No Cap

Chapter 10

I rode faces that I should’ve peed on.

—Text from Hollis to Quincy

QUINCY

Ineeded to change my oil, so the first place I went the next day, one of my two days off, was Kinny’s garage.

KinnyFink, the man who owned Kinny’s garage, was a big bear of a man who intimidated most people.

Hell, when I’d first met Kinny at the age of seven and a half at school when he first moved to Dallas, I was intimidated, too.

Atseven and three quarters, Kinny had been the biggest kid in school, and looked like he was twice the size of even me.

So, of course, being the badass that I was, I went up and talked to him at recess, and met one of the greatest friends of my life.

Mybrothers were great, but Kinny was larger than life and seemed to have this magnetism about him that drew everyone in.

Itwas from that point on that I realized Kinny was going places, and I should try to tie my star to him.

I’dalways been a runt kid. And though my brothers would’ve helped protect me if things went sour, I found it easier to just hang out with Kinny who kids didn’t mess with.

Quaidand Quinn called Kinny a friend, but they both had their own best friends.

Kinnywas mine.

Rollingup to his shop in my truck that might or might not be past due for an oil change, I parked in front of the big bay door and got out.

Theway his shop was designed, he had three large bay doors in the front, and three in the back to pull straight through.

Andevery single lift was taken by a car.

Maybethe oil would have to be done by someone else…

Still, I went in and found Kinny in the office talking on the phone.

Hewas tapping his foot on the floor, looking irritated.

“Listen,” he said angrily. “It takes nothing for you to send your parts driver back out here. I wasn’t the one who dropped that part off and ran like my ass is on fire.” He paused. “And why is it my fault that he’s scared? I never did anything to that kid besides greet him.”

Atsix-foot-seven and three hundred pounds, Kinny looked scary. Especially with the bushy beard and black eyes. But he was a teddy bear.

“Fine, but I’m not waiting any longer than an hour. If you don’t get it here by one, after my lunch, I’m finding a new parts distributor.”

Thems were fighting words.

Kinnyowned the largest garage—and the most profitable—in the DFW area. He worked on all cars, big or small. New, old. It didn’t matter. And he was a fair businessman. I’d seen more people come in here without a dime to their name, having trouble with their car, and get a deal worked out than I’d seen leave unhappy.

Kinnyhung up the phone very gently and turned to survey me.

“Hey there, Dandy,” Kinny said, using my school age nickname. “Gettin’ your oil changed finally?”

Inodded. “You think one of your minions could do it while we go have some lunch?”

Hejerked his chin at a kid I’d clocked the moment I arrived. “Hey, Al. Can you get the blue truck pulled in and get the oil changed?”

Alnodded and was gone.

“He needs the keys,” I pointed out.

Kinnyrolled his eyes. “Give him a minute. He’ll remember when he can’t start it.”

Hewas back a few seconds later, cheeks a little pinker than when he’d left, and said, “Uh, I need the keys.”

Itossed them to him, which he bobbled and dropped.

Kinnyshook his head as the kid left.

“You have a warranty on it if he fucks up my oil or something?” I asked, sounding just as amused as I felt.

“Kid’s a fuckin’ genius with cars, man,” Kinny said. “But swear to God, he acts like a bumbling idiot when he’s talking to customers.”

Isnorted. “What’s going on with those parts?”

“I swear to fuckin’ Christ.” He groaned. “I’m so tired of that parts kid. He runs in here like I’ve beaten him bloody every time he stops by. Then leaves the wrong damn part half the time. By the time I can see if it’s the right part, he’s peeling out of the parking lot and not looking back.”

“That’s awesome.”

“It’s bullshit,” he grumbled. “Let me go tell my girl we’re leaving, and then figure out if she wants us to bring something back.”

“You can ask her to join us,” I offered.

Kinnywas already shaking his head. “She’s working on her car. I doubt she’d go.”

I’dheard of the girl, of course.

Kinnywas all about helping people. If someone needed a ride, he was there to offer it. If someone needed a spare dollar at the grocery store, it was coming out of his pocket. If someone needed help moving a house full of furniture, he was the one bringing the truck and the trailer.

Kinnywas the best friend to a lot of people.

