Chapter 58
Chapter Fifty-Eight
RILEY
I arrive at the garage the next morning with no sleep, sunken cheekbones, bags under my eyes and zero tolerance for any bad behavior.
Jimmy, Blade and Carlos by some miracle arrive to the workshop together.
“You’re late,” I snap, walking around a car that I’m diagnosing for a client.
“Sorry, Boss.” Jimmy lifts both hands. “Traffic.”
“Please sign in at the book over there.” I point without looking. I set up a table by the door so that the mechanics can sign in when they arrive.
I’ve decided that I should be logging their arrival and break times just as much as I do the vehicles. That way, I have evidence of their tardiness and they won’t be able to argue when they reap the consequences of their actions.
“You’ll sign out for lunch and at the end of the workday too,” I inform them brusquely. “If you have any questions, let me know.”
“Someone’s got a bur up her—”
“Blade, say it loud and proud if you want me to hear. I can’t interpret your mumbling.”
Blade scuffs his work boots against the ground, but he doesn’t repeat himself.
Wise choice.
Jimmy glances at Carlos and then scurries toward me, rubbing his hands nervously. “Boss Lady, is everything okay?”
“I’m fine, Jimmy.” I grab the tablet we use to run trouble codes.
“If you’re upset about what they’re saying about you online, don’t give it a second thought. No one in town believes you’re a psycho. You don’t have to worry.”
“I’m not worried.” In fact, I’m starting to think that Layla was right. I really am a psycho. How else did I end up deluding myself and believing Nat when he said he was fine?
The signs were in front of me all along. Nat was definitely experiencing intense pain since the day of the truck bed picnic.
Maybe even before then.
However, I rationalized it away, pretending that all was well and I was just overthinking.
Some patterns never change.
Because it involved Nat, I rewrote a very obvious reality.
I should have never quieted my intuition. I should have called him out right then and there. Maybe I could have done something to stop this.
Now, Nat is popping pills like they’re candy, which is insanely toxic and dangerous.
I checked online.
He could lose his life if he continues.
In all of my frustration, I also feel sympathy for Nat. The pain must be unthinkable to drive him this far.
Then I get angry again because he genuinely intends to play an entire league-qualifier season… with his leg a mess.
It makes no sense.
The emotional rollercoaster is enough to drive anyone insane.
I slam the tablet down and run my fingers through my hair. “Jimmy, one of the customers called and said they’d purchased their own brake pad. Remind the others not to buy any new parts for that car.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And call Carlos over here.”
“Got it.” Jimmy skitters out of my way.
“Boss?” Carlos asks, keeping a safe distance.
“You said the test readings were above average, but I’m not getting the same results. Walk me through what you saw.”
I dive into work with gusto and the mechanics keep their distance unless absolutely necessary. Even Blade withholds from any snide comments which is somewhat of a miracle for him.
Around lunch time, I get a text.
Nat: Riles, please. Can we talk?
Riley: Are you ready to see a doctor? If not, then you know the answer.
Jaw firm, I pocket the phone and find something else to keep my hands busy. Nat has been texting since he left—well, since he limped out of my apartment last night.
I wanted to call him back immediately, but when I saw him struggling to get down the stairs, my conviction rose. I can’t wear heart-eyes and fawn over him because he said he loved me. If I let this continue, I’m co-signing the destructive path he’s on.
I can’t say I love Nat and watch him walk straight off a cliff to his own death. Not without doing everything in my power to stop him.
“Hey, Boss,” Jimmy whispers.
I whip around, giving whoever interrupted my work the evil eye.
Jimmy, Carlos and Blade cringe.
Carlos shoves Jimmy forward.
The old man shoots a quick look of betrayal at his co-workers. Hands clasped behind his back, Jimmy says, “We’re heading out to lunch, Boss. We signed the book just like you said.”
Carlos nods.
Blade pushes out his lips and shrugs as if he’s too cool for logbooks.
As I look at the men, I feel a pinch of guilt. These are the guys I spend a minimum of eight hours a day with. I see them more than I see my own family. Sure, my love life is a mess right now and I’m worried sick about Nat, but I don’t have the license to take it out on my team.
