Page 32 of Dandelions and Smoke

Now, if only she’d let me.

Hank was true to his word, so bright and early, here I am, picking up the keys to her now-drivable, no-longer-a-death-trap of a car. Since I don’t have her number, I had Billy let her know we’d bring it to her house before her shift this morning. I can’t say having Billy follow me here was completely for convenience. As I pull up to the house, Rory and Blake are already out on the porch waiting for me. If the expression on Blake’s face is any indication, I’d say he’s still not a fan.

We both step out of our vehicles and meet in the driveway. The sun is bright, shining down its rays, cutting through the crisp fall air as winter slowly approaches. Rory is bundled up in more layers than necessary, to the point where I think the clothes may weigh more than she does, while the rest of us appear unbothered.

“Ahh, my baby!” Rory says, running up to her car and lying on the hood, arms outstretched in an embrace as she murmurs words of comfort to Miss Daisy.

I smile. I can’t help it. Seeing her like this, instead of stiff and guarded, reminds me of the woman I first met. Knowing I had something to do with it makes me feel even better.

“Thank you,” she murmurs once she’s done having her moment with Miss Daisy. She tucks a curl behind her ear and smiles softly, looking up at me.

The warmth of her smile envelops me, making me feel like I’m the one wearing all the extra layers. My smile grows, but just as quickly fades as Blake clears his throat and steps forward.

“So, what do I owe you?” he asks, crossing his arms.

Beside him, Rory rolls her eyes and pushes him aside. I can’t say I don’t appreciate the way she doesn’t let him bulldoze her, even if I can understand his stance as the protective brother.

“Was it the battery or the alternator, like you thought?” she asks, forcing lightness into her tone, presumably trying to make up for Blake’s less-than-friendly one.

“Uhh,” I glance at Billy, but he looks away. “Yeah, it, uh, it was.”

Both Blake and Rory look at me suspiciously.

“Okay?” Rory says slowly.

“And what else?” Blake snaps. “Tell me what it costs. I won’t have her owing you anything.”

“She doesn’t owe me anything,” I fire back, the anger I felt about no one taking care of this sooner flooding back. “I fixed this car because I wanted to make sure she’s safe.”

“Are you implying I don’t?” Blake rolls his shoulders back, his chest puffing out as his brows drop down and his eyes narrow.

Blake and I are friends, but right now, he only sees me as the guy who he thinks is trying to take advantage of his little sister, and I won’t be having any of that. He’s not as tall as I am, but he’s built like a linebacker. I’m not trying to get into a fight before eight in the morning, but I have no intention of backing down from something this important.

“I’m not implying anything. I’m telling you that you dropped the ball. You, Lucas, and Billy here.” I point to Billy, who I notice steps closer once he sees Blake’s demeanor change. “She’s been driving around in a vehicle so dangerous that Hank recommended we junk the whole thing and get a new one.”

As I glare down at Blake, Rory gasps beside him.

“I thought you said it was the battery or the alternator,” she says, her voice wavering with confusion.

I pull my sharp gaze from Blake and feel the tension in my face melt away as my eyes land on her.

“It was, Little Lion,” I say softly, enjoying the blush that creeps across her cheeks at the nickname and the way that Blake inhales angrily. “It was also a laundry list of other things, but I already told you that I’d take care of it, and I meant it.”

“What other things?” Blake asks, but his tone has lost some of its bite, and his shoulders drop as I go through the list of what Hank said to me.

“You didn’t have to do all that.” Rory’s face is pinched, but I can’t tell if that’s a good sign or not.

“If I didn’t, then we’d be putting Miss Daisy down,” I joke, but stop laughing when I notice the way she bristles at the comment.

“I would have figured it out. I always do. I don’t need any of you taking care of me. I’ve been doing it all by myself my whole life, thank you very much,” she bites out, putting her hands on her hips and staring us all down one by one.

Cold seeps into my bones as confusion fills my expression. I open my mouth to argue, but close it as I notice her biting the inside of her cheek to keep the tears from showing.

“You’re right,” I say gently.

She blinks up, her lashes hiding the extent of the storm in her eyes.

“But I need you to be safe, and now you are.” I watch her take in my words, flexing her jaw like she’s chewing them over.