Funnyenough, Kinny called her ‘my girl’ but from what I understood, they didn’t have any sort of romantic relationship to speak of.

Kinnyhad a thing for tiny little girls who fit in the palm of his hand, and as we rounded the corner of the shop, the ass that greeted me was definitely not his type.

Butit was my type.

Needlessto say, it wasn’t exactly a surprise that I found ‘his girl’ there working on her car. He adopted stray people like most people adopted stray pets.

Whatwas a surprise was which girl it was.

Kinnywalked up to the woman bent into the hood of her car, but I didn’t need her to turn around or stand up to recognize that ass. Or the car.

‘99 ToyotaCorollas were a dime a dozen. But one that was brown, beat up, and had a roof rack? That one was highly specific.

“Hey, Holl,” Kinny said as he sidled up to the car. “You want to come out to lunch with me and my friend?”

Hollisstraightened up from her car, a red rag in her hand, as she wiped her hands clean.

“Uhh,” she hesitated, sounding like she wanted to go. “Sure. Who’s the friend?”

Mygaze was on her ass when she slowly started to turn, and I realized that the stigma of ‘Wrangler butt’ worked for both men, and women.

Igrinned wickedly when I saw her fully face me and take note of who had been standing behind her.

Ireluctantly dragged my eyes up the length of her body, not missing the way her black tank top clung to her perfect breasts. Finally, my eyes slowed at her mouth for a few seconds, before stopping at her eyes.

Hereyes were narrowed hard, and I saw the moment she was about to say no.

“Hollis, I’d like you to meet the best person in the world, QuincyCarter. He’s been my best friend since I was seven and a half, and we met in the middle of a school yard brawl on the playground.” Kinny jerked his chin in my direction. “Quincy, I’d like you to meet my old neighbor, and protégé, HollisAue.”

“Oh, we’ve met.” Hollis crossed her dirty hands over her chest and said, “I’ll skip lunch, but thank you.”

Kinny’seyebrows rose. “Why do I have a feeling y’all more than know each other?”

“We don’t know each other like that,” I said to him.

Yet.

Because, as it looked to me right now, I’d definitely be pursuing her.

Itmay come back and bite me in the ass, because she had TROUBLE written all over her, but it would be a fuckin’ fantastic ride.

Kinnylooked from me to Hollis and back, then grinned.

“You broke the law, didn’t you, Hol?” Kinny giggled.

Yes, the big bear of the man giggled. It was one of his most endearing features.

Hollisrolled her eyes, then threw the red rag onto the rolling tool chest next to her before saying, “I’ll go under one condition.”

“What’s that?” I asked before Kinny could.

“We go where I want to go.”

Icould see the challenge in her eyes, as if she fully expected me to say no.

“Sure,” I said.

Kinnygroaned. “You’re gonna regret that. She chooses the weirdest places.”

Icouldn’t wait.

Wedrove ten minutes to a little hole in the wall I’d never seen before, which was laughable seeing as the restaurant was five minutes away from my place. HowI’d never noticed it before, I didn’t know. But there I was, being enlightened.

Kinnypulled the car over, then squinted to read the sign on the door in the alley.

“Cajun,” he said. “That sounds okay.”

Thesign read ‘CajTex’ and I had a feeling it was going to be pretty good.

ButI soon realized that the man who cooked for CajTex had a really, really heavy hand. Everything was hot, even the fuckin’ ranch on my salad.

Butit was good.

Veryfuckin’ good.

“So tell me,” Kinny said before gulping down a swallow of water. “What did you do to get in trouble?”

Hewas talking to Hollis, but she was ignoring him.

Ithad me grinning like a loon.

“I guess the real question is, which time,” I joked, taking my own gulp of water.

Hollisshot me a glare.

“It was only one time that I actually did something kind of wrong,” Hollis snapped. “I illegally parked my car, and it was somewhat in the road, and someone hit it. It wasn’t that big of a deal.”

“And what’s this about a restraining order?” Kinny asked. “You never mentioned that.”

“That’s because I didn’t even know about it until I got a notice in the mail that I had one.” She shook her head. “I didn’t even know I had the potential to have one. Literally, one second I’mGucci, and the next, I’m looking at these papers I’m fairly positive should’ve been served to me.”

