CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
RILEY
One week later...
“Man, I didn’t know you could smile like that!” Pirate Bill declares.
“You’re looking at Finn the way you look at a shiny new engine,” Ali adds.
“Is it love?” Little Joe asks. “As in L-U-vuh-vuh-vroom!”
As he pretends to rev an engine, the whole crew laughs. We’re in the garage, working through a busy afternoon.
“It’s been seven freakin’ days! How long is this crap gonna go on?” I toss a wrench to the ground. “Damn it, do I ever wish I hadn’t told you tools.”
As everyone laughs again, Chase claps his hands to get their attention. “Leave the big guy alone,” he calls out, and turns back to me. “Anyway, you didn’t tell.” He grins like an evil fucker. “We spotted you smooching your boyfriend.”
The way everyone cheers and laughs, you’d think he was a comic genius.
I shove my earbuds back in, turning my back to the garage, but don’t let the ribbing spoil my mood. Ever since the day thatFinn told me who he is and how he feels about me, my tolerance for this kind of bullshit has marginally improved.
When my audio book gets to describing goblins, I throw a rag at the wall. “Muscularly scrawny? How the hell are they muscular and scrawny at the same time?” I complain under my breath, annoyed.
Later in the afternoon, Chase and I catch a quiet minute in the office. The garage is bundled up with soundproof curtains, practically cozy around all that metal. Through the side door, I get a glance of the street, busy with pedestrians.
Chase sees me looking and nods. “Couldn’t imagine the garage anywhere else at this point.” He eases back on his heel. “Couldn’t imagine it without you, either.”
I grunt. “It’s a good crew. Pain in the ass, of course. But I’ve never worked with one quite like them.”
“Then stay,” he says. “The crew looks up to you. You’re seeing Finn. Like it or not, you’re a part of this place, old friend. There’s no reason for you to leave when this year is up. I’ll have you as my head mechanic. Permanently. Just tell me what you need to make it work.”
I swallow. Of course I’m thinking about staying, but commitments still make me nervous. And no matter what my heart insists about Finn, I need to keep a check on myself, make sure I don’t rush ahead and fuck this up. It’s not like I have a lot of relationship experience to rely on.
“I like it here,” I admit. “Never stuck around for a job before, or especially for a man.”
“Then don’t,” Chase says. “Stick around for yourself. Do it because this is what you want.”
I consider his words for a moment before I nod. “Okay. Deal.” I start to stick out my hand, but retract it. “Pending negotiations.”
Chase grins. “Naturally.”
It’s the night of the art show, so I take off early. Instead of heading to Finn’s like I most often seem to, I go home to change and get all spiffed up for him. I take a bath, clip my nails, trim my stubble, even put on a fucking collared shirt.
I’m doing this right. I might only last five minutes at the actual event. Finn and I already agreed it’s fine for me to leave whenever I need, no explanation needed. But if that’s the case, I’m going to make those five minutes count, damn it. Prove to myself that I can do this, be there for my man.
When I get to Finn’s place, my boots are shined, my black shirt is crisp, and I’ve even got a bouquet in my hands, which Nicholas generously helped me select. Finn opens the door, and his eyes light up. In a snazzy purple shirt with a fashionable handkerchief tucked in the front pocket, he smiles brightly.
That’s why I’m doing this. Right there.
“Hubba, hubba,” Finn says, and I laugh.
“Okay.” I take him in a kiss before I hand off the flowers, which he holds to his face as he inhales and smiles. “You look amazing.”
“Thank you,” he says, and we kiss again, neither of us pulling away. The flowers make their way to the table, and we find the couch.
Half an hour later, Finn and I are dressed again and back out the door. We walk slowly toward the art show, dusk settling over the gayborhood, and I sling my arm over his shoulder.
“I told Chase that I’ll stick around the shop,” I tell him. “Stay on past my contract.”
