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It was over.
Or maybe it never really began.
“You good, brother?”
My head popped up, and I met Bear’s eyes. I wasn’t surprised he heard us. I just hadn’t realized he was in the garage. “I’m fine.”
“You need time off, take it.”
“Already took enough time off this weekend. We’re behind.” I shook my head. “Should’ve just worked.”
“Saw something in you this weekend that I haven’t seen in a long time, if ever.” He wiped his hands on the rag he was holding. “You want her?”
“Doesn’t matter. She’s too afraid to walk away from her family, and I don’t do relationships.”
“I never thought I wanted one either. Then I met Josie.”
“Not the same.”
He studied me carefully. “She afraid of her family?”
“She’s afraid of losin’ the only family she’s got.”
Bear took a deep breath and looked over my shoulder toward the road. “Gonna say something, and then I’m done talkin’ about it.” I jerked up my chin, and he continued. “Haven’t had much good in my life. Lost almost everyone I loved in less than two years. Met Josie and realized I wasn’t willing to lose more.”
“Never really had anyone to lose.”
“Sounds like you do now.” He slapped his hand against my shoulder before gesturing behind us. “Gonna get back to work. Gunner’s handling shit at the track right now, so I have a free day to help out here.”
“Appreciate it, brother.”
He knew I meant the advice and the help in the garage without me saying it. We returned to work but didn’t talk more about it. We just worked silently side-by-side, both knowing our jobs well. It was well past ten when I heard the sound of a motorcycle pulling into the parking lot. I was surprised Bear was still here, but something told me he was here for me.
“Tank.”
I looked up when I heard my name and walked to where Ritz stood just inside the doors. “What’s up?”
He pulled the phone he had against his ear away from his mouth. “Jane here?”
“No.” My eyebrows pulled together. “She left.”
He put the phone back to his mouth. “You hear that?” I waited while he listened to the person on the phone. “Rachel was just at her place, and she’s not there. What time did she leave?”
“Around three,” I replied, but I was starting to have a nagging feeling. “Put her on speaker.”
I could tell Ritz was listening to Rachel when he dropped his eyes to the ground, but then he spoke. “Hang on. I’m putting you on speaker.”
He hit a button and held the phone between us. “Would she go to her parents' house?”
Rachel’s voice filled the garage just as Bear stepped up beside me. “Maybe.”
“Does she go there often?” I asked.
“No.” Rachel sighed. “Her relationship with her parents has been really strained since the wedding for obvious reasons, and it wasn’t great before that.”
“What about her sister’s?” Ritz asked.
“Never.” Rachel sighed. “They haven’t spoken much since the whole David thing.”
