart and edgy; she’d make a much better addition to the club.
I want to cry, but I also feel like an absolute monster. This is a girl who can’t be more than 18, and this is Hawk we’re talking about. I know he’s not like that. I know.
Like you knew what Dylan was like, a really mean voice inside me whispers.
Aaaand the bitterness is back. I will myself to keep it together.
You’re interviewing a babysitter for your son, for heaven’s sake!
We chat about life, how we’re both adjusting to the move, Molly’s classes, and soon, Hawk has to go back to work.
“So?” Molly asks me as soon as he’s gone. “When did this happen?”
“When did what happen?” I ask, genuinely confused.
“You and Hawk!” She whisper-yells, turning around immediately to see if he’s out of earshot.
“We’re not… I’m staying with him until… It’s complicated,” I tell her.
“Pff, yeah, right. I’m not stupid, you know. I have eyes.”
It’s mortifying that my crush is this obvious to someone seeing me interact with Hawk for the first time. I need to avoid spending so much time around him unless I want him to notice it, too.
“Well, you should get them checked, because we’re not together.”
“Not for lack of interest,” Molly says pointedly. “But whatever, I’m not here to interpret the male brain for you. I’m here to talk about a job.”
“That’s right,” I say, relieved that she’s dropping it.
*
“Nervous?” Hawk asks me as he walks me to the autoshop for my first day of work.
“It’s like I’ve transferred to a new school and all the other kids are already friends with each other,” I admit nervously.
“Maybe the kids in this class are,” Hawk says as he gently lifts the strap of my tote that has slid down my arm. “But you have a friend over in the senior class at Blue Security, and we can hang out during recess.”
I laugh as warmth spreads through my chest. It does feel very high school, this moment. I want him to drape his jacket around my shoulders, and I want to pass notes back and forth.
I shake my head at myself. Why am I thinking about this now, when I should be focusing on doing a good job?
“Okay, I’ll see you at home,” I tell Hawk, and he gives me the biggest smile.
“Good luck!”
“Welcome to PitStop, Marissa!” Lucy greets me in the bright reception and waiting area.
Through a glass window that takes up half the wall, I can see the bays and the cars being worked on, but I can’t hear any of the tools.
Her friendly demeanour immediately makes me feel better.
“Hi, Lucy, thank you. Happy to be here.”
Lucy spends the morning showing me around and introducing me to the people I don’t know. I meet Hammer and Bob, who work on both cars and bikes, and Johnny, who’s a moto tech. Phil and Johnny are service advisors, whereas Lola does custom paint jobs and only comes in when she has an order.
“Only Hammer and Tank are Chasers; the others are civilians,” Lucy whispers before explaining the shop’s layout to me. “This is the diagnostic area, and over there we have the two quick service bays. Oil changes, tires, that kind of stuff. The heavy-duty ones for major repairs are in the back. That door leads to the storage area where they keep parts and the like, and this is the breakarea, where you can have a snack or a cup of coffee away from the noise and the fumes. Most of us eat lunch in the diner, but you can also pack your lunch and eat it in here,” Lucy tells me as she holds the door of the break room open so I can see the tables and the vending machines.
