Chapter 2 - Emma
August opens the car door as the snow starts to get heavier by the minute. The cold air is enough to make me shiver all over. Now that I'm nice and warm, the blanket has long left my shoulders and all I have is the fancy blue dress I wear to all my dates.
"Aren't you cold? Grab the sweater that's under the seat."
"It's warm in here." I counter with a smile. This guy really is awkward. "Thank you for coming to my rescue."
"It's not like I had other plans tonight. Unless you count keeping the shop cat company."
I laugh, loving his honesty. "You're always so grumpy, aren't you?"
He grunts, but I don't let him kill the conversation. "So what's the cat's name?"
"Marshmallow."
My lips quirk up.
"Who named him?"
He doesn't reply at first. But I'm sure I know the answer to my question.
"I named him. You'll see what I mean when you meet him. He's a squishy ball of fur, but it's also ironic because he's a vengeful cat."
Who knew August could be this kind? He talks about the cat with such tenderness that it seems impossible I’ve never met this side of him. Not that I've talked with him that often. He just always gave me a don't-bother-me-vibe whenever I saw him with my dad so I never took the chance to get to know him properly.
I turn off the heat, and not a minute later, my stomach growls loudly, as if it's starving. I try to cover it with a cough, but August’s look makes it clear he heard it anyway.
"You didn't eat? Weren't you at that restaurant?"
"I was waiting for my date. And I figured I'd grab something on my way home."
"What do you want to eat?"
"Tee's Drive-In's french fries."
"Those are the best."
"They are, aren't they? It's not what I expected to eat for Valentine's, but it's delicious, nonetheless."
"We’re almost there and I'm going to feed you before I figure out what's wrong with your car."
We sit in silence for a while until he breaks it. "You should take better care of yourself. You must be starving."
"It's nothing. I'm going to be fine."
When we arrive at the drive-in, he takes my order and goes inside, telling me not to leave the car so I don't get cold.
It gives me some time to adjust to this attraction I feel for him. It's weird because he's my father's age, but I can't see him like that. It’s not just his looks, though those certainly don’t hurt. It’s the way he carries himself—calm, confident, with that gruff exterior that somehow makes me feel both nervous and safe at the same time.
But it’s also unsettling. I shouldn’t be feeling this way, not about him.
"Here's your food."
"Thank you." He hands me the paper bag, and I scurry through it for the french fries, immediately grabbing a handful like I've been starving for weeks. "This is so good," I moan, he shifts his gaze to his food and I know I must look awful eating like this, but I don't even care, this night has been a nightmare and Tee's french fries are the only thing that make this night better. That and... August. It's nice to be around him, even if he's just helping me out of obligation to my dad. He makes me feel safe.
The radio keeps playing love songs as we eat the rest of our food. I glance a couple of times in August's direction, but he doesn't even acknowledge me, too focused on his own food.
I crumple the bag of food as soon as I finish eating, feeling myself again.
August finally takes a look at me. "Do you need me to get anything else?"
"For someone who said you wouldn't drive me around, you're very much going out of your way."
His face is all scrunched up as he mumbles something I can't hear because he chooses that exact moment to crumple his paper bag.
He pulls out of the parking lot and two minutes later we arrive at "August's Auto Body & Repair". At this hour, none of his employees are working, and he tells me to wait in the truck while he opens the garage to let the truck in.
"Let me see if I can fix your car tonight," he says as he returns.
"There really is no reason for you to do that. I don't need it. Tomorrow is Saturday after all."
"No. I'll fix it tonight." And the way he says it, almost like it's an obligation, makes me recoil.
"If you're going to fix it today, I'm going to stay here."
"I can drive you home and bring back your car in the morning."
"Only if you're going home too. You can fix my car tomorrow."
"I told you I didn't have plans."
"Well, I'm staying then. You can’t go out of your way to get me and expect me to go home while you are here fixing my car."
He grunts and sighs heavily, like I'm a stubborn child. If he can be stubborn, so can I. "Fine. Grab my sweater, you'll be cold."
"Fine." I grab his sweater and step out of the truck. The garage is chilly, and I slip it on immediately. It's much warmer than I expected, and I can't help but notice how good it smells—like August. While he slides under the car on the creeper, I take the chance to tug the neckline closer, letting myself snuggle into it and breathe in the scent a little more. I might be slightly obsessed and August doesn't even look at me.
I grab one of the tools that I've seen my dad use on his car. I don't know much about cars, but I know this is important. For what? No idea, but it's important.
"Do you need this?"
He rolls towards me and I love how he looks laid down on the creeper. "Why are you touching my stuff?" He is not happy, but instead of getting mad like I got before, I'm getting more and more excited to get under his skin.
"What else am I going to do? Look at your pretty face all night?"
That seems to do the trick. I can't help the grin that appears on my face because August rolls back so I can't see him. So he is shy.
Maybe this Valentine’s Day will turn out to be fun after all.