I clear my throat and prepare to eat humble pie. “Before you go for lunch…”
The mechanics stop and wait.
“I’m sorry if I’ve been testy today. I have some personal things going on. It has nothing to do with you. I promise, when you come back this afternoon, I’ll have Raging Riley back in her cage, and I’ll be more professional.”
Carlos smiles.
Jimmy grins so wide I see his gold tooth. “It’s alright, Boss. You can be as cranky as you want. I would be too if someone blasted me online. No offense.”
“None taken, Jimmy.”
“Was Nathan Campbell your first love for real, Boss?” Carlos asks.
I nod.
Blade scoffs. “Why? If he wasn’t so good at hockey, he wouldn’t be anything special.”
Emotions ball in my throat.
That sentiment is exactly what Nat believes. Why else would he push himself so far?
“That’s not true,” I say, my voice shaking. “Nat is a lot more than just a good hockey player. He’s kind, sweet and loving. He makes people feel welcome and valuable and seen. He doesn’t need hockey to be important to me or to this world.”
Carlos shifts awkwardly. “Well… that’s nice.”
“We should go,” Jimmy says, backing away from me as if he’s afraid I’ll start weeping on his shoulder.
Blade grunts his goodbye and charges out of the garage ahead of everyone else.
Once the mechanics are gone, I pop my headphones in and continue my work.
I don’t want to think about Nat, but my thoughts automatically swerve in that direction.
Is issuing an ultimatum the right decision? What if Nat decides to continue playing hockey and breaks up with me?
My chest squeezes in pain.
Is all this worth it? Should I be making such a fuss?
Maybe I’m being too hard on him. He’s an adult who can make up his own mind. I shouldn’t force him to do something he doesn’t want to do. Maybe I should help him instead. There could be natural remedies that dampen the pain…
But that would be fixing the symptom, not the problem.
He needs to see a doctor. There’s no going around that.
My head starts to pound and I stop the music. At that moment, I notice three ladies entering the garage.
“Hey, Riley,” Rebel says, waving.
April lifts her chin in greeting.
My eyes jump between the women. “What are you doing here?”
“We brought lunch,” Cordelia says, holding up a plastic bag. “I hope you like sushi.”
My lips curl up and, for a second, the weight of the world doesn’t feel like it’s on my shoulders.
I direct the ladies to the office where they spread out a sushi buffet. While we’re eating, we talk shop, cars, and Lucky Falls news—among which is the newest resident at the nursing home, who so happens to be the old man we saw running naked the other day.
When the plates are cleared, the pink lemonade cans emptied and nobody has yet to bring up the Layla-shaped elephant in the room, I bring it up myself.
“Did you guys come over because of the podcast?” I ask Rebel.
She blinks innocently. “What podcast?”
That brings a smile to my face.
April grabs a napkin. “I’ve been on the receiving end of ugly, negative comments online. It’s not fun.”
“We wanted to show our support,” Cordelia explains. “Just in case you were feeling alone because of that online smear campaign.”
I clasp my hands to my chest. “I’m touched, guys. Really.”
“We even made comments under the video, letting Layla know she’s being ridiculous and that she’s banned from Lucky Falls,” Rebel says.
My eyes bug. “No way. Banned?”
“Yeah, a lot of town members have been commenting. Let me show you.” Rebel takes out her phone and points with a manicured nail, showing off the comments.
Cordelia lets out a squeak of surprise. “What’s this video that everyone is referring to?”
“Is it Chance’s one?” April asks, peering over Cordelia’s shoulder.
I send April a confused look.
She laughs sheepishly. “Chance told me why Layla was targeting you. Thanks for helping him keep the proposal a surprise by the way.”
I wave away her gratitude. “It was no big deal.”
“He made a post thanking you for saving his proposal and pretty much all his fans got activated to stand up for you too.”
Cordelia shakes her head. “They’re not talking about a post though. They keep referring to it as the ‘He Fell Harder’ video. Riley, does that ring any bells?”
“I have no clue.”
Cordelia taps her phone. “Someone posted the link. Let me check it out.”
We all crowd around her as a picture fills up the entire screen.
I slap a hand over my mouth in shock when I see who uploaded the video.
It’s Nat.