Page 53 of Mechanic’s Christmas Match

“Hey, Ana,” Rory said, turning to her. “Maggie said you might need my measurements. I know now isn’t good. Can I stop by the shop sometime soon?”

“Definitely,” Ana told him, plastering on a smile. “And thank you for helping Ian with the train. That was really nice of you.”

“Anytime,” Rory said. “I love that kind of stuff. You know that.”

He really did. It was one of her favorite things about Rory—how enthusiastic he was about practically everything. He was a natural-born problem solver.

“Well, I volunteered to help out with the band,” he said. “I guess I’ll see you later on. Maybe I’ll bring you guys some lunch?”

“You did?” Ana said. “Are you playing something?”

“Just lugging equipment,” he said. “Nothing fancy. After that, I’m helping out at the Heroes Center with Grayson for a bit.”

“You’re staying busy,” Ana said fondly.

He nodded, a slightly faraway look in his eyes for a moment.

“See you in a while,” he said, giving a wave to her mom before he disappeared into the thickening crowd.

Ana turned back to watch Theo finish up his treat, trying not to think about how much she noticed Rory’s absence, or how that made her feel.

15

RORY

Rory headed over to Pura Vida after work the following Monday, feeling oddly nervous.

He’d had a lot of fun at the open-air market over the weekend, and hopefully done some good too. He would have felt the day was perfectly spent, if not for the way Ana had avoided him. After their one conversation, he hadn’t been able to drag her away from her booth for lunch, and she hadn’t even bothered to show up for the evening events.

The Christmas campfire with hot cocoa, s’mores, and singing had been great, and he’d enjoyed hanging out with Evangeline, Grayson, and Leo. But it would have been so much more fun with Ana by his side.

And while he knew that he really ought to take her avoidance for the message it probably was, he couldn’t seem to help stopping by today anyway.

Besides, he really did need to let her take his measurements. The school library fundraiser was this weekend.

He half-jogged the last block to the shop, enjoying the cold, sweet air. Snow was definitely coming soon, and plenty of it.

Pushing open the door to the shop, he was happy to see that for once it was quiet inside. Ana was nowhere to be seen, but her mom stood at the counter, hand-sewing buttons onto an apron.

“Rory,” she said fondly, looking up at him.

“Oh, hi, Mrs. Gutierrez,” he said politely. “Is Ana around? She needed my measurements.”

At just that moment, Ana popped out from behind one of the clothing racks, followed by a smiling Theo.

“I, um, have to stop by Mal’s” she said, her cheeks pink. “Can you get his measurements, Mami?”

“Of course,” her mother said kindly. “Leave Theo with me.”

Rory watched helplessly as Ana ran off, grabbing her coat on the way out the door without even bothering to put it on first.

“She’s probably just shy about taking your measurements,” Mrs. Gutierrez said softly, a little humor in her voice.

“Oh,” Rory said, feeling his cheeks heat. He hadn’t really thought about Ana having to touch him, he’d just known she needed measurements and he’d wanted the excuse to see her. “Are you okay with it?”

“Of course,” Mrs. Gutierrez said kindly. “Come on back.”

He followed her to the back of the shop. She grabbed a cloth measuring tape and a little notebook with a pencil and gestured for him to stand in front of her.