10. Chapter Eight
Chapter Eight
Noah
The work was excellent. Once Ruby showed up, I was able to work on some cars. TJ never mentioned the guys showing up after they left, with some heated words between everyone involved. TJ was impressed with my knowledge of things.
After work, I drive around, checking the town before heading home. I pull into my spot to see Arthur walking from his apartment to the dojo.
“Hey, I’m glad I caught you.” I stiffen. Did I do something wrong? “Donald told me you went and got groceries for him. I was going to do it yesterday, but a family emergency came up.”
“Is everything okay with your family?”
“Yeah, things are okay for now, but it will get bumpy before it gets better.” He hands me an envelope. “Donald went to pay for his groceries today, but there was no bill.”
“It was easier for me to put it all together than to separate it.” I lied. I could’ve done it quickly, but I wanted to move forward.
“Donald is a proud man. He doesn’t like handouts.” Arthur is still holding the envelope. My hands are in my pockets.
“It wasn’t a handout, I promise. It was busy, and there was one cashier at the time. I’m not taking that money. He can use it for next month or forward it to someone else. His groceries were barely a tank of gas for me. I’m not bragging, but I have a trust fund and just started a new job. Money is not an issue for me.”
“Why don’t you tell him all of this?” Arthur puts the money into the collar of my T-shirt. I roll my eyes, grabbing it. “I have a class in an hour.” I nod. “Maybe use that money toward the pizza party for the kids.”
“That is a brilliant idea.” My head turns to the right as a motorcycle enters the parking lot. The biker pulls into a parking spot next to Arthur’s car. The back of the leather jacket has a symbol and reads Valkyries Motorcycle Club. I wonder if this is who TJ was talking about. The biker I now notice is a woman who got off her bike with those jeans, hugging her curves. Damn, her ass is a thing of beauty. All the blood is rushing south, especially when she removes her helmet. The red curls bounce as she shakes her head. My god, she’s a beauty.
“Amelia? Everything okay?” Arthur’s tone takes a brotherly tone with her. It shows a lot of concern. His body even tenses, going rigid, waiting for her to answer. I watch him and her closely.
“Things are fine. I need your advice, but I didn’t mean to interrupt.” Her voice is even heavenly. What the fuck is wrong with me? I’ve never thought a woman’s voice is angelic.
“Amelia, this is Noah Cameron. He’s the new tenant. Noah, this is Amelia Baxter.”
“Are you related to TJ?” I ask as we shake hands. She nods. “I work for him. Today was my first day. He’s a great guy, and Ruby is hilarious.”
“TJ is my younger brother, and Ruby is one of my best friends. I know TJ has been killing himself lately, so it’s good he found help. I just hope you don’t bail on him like those fuckers did to him.” Her tone changes to one of nastiness. There is more to this story than TJ is telling me.
“TJ took a chance on me, and I won’t disappoint him.”
“What do you mean?” Amelia stands there with her arms crossed, pushing the swell of her breasts up through the V-neck purple shirt she’s wearing.
“I’m a lawyer and hate it with a passion. Cars have been where my true love lies. I’ve never worked in a garage, but I have all my certificates and an associate’s degree. Once I achieved that goal, I moved here. I spent the last eight hours with the man, and he respects me. He’s hardworking and willing to help people who need it. I’ve only met one man like that in my entire world—my granddad. He taught me about cars growing up.” I shuffle my feet. “He told me the new shop hired his guys for higher pay. It’s not about money when you’re doing something you love.” I smile at her.
“I like that.” Amelia steps closer to me. “But if you screw him over, I’ll be your worst nightmare.” She pats my chest a few times. I grab her wrist, tugging her close to me.
“I might like you being my nightmare,” I whisper in her ear. She shivers, which is what I wanted from her. “I’ll see you later. I’ll also stop by to talk to Donald about this.” I wave the envelope. “It was nice meeting you, Merida.” I walk to the doors that open to the apartments but stop when I hear Amelia yell my name. I spin around, smiling at her.
