AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Jake pauses and I hear a female voice on the other end of the line. He covers the receiver, muffling what he says to her before returning his attention to our call.
“Do me a favor, Hol. When you get back, fire both those bitches. They’re driving me insane. And figure out a way that if this happens again, I don’t have to worry.”
Why do I feel like taking time for myself, and focusing on my happiness is letting him down?
________________
18
________________
“Is the XL in the lot ready to roll?” I ask the head of my service team.
The black extended SUV with chrome package came in on trade. I’ve learned not to ask why the owner trades in a vehicle they’ve taken pristine care of and take advantage instead. It’s a current model year, gorgeous, freakin’ mammoth, and fits the bill to get three adults, two kids, and a week’s worth of bags to the Carolina coast.
“I’m about to pass her info onto sales to add to the online inventory.” He shows me the paperwork.
I check the mileage and a few notes the tech made. “Hold off. I’m going to put it through the paces.”
“As in, you want it?” His brow quirks when I shrug. “Sales will want to know where it disappeared to.”
“Grab me some plates and tell them I’m taking it on an extended test drive.”
The thing I like best about my job is I rarely get car envy. I have two registered under my name. The one I use daily is a run-of-the-mill mid-size SUV with the same body style most of the manufacturers are sticking to. It gets me where I need to go, but I can’t say it’s fun to drive. That’s why I pilfer from the lot when something comes in that attracts my attention.
Bhodi is developing the itch to do that too. Since his mom is with us more often on Saturdays now, I block a few hours after school on Friday for us to tinker with what customers have brought into the shop and search for cars online that might become our next project. It’s our guy time and I feel like I’m making up for all the moments I lost out on with my grandad.
Bhodi picks something different to drive away in when we leave. On the way home, we bond over the automotive company’s history or what other cool models they sold back when. He’s becoming less obsessed with the entertainment systems than what’s under the hood and has even blown the service center guy’s minds with what he’s picked up. I hope he likes this one because he hasn’t ridden in anything this ostentatious.
Key in hand, I glide back toward my office to finish up a few lingering tasks. I haven’t had a real vacation for months and am amped to get out of Brighton. So much so I’d immediately rescheduled my counseling session to help Laurel when the air conditioning busted and began formulating the plan to swoop in and take everyone away.
Not that Laurel or Holly need me to rescue them. They fared fine before I waltzed in. But that’s the point, isn’t it? If Holly’s putting her paycheck to the repairs, then I can do my part too. I mean, Dusty hadn’t flinched offering to install the window units.
Holly’s running behind when I get back to the condo later in the afternoon. God love her, the woman will leave me waiting for her in perpetuity. And Lord bless me with the patience to deal with it. The other side of the coin is Holly isn’t the kind who cuts out early or shirks her responsibilities. Glen’s bachelor party, when we disappeared into the back office, is the only instance I clearly recall.
Her tardiness gives me time to hoist the rest of the bags into the trunk and install Emory’s car set in the second row. Bhodi takes command of the entire third, but not until he’s gone over every spec and thumbed through the glove compartment to investigate what’s in there. He absconds with my cell and, tapping away, brings up everything he can find, including the coming soon listing sales put on the dealership’s website.
“Do you know how much this car is worth?” His eyes bug out and he clutches my cell like it’s a gold brick.
Putting Emory’s sippy cup in the holder, I laugh under my breath and wink at the kid. I do. And yeah, I chose it to create a first impression of what this trip will be like for them. Deep down I want to prove to Holly I can take care of her more than in the bedroom, and even if she doesn’t need me to. I believe she’s aware I can, but not by how much. This vacation will erase any doubts.
Three hours after Holly gets her ass in gear, we’re pulling onto a private road. Laurel gasps from the seat behind me and both of the kids let exaggerated wows fly. I’m not satisfied until the woman beside me reaches across the console and her nails dig into my forearm. We may both have chills, but for very different reasons.
I pull the SUV into the short driveway of my house with the nose emblem up close to one of the garage doors.
“This is…” My girl’s words falter. She stands on the running board, taking off her dark glasses, and looking up the three stories.
“It’s a castle!” Emory supplies, princess doll waving in Laurel’s face as her mom tries to get her out of the five-point harness.
I walk around the rear of the SUV, popping the hatch so the ocean breeze blows in to keep it cool while we unload. Bhodi scrambles over the back of his seat to where the luggage is and I keep moving. On the passenger side, I take Holly’s hand, helping her down, and pulling her tight to me.
She slides down my trunk and I claim her lips. Resting my forehead to hers, I get an up-close glimpse of the bewildered yet happy expression plastered on her face.
“This is all yours?” She squeaks.
I spin her a hundred and eighty degrees, making her squeal.
I’ve never wanted to share this place with anyone the way I do with Holly, nor have I ever wanted to show off to anyone as badly as I do right now.
