Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
MADELINE
Ismile without even opening my eyes yet, remembering last night. Luke is nuzzled into my neck and wrapped around me like a giant teddy bear. I suppose he is, to me at least. He growls a lot but is extra cuddly.
I let out a huff when I hear my phone buzzing. It’s not the alarm I set but a text making it vibrate slightly on the nightstand.
I reach for it, my body protesting, muscles I didn’t know I had aching in the best way. I’m tangled in sheets smelling like Luke.
Luke’s hold on me tightens before I can reach it. “Ignore it,” he growls in my neck. He’s so warm and relaxed I want to stay here. I want to forget the world outside this room. My responsibilities.
But my phone buzzes again.
“I have to. It could be my sister or Georgia. I also need to use the bathroom.”
“Fine,” he huffs. I untangle myself from him, grab my phone, and stand. I wince slightly as the sheet falls away.
I catch sight of myself in the mirror across the room, hair wild, neck marked with faint bruises, and lips still swollen. Shit. It’s clear what I was up to last night, but damn, I have to say I kind of love it. My body was well used and loved.
I head into the bathroom and unlock my phone to read the messages from Georgia.
Georgia: Are we heading out soon?
Georgia: You have work. Don’t forget.
Shit. Work. The thing I’ve been debating quitting but haven’t been able to. I keep doing it because... why? Pride? Stubbornness? The desperate need to prove I can take care of myself?
I type back quickly.
Me: Give me twenty.
I set my phone back down on the nightstand. Luke’s arm comes out, snagging me around the waist and pulling me back into bed with him. I let out a laugh.
“I have to go. I have work,” I tell him. He starts kissing up my neck, knowing it’s my weak spot. He spent the night learning every inch of my body.
“No.” His grip tightens. “Quit.”
I laugh, turning to face him. “Just like that?”
“Just like that.” He opens his eyes, dark and serious. “I’ll pay you. Whatever they pay you, I’ll double it. Triple it.”
“Luke.” I roll my eyes, pushing at his chest. “You can’t just pay me to quit my job.”
“Why not?”
“Because that’s insane.” I sit up again, searching for my clothes. My shirt is on the floor, my shorts somewhere near the bathroom. “And I’m not your kept woman.”
He sits up too, the sheet falling to his waist, and I have to force myself to look away.
He’s too distracting like this, naked, all sleep-mussed and possessive.
“You’re not,” he says. “You’re just... busy.
We’re both busy. And there’s a lot of shit going down.
I don’t want you there. Not with everything happening. ”
I find my bra and pull it on, then my shirt. “The mystery? The murder?”
“All of it.” He swings his legs out of bed, standing naked and unbothered.
“I don’t like you there. I don’t like the way Joey looks at you.
I want your extra time.” I should probably be mad at him for acting like a neanderthal, but I can’t help but be amused.
I know this is all coming from a place of him wanting to protect me and not trying to control me.
I pull on my shorts, and he’s watching me with that look, the one that says he’s two seconds from throwing me back on the bed and having his way with me. So freaking tempting.
“Luke.” I soften my voice, walking over to him. I put my hands on his chest. “I’ve actually been thinking about quitting.”
His expression shifts from a pout, hope flickering. “Really?”
“Yeah. As much as the mechanic shop reminds me of home, that’s not my life anymore. I need to let it go.”
He cups my face, thumbs brushing my cheekbones. “So stay. Quit now. Today.”
“I can’t just ghost them, Luke. That’s not who I am.” I lean into his touch, closing my eyes. “I’ll go in, do the paperwork, and tell them I just have too much on my plate. Then I’ll be free.”
“Free,” he repeats, like he’s tasting the word. “And then you’re mine. All the time.” A sexy, very happy smile takes over his handsome face, and I’m done for. I’m so quitting, if it gets grumpy-ass Luke to smile that way.
He kisses me, soft and slow, and I feel it everywhere. Down to my bones.
“All right,” he says against my lips. “But I’m riding with you. And I’m picking you up. And if anyone looks at you wrong—”
“I know. You’ll kill them.” I pull back, grabbing my phone and shoes. “But you know the rules. You have to ride back on the bus.” He lets out a groan, and I know he’s about to try and ditch the bus. “Luke, I’m going to go straight to work, and the bus leaves in an hour.”
“An hour too long.” I have to fight a laugh. He’s gone back to pouting.
“Georgia is going to want to have girl talk, and let’s not give Coach Ken any extra reasons to scream at you.”
“He’s always shouting. That’s his base.”
I snort a laugh. “Kiss me and then I’ll see you later.”