“Merida?” Her hand is on her hip. I walk toward her.
“The red curly hair reminds me of the Disney badass archer Merida. She was protective of her brothers, too.” I grab one of her curls and curl it around my finger. “It’s not an insult, I promise.” She doesn’t remove my hand right away. She stares up at me with those beautiful green eyes. She blinks a few times before smacking my hand away.
“My name is Medusa or Amelia, not Merida.” She walks away from me, and I watch her hips sway. Damn, that girl is my subsequent heartbreak. I chuckle to myself as I knock on Donald’s door.
“Noah.” Donald looks at me with a grandfatherly look like I’m about to get my ass whooped with a switch.
“I believe this is yours.” I showed him the envelope.
“You paid for my groceries. I’m not an old man who can’t pay for things.” Donald stands straight up and stares at me.
“I didn’t think you couldn’t pay for your groceries. My grandfather and mother taught me to pay it forward. I had the extra money to put all the groceries together, making it easier for the cashier. I meant no disrespect to you and your wife. I’m sorry if I did that. It was also a thank you, even though I didn’t know it then.”
“Would you like to come in for dinner? My beauty made her spaghetti and meatballs.” I nod, and he lets me in. “Honey, this is the new neighbor and the kid I was bitching about earlier.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am.” I hold out my hand, but she pushes it away to pull me into a hug. I hugged her back.
“I invited him to dinner,” Donald tells his wife, and she smiles.
“Do you need any help?” I ask her as I’m just standing around.
“No, sweetie. You and Donald talk. He was pretty mad at you earlier. Thank you for the groceries.” She looks at her husband, which makes me smile. Donald waves me over to the living room. I sit on the loveseat, and he’s on the recliner.
“What did I do that you needed to thank me for?” Donald gets right to the point.
“I got a job yesterday. Your tip about the diner, driving around getting the things for my apartment and groceries, I saw the hiring billboard.”
“Oh, you’re welcome, but I have money and don’t need you paying for me.”
“I have money too. I’m a trust fund baby. I never have to work daily, but I love working with my hands. I’m a mechanic.”
“Where?” Donald leans forward.
“Tanner’s. He’s a great guy.” Donald sits back and nods. We talk about the area, Arthur, and even Tanner. Charlotte made me promise to come by once a week because I need to freshen up. She gave me the leftovers for work tomorrow. Donald took the money back on the condition that I be honest with him when I buy them groceries. He is allowing me to help once in a while, but not every time. It’s a small victory.
My cell phone rings as I shut the door. It’s my mom.
“Hey, mom.”
“How is my favorite son?” She chuckles. “I’m calling to hear how your first day of work went,” I told her about TJ, Ruby, working on cars, and my dinner with Donald and Charlotte. She chimes in once in a while with a question, or a million. We talked for about an hour. It always makes me miss her more when I have to get off the phone with her. I shower, get ready, and climb into bed when I hear some yelling from Sally’s apartment. Sounds like two guys and her are going back and forth. I get up and throw on a T-shirt, since all I have on are my boxers. I’m at my door, ready to open it, when Sally’s door opens. I get to the peephole to see what’s happening, and two burly men come out. One turns to face Sally, whose face is red from either crying or yelling and whispers into her ear when those brown eyes widen. She nods slowly, trying to convince herself to do as he says, but she swallows hard. She’s terrified. They leave, and I swing open my door quickly.
“Are you all right? Do you need help?” My tone is unwavering.
“Didn’t I tell you to butt out? We are not a building full of family.” Sally snapped at me, but I noticed a slight tremble in her hands.
“When there is yelling, and it comes into my apartment when I try to sleep, it becomes my problem. I’m just asking if you’re okay. Forget what I asked.” I close my door and lock it back up. I need to figure out how to set aside my need to help because Sally is in something and wants no help from anyone.