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Wow, he remembered her name?
“Yes, pesky little things. Need my brakes done.”
“Ahh, yes. They always need something, hmm? And how are you feeling, Tyler? Still burning up?” He tosses me a wink and nods his head in Lo’s direction in a not-so-subtle way. I pretend not to notice.
“Better. Well, I should get started. Cars don’t fix themselves,” I announce. I need to move this along before Mr. Matchmaker plans dates. “Chloe, you can head to the waiting room. I’ll get you when your car’s ready.”
“Okay. Nice seeing you again, Don.” She offers a small wave, then disappears into the waiting area.
“Dude,” I say as I spin around and face my boss. “You’re killing me.”
“What?” Don asks even though he knows exactly what.
“Take your little romance fantasy somewhere else. I don’t got time for it,” I say with a light tone because he is my boss, but I don’t need him making shit awkward. It’s already awkward enough.
“There’s always time for love, my friend.”
I roll my eyes as I walk over to Chloe’s car. “Not in my life,” I say as I shut the door.
Don shakes his head and walks back into his office.
If only he knew the real history.
Then he’d never leave me alone about her.
* * *
Two hours later, the job is finally complete. Lo is immersed in her computer when I walk into the waiting room, her eyes flying over the screen as her hands tap the keys.
Always the studious one. Hell, she turned all my grades around just by tutoring me. Some would say it’s an impossible feat.
I watch her for a while before saying anything. Leaning against the doorframe, I wipe my hands with my rag and try to hide the stupid grin that seems to appear more and more often around her.
“Your car is ready,” I announce.
She turns toward me, a loud sigh escaping her lips as she shuts her laptop. “Great! Thank you again so much for doing this.”
Chloe gathers her notebook and pen, laptop and phone, and slides them all into her bag. She stands and slings it over her shoulder. Her movements are fast and jerky like she’s stressed. Probably from all the damn job hunting she’s been doing.
“You’re welcome. I feel better now that I know your car is safe to drive.”
She stands in front of me and crosses her arms, but her eyes are smiling, the blue color shining brightly. “You care about my safety that much?”
I can’t tell if she’s teasing or not, but I assume she is. She knows how much I care for her. “Of course, I do. Always.”
Lo takes a step closer, and I stand straight, suddenly aware of every part of my body. I wait for her to say something, anything, but she doesn’t speak, her mouth firmly shut. Will she tease back? Flirt? Or just say her goodbyes, and we go our separate ways yet again?
It’s like there’s a magnetic force field between us. I close the distance between us. My breathing comes faster now, and at the same time, I notice hers does.
Say something, idiot!
A loud bang sounds from behind us, somewhere in the garage, followed by an“Oh shit!”and we jump apart, the moment broken. Like it never existed.
Chloe opens her mouth to say something, and I blurt out a sentence I never expected to say. “Have dinner with me later?”
Her eyes go wide, and I wish I could take the question back. What am I thinking?
“Never mind. Forget I said that. Anyway, let’s go get your keys and receipt.” I walk back into the garage, cursing myself. Ah well. It slipped out. We’re all human, right? Let me get her keys, and she’ll be on her way.
