1
CALIX
“Your sisters are going to kill you if you're late for Aniyah's birthday.”
“Yeah, yeah, I'm going.”Just after I get these five screws in.
I leaned deeper into the open hood, shoulders tight, fingers working the last stubborn thread into place. The new carburetor sat there like it was daring me to walk away when I wasthisclose.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
My jaw ticked, eyes flicking down to see his boot drumming against the concrete like a metronome set to annoy the hell out of me. That asshole knew what he was doing.
He was going to bemysecond, so why did it always feel like he was my taskmaster?
Dragging in a breath through my nose, I rolled my neck once. Twice. Then cut him a glare sharp enough to peel paint.
Rack didn’t even flinch. He just stared back with that calm, blank patience that always made me want to throw something just to see if he would flinch.
“Put the daggers away.” One eyebrow arched drastically. “It’s not my fault you need constant management.”
Clicking my tongue, I decided it wasn't worth throwing a fit over. Instead, I dropped my eyes to my wrist. Twenty minutes. That wasplentyof time before Aniyah started blowing my phone up like I’d committed a federal crime.
Going back to work, I put in the last screw and leaned back with a satisfying bite. Relief loosened my shoulders before I realized I had to try out this baby. Snatching the part up, I jogged around the front of the car, went under the hood, and slid it into place.
I could feel Mr. Fun Sucker hovering at my shoulder like a goddamn ticking time bomb.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The muscles in my forearm jumped as I tightened the last connection. I shot him a look over my shoulder, silently telling him to fuck off.
The corner of his mouth twitched, almost unreadable, but I saw the twinkle in his eye. Before I could make him regret that, my phone buzzed. Then buzzed again. Again.
With my eyes locked on the engine in front of me, I ignored it. One more adjustment. One more?—
A heavy sigh rolled beside my ear. Rack leaned in, holding the phone out to me like he was presenting me with a problem.
“Valentina’scalling.”
I froze, then shrugged, keeping my eyes locked on my grease-smeared knuckles. What did he want me to do with no hands?
Rack narrowed his eyes and took a deep breath before sliding his thumb over the screen and balancing it on top of the battery. The look on his face said, “Deal with her yourself.”
Gritting my teeth, I whispered my retribution under my breath, hoping he knew what was coming. Then I switched the waiting conversation, keeping my voice light and casual. “Hey, babe. What’s going on?”
“Cal!!!” Valentina practically sang my name. “I miss you, my king!”
She was using her cutesy voice on me, and heat crawled up my neck so fast I felt it in my ears. It was ridiculous but kinda cute… in the right light.
Glancing sideways, I noticed Rack was staring straight ahead like he’d turned into a statue. The tapping stopped.
“What are you dooooing?” she asked, laying it on extra thick, so I knew she wanted something.
A laugh puffed out of me before I could stop it.
“Baby,” I grunted, twisting the final screw until it was snug, “I told you.” Moving out from under the hood, I wiped my hands on my shirt, staring down at my completed engine with pride. “Aniyah’s birthday is tonight. I’m gonna be out late.”
A soft, grumpy whine came from her. If she was in front of me, she would be in full pout mode. I could see it clearly now—arms crossed, plump lips pushed out, eyes wide and sad.
