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If someone needs to get ahold of me, they call the shop. It’s where I am most of the time. No one really needs to talk to me when I’m home. My friends text me from time to time, but I mostly hang out with a few of the guys who work with me at my garage.
Shit. I sound lonely as fuck. I’m not. I promise.
I grab a rag out of my back pocket and try to wipe my hands clean, but the reality is that they’re never really clean. I shrug and grab my phone, swiping across the screen without looking at who it is, my voice gruff as I bark out, “Fuller.”
“Theo,” I find myself smiling when I recognize Ryder’s voice.
One of my first major jobs after I took over from dad was helping Ryder with a restoration project. Normally, I would have told him I needed to do it on my own, but it was a project he started and was working on because he was trying to find some purpose and keep his mind occupied. I didn’t need to understand what his life was like as a veteran to empathize with the man.
Not only that, but he was giving me a chance when so many people were looking down at me because of my age, thinking I didn’t have the experience to do the work.
We became friends while working on his car. I don’t get to see him often because I’m always working and he has a family now, but he’s still one of the few people I consider a good friend.
“Hey man, Happy Fourth,” I chuckle. “What’s up?”
“I have a bit of a problem,” I can hear the caution and the concern in his voice, and it has me moving to put away the tools I’d been using. Ryder has never asked me for help and if he needs it, I won’t be saying no. “My sister is stranded on the side of the road and everyone out here has been drinking. I thought she was staying with us for the night or else I wouldn’t have had a few beers. I should have known better,” he chastises himself.
“Your sister?” The question slips out before I can stop it, not that it’s any of my business.
“Well, my wife’s sister, but she might as well be mine as well. I’m not going to call her my sister-in-law,” he scoffs as if the notion is ridiculous. “She’s family. The ‘in-law’ part is stupid.”
I chuckle because I guess I can see his point. “She needs a tow? Did she say what was wrong? If it’s just a blown tire or something, I can get her back on the road quickly.”
“She said her car just stopped accelerating,” his voice is gruff, and I can tell it’s bothering him that he’s had to call me for help.
I’m already moving to grab the keys to the tow truck before shutting off the lights in the garage. “That could be a few things,” I muse. “Send me a text with her location. I’m already walking toward the truck.”
“Thank you,” he breathes out and I swear I can feel his relief even over the phone. He pauses before his voice takes on a cautious note, “Sarah is a little skittish. She’s shy, quiet, and doesn’t normally do well with new people. Don’t be offended if she doesn’t talk a lot around you and seems a little scared.”
For some reason, the thought of scaring the woman I’m on the way to help pierces my heart and makes my chest ache. I’ve never even met the woman, but the thought of her being scared of me doesn’t sit right with me. It doesn’t make any fucking sense, but it’s true.
I have so many questions, but something holds me back from asking. I don’t know if Ryder would even answer them if I did voice them.
What the fuck is going on with me?
“Got it. I’ll treat her with kid gloves and make sure she’s safe. I’ll take her wherever she needs to go and then bring her car back to the garage to check it out.”
“Good,” he grunts. “Let me know what the damage is, and I’ll take care of it.”
His words make me bristle, though it doesn’t make any damn sense. I don’t even know the woman, why would I have this instinctual need to take care of her?
“No problem,” I barely keep the growl out of my voice.
We disconnect and I slide into the driver’s seat of the truck just as my phone chirps with an incoming text. Her location is pretty isolated, probably more so because of the holiday. That knowledge has me driving a little faster than I normally would. I can’t explain the need I have to get to her and make sure she’s okay.
Sarah.
I rack my brain to try and remember if Ryder has ever mentioned her before. She’s one of Chloe’s sisters, who I’ve met only a few times in the years they’ve been together. That’s not because of Ryder or his family, it’s all me. I’ve been so focused on my business that I’ve made it my life. I haven’t allowed much room for anything else.
By the time I see a small four-door car on the side of the road, I’m anxious as fuck to get to Sarah and make sure she’s okay. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this way before and it’s grating against my skin in a way I don’t like. I drive past her car and use the lack of traffic on the road to turn around and pull in front of her car to make it easier on me when hooking it up.
When I hop out of the cab, my palms are sweating as I stride up to the driver’s side window and knock softly. The window only opens a crack and with the lack of lighting, I can’t make out the woman’s features very well.
“Hi. Sarah?” When she doesn’t say anything, I go on, “I’m Theo. I’m friends with Ryder.”
The window comes down a little more and the light from the rear of the truck illuminates her features in red. I can’t tell what color her eyes are, but her golden colored hair seems to sparkle under the lights, taking on the red hue from the taillights. Her features are delicate and striking as she looks up at me with wide eyes.
I’ve never been punched in the gut by a woman. I’ve had my fun over the years, but it was never going to be more than that. The few times I’ve tried to have a relationship it didn’t last because they felt like I put more effort into my business than being with them. They weren’t exactly wrong either and I learned to not give it a shot because I’m not about mistreating someone while I’m prioritizing my business.
