Chapter 22 – West
WEST
“ H oly fuck,” I pinch the bridge of my nose. “How many fucking times do I have to tell you?
Alright, you know what, grab that alternator and bring it over here. It’s ready to go in.”
Ryan trains his sight on the direction I’m pointing and strolls over to the counter where I have the car’s almost-new alternator resting on a cloth. He hefts it in his arms and curses on his way back to the car.
“Jesus Christ, I had no idea how heavy these things are. What am I supposed to do with it?”
“Just hold it and look pretty while I remove these belts and tensioner.”
He rolls his eyes as I get to work on said tasks.
“Would you calm your fucking nuts? If I knew you’d be tearing me a new one at every turn I wouldn’t have accepted this project.”
“Well the door’s right there, junior,” I point with my wrench, not even looking up.
“What the fuck is everyone’s problem anyway?” He explodes, almost dropping the heavy thing.
“Everyone is sick of your shit,” I explain. “It’s like you actively try to make people not like you or give you a chance.
“You got a lady?” I ask, but don’t wait for an answer. “Have you ever had one? Because the one you called a tease the night you got kicked out of the Coyote is mine.”
“Pffft…she is now. Big deal.”
“She was mine then. Just because no one knew it…”
“And because you’ve got a girl, that’s reason to break your ass over restoring a dinosaur of a car? What does it matter if this car runs or not?”
I’m too exasperated and driven to try and hold a wall up right now and so I just spit the words out while I continue cranking the wrench. “So she can stay.”
“A car will make her stay?”
“Fuck, you’re dense. No, the money from selling the car will help her stay. It’s going to take more than some grease monkey falling in love with her to put down roots here. She needs - she wants - to make something of herself.”
“You’re doing all this so she’ll stay? You want her that badly,” he phrases it as more of a statement.
Fucking - A, this was not supposed to be some therapy session where I give the town screwup privileged information, but airing out while I’m working seems to be doing something for me.
“So you love her.” Another statement, and this one makes me lift my head.
What?
I guess I did say the word love. I don’t want to believe this is what I’m feeling for a girl I’ve only known a few weeks, but who am I kidding? I’ve felt it in my bones since day one.
I nod thoughtfully. “She’s fun… and not what I expected, if I’d expected her at all, that is.”
“So you’re pussywhipped.”
My head snaps up and I level him with death lasers coming out of my eyes. “You want me to beat you over the head with this wrench?”
“Go fucking right ahead,” he straightens up and tosses the pliers back in the toolbox.
I blow out a resigned breath and call him back over.
“Ry!” I call after him and he turns back with a huff.
I subtle wave him back to the car and try to look sincere.
“I’m sorry, please come back. I think what needs to happen is I need to have a little more patience - but you?
” I cut him off when he starts to look validated.
“You need to listen more closely. Can we do this?”
He nods and comes back to pick up the pliers and I get us started on the spark plugs.
“Okay, hold it right there, that’s good. And watch out, I’m about to shock you.” I warn Ryan, but he totally misreads me and receives a zap from one of the sparkplugs we’re replacing.
“Ow!” He jumps back, dropping his pliers and steel brush to the ground with a loud clatter. “Motherfucker!” He curses, shaking out his hand before cradling it with the other. Poor baby.
“Holy fuck.” I hold up the plug we just detached. “This is a fucking lawnmower spark plug!”
“Did you do that on fucking purpose?” He demands.
“No. I meant it literally, not in a I’m about to blow your mind kind of way. But I’m sorry for the misunderstanding. Anyway, get back over here, we only have a couple more to do.” I try to say encouragingly and he swipes his tools back up from the concrete.
I have Ryan watch me and mimic what I’m doing as we each work on one of the remaining sparkplugs.
“Hand me the nine-millimeter diameter thread bolts.”
“The what?”
“Jesus,” I rub my eyes. I give him a quick tutorial on parts before we get to work cracking some fuel lines loose, which he shockingly isn’t too bad at. We’re on our way to removing exhaust manifolds when he seems to settle in and even relax a little.
“You really think you can fix this old relic?” He asks, watching my movements.
I lift a shoulder and swivel my trusty toothpick to the side of my mouth. “If I can’t, I’ve got a grenade in the drawer.”
That’s when I see the slightest hint of a smirk on his face - by that, I mean one that’s actually genuine, not cynical or sarcastic.
It only took about six hours. I wonder if he’s just the type whose best self comes out when he’s one on one.
My theory is proved about five minutes later when Razor walks in, tell-tale turquoise box balanced on one hand.
“Hey boss,” he greets, his voice slightly subdued.
“Razor, why the fuck are you bringing donuts?”
“Can I have tomorrow afternoon off?”
The guy never misses an hour of work. He believes in a well-oiled machine which is why he’s such a solid employee and I know he runs the Chaos in the same manner. “Razor, whatever it is you need, go for it,” I wave my hand before wiping it on a shammy. “You don’t have to bribe me with donuts.”
He deadpans me with an arched brow. “Because you’re trying to watch your girlish figure?”
Ah, there’s the hard ass biker I know.
“Whatever it is, it must be important,” I ignore his jab.
“Julie’s flying in,” he reports.
“Your daughter?”
He nods. “Things aren’t working out too well with her mom and stepdad, so she’s going to come stay with me.”
“How old is she?” Ryan looks up from the hood.
“None of your goddamn business,” Razor snarls and Ryan disappears back into his work without a word.
“Man,” I shake my head. “What is it about this town? It’s like a magnet for people seeking refuge.”
“You tell me, you’re the trendsetter,” he quips with a gruff chuckle .
“I guess that’s true,” I grin sheepishly.
I came here two years ago, not knowing what to expect and found a home almost immediately.
Then Hunt’s cousin Hattie and Kira dropped in.
Now my sister and Razor's daughter. And after the summer festival, there’s no telling how many people will fall in love with this place.