Page 98 of Kickoff

Is my outfit the reason you’re drooling all over yourself?

Melinda stood at the end of the driveway, her jaw slack and her eyes traveling all over me, leaving a burn in their wake. I wiped my hands on a rag, watching her with an amused smirk playing on my lips. The intensity of her stare sent bolts of desire through my being, and I inhaled, doing my best to look unaffected.

“Shepard, is my outfit the reason you’re drooling all over yourself?” I asked, pointing to the stained white T-shirt and old pair of jeans I was wearing.

She forced herself back into the present. “Ha. Ha. Very. Funny.”

“So? Drooling again?” I pointed to the corner of her mouth, and she ran the back of her hand over her lower face.

I pinched my lips together, doing my best to keep my chuckle leashed in.

“Oh, Mase. Stop. I’m not drooling.”

“From where I stand, that’s not what it looks like.” I wiggled my eyebrows in a teasing manner.

Melinda poked her tongue out, and I finally released the laugh I was holding in.

She wiped her mouth with a hand again, trying to look subtle but failing. I winked, and she shook her head, grinning. “Anyway, I came over because my dad said you have taken my car hostage.”

I walked out of the garage, not bothering to put on a sweater or a jacket. When Melinda stood in front of me, looking this hot in a pair of jeans and my hoodie, I couldn’t care less about the November breeze. “I may have stolen your car earlier, that’s a fact. But in my defense, I’m changing the brakes. I noticed they were due last week when you gave me a ride after practice. I didn’t like the idea of your driving around town with worn brake pads.”

“You…? Huh… You’re fixing my car?”

I gestured to her vehicle lifted on jacks behind me and shrugged one shoulder. “Yep.”

“I had an appointment for it next Friday after school.”

“Well, I had free time today, and you would have missed the game next Friday if you had gone to the mechanic. Anyway, working on cars is my secret superpower. Don’t tell anyone or my schedule will blow up.”

Since I was fourteen, I had been working at D&D Automobile in town during the summer. There was just something about cars and mechanics in general that fascinated me.

“That’s… Wow, that’s nice of you. And generous. I should buy you a gold-painted wrench, but first, I gotta pay you back. How much do I owe you?”

I grinned big. “Nothing.” I flicked my wrist because it really was no big deal. “I went shopping for parts with your dad because he insisted on paying, and my time is free—for you.”

“You went shopping with my dad?”

“Yeah. We worked together on his car earlier. We fixed his rear wiper while we were at it and installed his winter tires. He helped me with my physics homework during lunch, so we’re even.”

I went to the Shepards’ house this morning and asked for Melinda’s keys when I knew she would be gone all day. Paige had picked her up yesterday, and they had a sleepover at her place. Melinda was scheduled at work all afternoon, and Craig had told me Paige would give her a ride, so the timing was perfect.

Before me, Melinda blinked a million times. “You went shopping with my dad and he helped you with your schoolwork?”

“Yep. As I said, all good. Your car will be ready tomorrow by the end of the day because I started it just thirty minutes ago, and I wanna do the oil change and replace the filters while I’m at it. And switch your tires for a winter set.”

She stood there with her mouth hanging open.

“Don’t worry, I’ll give you a ride to the meet tomorrow. Just let me know what time we gotta leave and I’ll be there.”

“O-okay.” She blinked again. “You’re coming to the meet?”

“Yeah. I thought you would enjoy more supporters.”

“Thanks?” She shook her head as if she just realized her reply sounded more like a question. “That’s nice of you. To do this for me.” Staring at me, she twisted her hands before her, looking nervous.

“Everything all right?”

“Wanna come over for dinner? Dad said he made too much food tonight. I think it was his way to let me know I could invite you.”