18. Mac
Ma c
Me : She knows
Austin : Huh?
Blake : Finally!
Austin: Who knows what? I’m confused.
Mac: Come down to the shop later and I’ll explain. Both of you. I also might need your help with something for MJ.
I smile at my phone like an idiot as my best friends text me back with heart emojis and kissy face GIFs making fun of me and calling me whipped.
I don’t care though. It’s all fun and they’re happy for us.
Yesterday could have gone one of two ways, and I’m thankful things played out in my favor.
MJ understood my side of things and why I did what I did to protect my brother.
I just hope this doesn’t sway the work she’s doing with her dad on my cas e.
We have to keep moving forward as planned.
A few hours later, Blake and Austin take a seat on the couch, and I grab the chair from the office.
“So, she knows?” Blake asks, not wasting any time.
“Seriously, who knows what?” Austin asks, still confused.
Blake rolls his eyes, and I shake my head. “I told MJ the truth about the robbery last night.”
“No shit?” Blake punches Austin in the arm, clearly annoyed his brother isn’t putting the pieces together quickly enough.
“How did she take it?” Blake asks, concern lacing his voice.
“Honestly, better than I expected. I think she was more pissed that you guys knew and didn’t tell her.” They both huff in unison. “I think she’ll be fine though.”
Blake nods in agreement.
“We can talk to her too if you want,” Blake offers, but I shake my head.
“Nah, I don’t want to pressure her. I think between last night, and what I’m thinking about for the Fourth—” I pause. “I think she’ll understand more and agree it’s best we just let it go the way I had planned.”
“Okay, just let us know. So, your idea, huh?” Blake prods.
I chuckle and then share my idea to make Thursday special for MJ.
“Dude, come on, we all know what you’re really trying to do with this plan.” Austin sets his plate down on the coffee table in the auto shop and leans back against the worn couch.
Blake nudges Austin’s kne e with his. “So what if it’s obvious? MJ will love it. How can we help?”
I knew I could count on Blake to jump in and offer help. I can probably do most of it myself, but it would help to have more than one set of hands to set up the tent down by the creek.
“Are you guys free later this evening, or even tomorrow morning?” They both nod. “Do you think we can keep MJ away from the creek until the Fourth?” Austin tilts his head to the side and nods.
“Yeah.” He reaches for his phone. “Let’s get Shannon on it and she can keep MJ busy for tomorrow at least. She’s probably helping her parents set up though. Have they done that yet?”
“Actually, that’s where I got the idea. Think I should ask Mrs. Lawrence if she’s okay with me swapping out one tent for the one I had in mind?” I’m sure she’ll be fine with it, but it wouldn’t hurt to give her a heads-up as well.
While we ate lunch with Mrs. Lawrence yesterday, I could tell she was on board with our relationship.
Wary, like any mother would be, but her eyes lit up any time I kissed MJ on the cheek or forehead.
When I helped clear the dishes, I could still hear them whispering.
I might have heard her tell MJ that she had missed having me around.
If only we could get Mr. Lawrence on board, but that may be more work than I can manage right now.
I make a mental note to ask my mom for Mrs. Lawrence’s number so I can shoot her a text, and then I continue to talk with my two best friends.
July 4
Thursday morning comes quickly, and I’m up early to prepare the Thunderbird for the parade.
It’s a vintage car my grandfather owned back in the sixties, with a custom baby blue paint job and two anchors on the back to hold flag poles.
Today, I’ll be flying the American flag alongside one bearing the Macdonald Auto Shop logo through the parade today.
It’s cheesy as hell, but such is life in Oakridge.
At least it reminds the town they have a local mechanic available for all their automobile needs. Or so that’s what my dad always says.
Dad used to drive the Thunderbird in the parade with Mom. They’ve regaled me with stories of when they were young “cruising” through town with their friends. The car would be so full, their friends would end up sitting on top of the back seat.
In a way, I wish MJ was riding with me today, like Mom did with Dad. But I didn’t even ask her—and that’s on me. I’m not sure she’s ready to fully announce “us” to the whole town yet either.
As if she knows I’m thinking of her, my phone dings with a text.
MJ: Can’t wait to see you later! Have fun driving through town ??
