Shaw got up to rinse his bowl out. “See? You need to get laid. Have a one-night stand, get a fuck buddy, whatever—just do something.”
“At least I have a battery-powered boyfriend. It gets me by during these dry spells.”
Shaw waggled his finger at me. “Not the same.”
“Sometimes it’s better alone with my vibrator and it’s not like I have a lot of time to date.”
“You cannot tell me that an electric O-maker is better than getting it from a dude.”
“Sometimes it really is.” I argued.
“Whatever you say, Liv.” He leaned against the counter. “There is also more to life than work and the occasional spicy time alone. You need to enjoy yourself. Otis and I won’t be around forever.”
Otis whimpered at the back door, and I let him out. I watched as he trudged down the steps and into the fenced yard behind the shop. I knew Shaw was right, but I didn’t want to admit it.
“We live above our damn work for crying out loud.” Shaw was starting to get on my nerves.
“I’m sorry, are you complaining about free rent?” Deflection was my saving grace in that moment.
He shrugged. “Not what I am saying and you know that, but I will butt out for now.”
I grabbed the wadded-up napkin from top of the trash and stared at it. I knew I was closed off, but I liked my little bubble. I couldn’t get hurt again from within my safe zone. With my heart shielded, there was no chance of it breaking.
I couldn’t handle losing someone again.
I wouldn’t be able to pick the pieces back up off the floor.
I wouldn’t survive it.
No way in hell.
Chapter 8
Griffin
Slow.
Deep.
Breaths.
This is it.
After a few weeks of digging and using the best private investigation firm money could buy, I was on my Harley heading toward Olive Cooper. I had no idea what to expect or what I was going to say, but my mind was set on at least meeting her.
Riding along the open freeway at the ass-crack of dawn toward the unknown was more liberating than I had expected. The cool fall air whipped around me as the miles passed by. A calm I hadn’t known for far too long settled in deep. My bike rumbled under me as the minutes passed, an excitement consumed me—buzzed in every cell. It was different than the feeling I got before a fight, it was more like liberation. And for the first time in a very long time, my mind was peaceful.
Rounding the corner, my destination was finally in sight—Mic’s Garage. A lump formed in my throat. This was it. It was now or never.
I pulled into the gravel parking lot and sat for a few seconds as my nerves started to get the better of me.
What if this was a bad idea?
What if I do more harm than good?
What if she doesn’t want to talk to me?
I pushed all the doubt and fear of rejection to the back of my mind. I had come too far to chicken out now.
