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Being in Jones’ place, specifically, really helped. I’d spent way too much time here according to Morgan, who always felt I should be doing more work on my studies. But I’d known that unlike him I wasn’t going to be fighting my way through academia to a fancy-ass degree to get a fancy-ass high paying job. I’d liked being in the garage. I called Jones ‘Old Man’ more than I called him his actual damn name but he was more of a parent to me than my actual parents and that still felt true today.
As if thinking about him, even tangentially, had summoned him, I heard Morgan’s voice. Shit.
I didn’t come out from under the car right away. I just listened to Morgan chatting with Jones and the couple other mechanics that Jones had on hire. Seemed that Morgan still came down to the garage often even though he had whatever million-dollar job he now worked. I was glad of that—you shouldn’t forget your roots—except for the part where it meant that I’d have to run into him. Great.
But I couldn’t hide out forever. Awkward or not, Morgan and I were going to have to see each other. Might as well get it over with.
I climbed out from under the car and stood up, grabbing a grease rag to wipe off my hands. As I did so I heard Morgan stop talking and saw him staring out of the corner of my eye, his eyes a bit wide. Didn’t expect me to really come back, I thought.
Georgia had probably told Morgan about me taking back my car, or maybe Billie had. They must’ve, right? But Morgan would’ve assumed that I just took it and left again. I know it’s what I would’ve assumed after the way I just up and left last time.
I finally turned to look at Morgan. “Long time no see,” I said, holding my hand out.
Morgan stared at me, and at my hand, but didn’t shake it. I shoved my hand into my pocket. Yeah, Morgan was mad at me. Probably for splitting without telling him. But I’d tried to reach out to him a few times since then. Had none of it been enough? Was leaving without warning really going to be the thing that broke our friendship? I would’ve hoped that Morgan would have found a way to forgive me, or at least give me the chance to earn forgiveness, by now.
Guess I was wrong.
“When did you get back in town?” Morgan asked.
Huh. Georgia and Billie must not’ve told him about the car. “A few days ago. I already picked my car up from your parents’ house. Thanks for keeping an eye on her for me while I was gone.”
Morgan shrugged. “I didn’t do much. Where’s she now? She’s not in the lot.” He gestured to the small lot in front of the garage where most people parked.
“She’s parked out back. You can come take a look at her if you want.”
Morgan gave me an odd, piercing look. “Sure.”
Yeah, right, he didn’t give a fuck about the car. I led him out back, waiting for Morgan to say what he’d really followed me out here to talk about. “I had to jumpstart her,” I said. “Because of the dead battery.”
“I didn’t pay any attention to her so I’m not surprised,” Morgan said.
“Sorry to hear it was a burden to keep her,” I replied. “Seeing all the work you helped me put into her, I figured you’d be happy to keep her around for a bit.”
“It wasn’t a burden to do nothing,” Morgan said with a shrug.
“All right, if you’re not going to cut the bullshit when I’m being more obvious than a fuckin’ matador with a bull,” I burst out, “I’ll do it. Why did you never write me back or return my calls? Why are you acting like I spat on your grandma’s grave?”
Morgan glared at me with a venom that I’d never expected from him. “You should know why. It was all in the letter you wrote.”
That surprised me. I wracked my brain, trying to think. “I don’t remember writing any letters that would’ve pissed you off.”
“It wasn’t addressed to me.” Morgan glared. “It was addressed to my little sister. You should’ve known Billie was off limits. The moment you touched my sister is the moment our friendship ended.”
“It was a mistake,” I replied, because Billie sure felt that it was that way. And I was aware that it would’ve been considerate to talk to Morgan to see how comfortable he was before I did anything with Billie.
“Your letter didn’t make it sound that way,” Morgan spat. Then his voice got cold and imperious, in a way that I had never heard it before. Like he was a rich oil baron and I was the lowly field hand. “Doesn’t matter now, anyway. Billie doesn’t want you. You stay away from my family, especially Billie.”