I thumb out a reply, promising that after the parade, I’m all hers for the rest of the day. It’s going to be a fun day filled with lots of good food, swimming, and dri nks with our friends. My phone pings again, this time from the BAMF group chat.
Blake: We dropped some stuff off at the campsite for later and your tent looks great! She’s gonna love it!
I smile, liking his message. The guys helped me set up the tent yesterday morning. and then last night, I went over and put the finishing touches on it. I hope Blake’s right—MJ loving it makes the effort worth it.
A few hours later, I’m parked in the Thunderbird on one of the town’s neighborhood streets waiting for the firetruck to pass—my cue to pull out and join the parade.
Our shop’s car is always near the middle of the parade, behind the high school marching band and the homecoming float filled with past and reigning kings and queens.
Hal usually drives his truck through, filled with coolers of water for everyone, and then Ruby will drive her vintage teal Camaro that matches the diner’s interior.
Then comes the firetruck, then me. Behind me, other local businesses like the dentist, hair salon, and sometimes the bookstore will throw something together.
It’s simple and quirky, but it’s Oakridge through and through.
My legs are already burning up under the mid-morning sun, and I’m thankful the town is small.
Driving the convertible with the top down means the air conditioner is practically useless, but luckily, the drive should last less than an hour.
I grab a water out of the cooler I packed, thankful for my planning.
The drums and brass from the marc hing band fill the air, signaling that things are kicking off. Sure enough, water sprays onto the pavement and bystanders as the firetruck rolls past. I ease my way onto Main Street and enter the parade.
As I straighten the car and look at the crowd, my eyes find MJ almost immediately. She’s standing with our friends on the sidewalk, wearing white shorts and a red tank top. Her hair’s up in a bun, and I guarantee it’s being held by a blue scrunchie. She looks gorgeous as always.
Seeing her and our friends waving and smiling at me gives me a crazy idea, and I’m not sure she’ll be up for it but fuck it.
I throw the car in park and flip on the hazards. Don’t need to get rear-ended by whoever’s behind me. Hopping out, I jog over to the sidewalk, straight to MJ and our friends, and reach out my hand.
MJ bites her lip, and I silently beg her to take my hand. She looks down the street where the entire town is standing and watching the parade. Looking back at me, then over at Shannon who nods with a huge grin on her face, MJ finally nods.
In that moment, I realize how real this is for her. Even though she puts on a brave face, she cares what the town says and thinks about me—and now her by association. The realization humbles me, and I promise myself to never take her loyalty for granted again when she reaches out and takes my hand.
From behind, I hear Austin yell a n exasperated and whiny “Dude!” like a child not getting his turn on the ride.
MJ must hear it too because she reaches back with her free hand to grab Shannon, who then grabs Blake, who grabs Austin, who then grabs Beck.
Beck reaches for Sophie, who says something about being too pregnant, but I’m already dragging my girl and our friends to my car.
MJ hops into the passenger seat beside me, and the others pile into the back, some of them on top of the backseat, just like Mom and Dad’s friends used to.
A warmth spreads in my chest as I put the car back into drive and continue on with the parade. Now I understand why my parents’ faces were so full of joy whenever they shared those stories with me.
After driving through town, making a big loop, and ending up back in front of Spoon, we part ways with our friends. MJ and I grab some refreshing drinks before I park the Thunderbird back in the garage. Then we hop into my Chevelle and head out to her parents’ house for the barbecue and swimming.
I pull in next to Blake’s truck and hop out, jogging around to the passenger side to help MJ out of the car. She takes my hand, and I pull her into me, kissing the top of her head. “Thank you for riding with me in the parade.”
She smiles up at me. “It was fun! Maybe I’ll join you for the Labor Day Parade too.”
She presses her lips together, and I tak e a moment to process what she just implied. I kiss her forehead again and murmur, “Yeah, maybe.”
“I’ll be back in just a sec—gotta go get my bag,” MJ says, pulling away.
I grab my bag from the backseat, lock the car, and lean against the hood of my Chevelle, waiting for her. She bounces down the stairs, her bag over her shoulder hitting her thigh.
“Here, let me carry that for you,” I offer.
She flashes me a sweet smile and lets me take the bag off her shoulder. I sling it across my body and slide my hand into hers. “Come on, I want to show you something before everyone else gets here.”