He reluctantly agrees. He has a few more kisses that almost get out of control, but Georgia calling breaks it up.
“So?” Georgia asks when we hit the highway.
“We covered all the bases,” I admit.
“I knew it!” I give her some details, more about the emotions and some of the things we said to each other. She shakes her head in shock for most of it, saying she’s still getting used to this new Luke.
All too soon we’re out front of the mechanic shop. I dread going in but know it’s the right way to end things. Plus, I want to make sure everything is all caught up for them.
“You sure you wanna quit?” Georgia asks.
“Yeah.”
“You gonna need a ride home? I can come back to pick you up later.”
“Nah, Luke’s insisting he be the one to come and get me. See you later. Love you,” I say before exiting her car.
“Love you, too,” I hear her say before the door slams shut. I give her a wave, take a deep breath, and head into the body shop.
The bell over the door gives a little chime as I step inside, and the familiar smell of motor oil and rubber hits me, making me smile. That smell will always remind me of my father and being in the shop with him. Those memories fill me with less sadness lately.
Joey is at the desk, buried under paperwork. He lifts his head, and his face breaks into one of his easy smiles.
“I was worried you wouldn’t come in today,” he says, setting down his pencil. “After the hockey game last night. I’m so freaking thankful you did.” He holds up a stack of invoices.
I freeze for a second. How did he know I went to the game? But I brush it off. Everyone went. The whole town practically shuts down for Kingmakers hockey.
“I wanted to catch up on paperwork before...” I trail off, guilt twisting in my stomach. Joey has stacks of invoices spread across the desk, and the computer screen has spreadsheets of inventory lists up. And I’m going to quit on him in a few hours. “Before I get to the filing.”
“You’re a lifesaver, Madeline.” He stands, giving me space so I can take over. “Seriously. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
I sit down, pulling a stack of invoices toward me. “It’s just a few hours. Don’t act like I’m saving your life.”
“You kind of are.” He takes the chair on the other side of the desk. “So. How was the game?”
“Fine.” I keep my head down, sorting papers. I need to dive in so I can get as much done as possible. “We won.”
“I heard Locke got into a fight. Threw some guy into the boards?”
I glance up, surprised. “Word travels fast.”
“Small town.” Joey shrugs, but his eyes are sharp, watching me. “Guy’s got a temper, huh?” I know where he’s trying to lead with that comment, and I don’t appreciate it.
“It’s hockey. If there isn’t a fight, what’s even the point?” I joke, wanting to shift away from Luke. The two of them clearly don’t like each other, which is more of a reason I shouldn’t keep working here. I don’t want that drama. “He was defending someone,” I add.
“Sure he was.” Joey shakes his head. “Just be careful, Madeline. Guys like that... they start off protective and end up controlling. I’ve seen it.”
I don’t bother responding; I focus on the paperwork, the numbers blurring together.
The sooner I’m done here, the sooner I’m free.
Joey must get the message because at some point he heads back into the shop, but it’s not long before he ventures back in, dropping down into the chair in front of my desk again.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Are you happy?” The question catches me off guard. Then again, maybe he’s sensing I want to quit. I look up, and he’s watching me, his expression serious. “At Kingmakers,” he continues. “With the hockey crowd. That life. Is it what you wanted?”
I think about Luke and Georgia. My sister is here too.
“Yeah,” I say quietly. “I think it is.” Sometimes you don’t know what you want until it’s staring you right in the face.
Joey’s jaw tightens for a second. Then he smiles again, but it doesn’t reach his eyes this time. “You deserve to be happy,” he says before he heads back into the shop.
I can’t shake the feeling that I just said the wrong thing.
I dive into the stack of invoices for the next few hours. When I’m finally caught up, I take a breath and stretch. I’ve done enough to ease my guilt over quitting. Now I just have to do the hard part. I just need to rip the Band-Aid off.
I walk into the shop area where Joey is wiping grease off his hands with a rag. He looks up, smiling when he sees me.
“All done already?”
I nod. “Can we talk?”
Something in my tone makes his smile falter, but I know those are words people never want to hear. He nods toward the office. “Sure.”
I follow him, my heart hammering against my ribs. This shouldn’t be so hard. People quit jobs all the time. Joey leans against the desk, waiting.
“I’m quitting,” I tell him. “I know it’s short notice, and I’m sorry.”
Joey stares at me for a long moment. The silence stretches, heavy and uncomfortable. I have to fight not to fidget. Then he pushes off the desk, taking a step closer to me.
“Madeline, please,” he says gently. “Is it the hours? The pay? I can fix that. Just tell me what you need, and I can fix it.”