AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Syd’s exuberant wave matches her smile. “Hey, Harper.”
I cough to dislodge the awe in Jake’s honor. “Hi, superstar. What’s new?”
Other than the fake mom topic we left hanging in the balance after our conversation yesterday. I’m not ready to rehash the details quite yet. Although, it’s comforting to hear that she hasn’t reinstated the formalities where my name is concerned.
Syd scrunches her expression in thought. An excited gasp reveals she’s landed on an answer. “Oh, oh! Daddy had a tea party for me and Glitzy. He’s the host with the mostest.”
Rather than appear embarrassed by his daughter’s gloating, the father of the year wears a proud grin. “My cookies were good too.”
“Sooooo yummy,” Sydney praises.
I lock my knees in a weak restraint to stop myself from running into Jake’s arms and begging him to love me like that. There might be some repressed daddy issues at play. The notion turns my stomach and I almost gag. What’s more likely is an underlying attachment to this jerky heartthrob that refuses to let go. I pity my resolve if he’s serious about trying.
“Been stuck long?”
Six going on seven years.
I snap out of the false sense of calm Jake’s raspy tone lulls me under. “Uh, five minutes at the most.”
“Why didn’t you call me?”
“Wasn’t sure it was that serious.” My pants might as well light on fire along with my smoldering motor.
His flat stare sweeps over my lie like a detector. “Serious enough to be worried it might explode.”
“It’s a valid concern,” I mumble while my cheeks go up in flames.
“Did you even bother to look?”
I sigh rather than spill the truth. “What good would that do?”
His frown twitches at the edges. “For the record, it’s pretty rare for a car to spontaneously combust.”
“Listen, I don’t claim to be a mechanic.”
He grunts. “Nobody would make the mistake of assuming otherwise.”
“Way to rub salt in the wound,” I grumble.
“Are you okay, Harper? You look sad.” Concern swims in Syd’s eyes.
I paste on a smile that feels brittle. “Yep, I’m totally fine. My car isn’t, though.”
“Don’t worry. My daddy is the bestest. He’ll fix Ruby Red in a jiff-piff.” Her measure of time is pure amusement.
My grin lifts effortlessly. “Ruby Red?”
She nods. “That’s her name.”
I stare at the plain sedan through a fresh lens. Newfound appreciation brightens the paint. “How cute. I love it.”
“Just like you love her, right?”
“Of course.” I give the trunk a gentle pat.
“And she’s sick?”
“In a sense,” I hedge.