“They should have,” I grumbled. “That’s a fuck up on the court’s fault. I’m wondering if they shoved it in your mailbox instead of handing it to you.”

“Hey, peeps.” The bubbly waitress came up to us. “Do y’all need anything?”

BothKinny and I said, “Water!” at the same time.

Thewaitress laughed. “It’s always the men who have the trouble here.”

Holliswas drinking her fair share, too. But she’d gotten water and a lemonade, so it looked like she wasn’t drinking anywhere near as much as us.

Sheprobably knew she needed both, and that was why she got them.

Thewaitress left to get our drinks, and I went back to my blackened catfish, Cajun rice pilaf, and salad.

ThoughI was eating the salad a hell of a lot slower than I usually would be due to the intensity of the dressing.

Itwas good, but my eyes and nose had been watering since I’d taken my first bite.

“Want to share some beignets?” Kinny asked me.

Irolled my eyes. “Of course. Unless they’re spicy, too. Then no.”

Hollissnorted. “Weenie.”

“I’m not a weenie,” I disagreed. “I’m human. And all of my senses work. This guy who makes this must’ve swallowed gasoline or something, because it’s obvious his taste buds don’t work correctly.”

Sheblinked at me. “Is that a thing? Swallowing gasoline?”

“My dad did it,” I admitted. “Accidentally, anyway, when he was twenty-five or so. He thought it was a bottle of MountainDew that my mom had packed him for lunch. Instead, it was a bottle of gasoline.”

“She packed him a bottle of gasoline?” she squeaked.

“No,” I laughed. “She packed him MountainDew. But she only buys those two-liter bottles, so she usually pours his in a water bottle. Which she did that day. But my dad had eaten outside on the bed of his truck since it was nice out. He reached for what he thought was his drink, but it ended up being that bottle of gas he’d poured in there for a chainsaw the week prior.”

“Oh, God.” She flared her eyes. “That’s awful. What happened to his mouth?”

“Permanently burned off all his taste buds,” I admitted, pushing my salad away. I couldn’t do it anymore. “The only thing he can eat now, and taste, are super spicy things and super sweet things. Anything else is just bland.”

“That’s terrible.” She looked down at her food. “You should bring him here.”

Ishould.

He’dlove it.

“I’ll do that,” I said, loving that she’d introduced me to the place.

Iwas lost in thought when the largest plate of beignets I’d ever seen was placed in the middle of the table. “Compliments from the chef.”

Thenthe waitress was gone, taking our credit cards with her.

Istacked my plates and bowl, then swept the bits of food off the table into my hand before throwing that on the plate.

Allthe while, I could feel the woman next to me watching my every move.

“That was quite surprising. I would’ve figured you’d have left the dirty table as it was,” she mused.

“My mom raised me right,” I said.

“His mother would’ve killed him if he left a dirty table behind.” Kinny laughed. “She’s a stickler for cleaning up after yourself.”

Hollissnorted. “My mother was the exact opposite. She could care less what does or doesn’t get cleaned. Though, she fully expected me to do that when I was there. WhichI did well. Now when I go over, the place is a freakin’ pigsty.”

Kinnygrumbled something under his breath, then frowned before looking up. “Hey, but isn’t it about that time again?”

Iglanced at the woman next to me. “That time?”

“The time where they celebrate their December birthdays in the summer,” Kinny said cryptically.

Iraised a brow. “Why would you do that?”

“Because the younger siblings started complaining that they ‘didn’t get good enough presents’ when they celebrated their birthday and Christmas in the same month. So they changed when they celebrate them,” Kinny explained.

Ilooked over at Hollis. “When’s your actual birthday?”

“December twentieth,” she grumbled, stabbing her fork into a beignet. “And yes, Kinny, that’s next weekend, actually.”

“You need to take Quincy. Maybe he can arrest them for you,” Kinny joked.

Butthe way she was looking right now, her face a dark, thunderous cloud of cute, made me want to go with her.

Obviously, this entire thing was incredibly uncomfortable for her.

Icould see it on the frown wrinkles around her eyes.

“I’ll go.” I reached for a beignet and took a large bite and groaned.

Icould feel her eyes on me, but I was too busy being orgasmically wowed with the powdered sugar-covered dough in my mouth.

Thespice level of the food was totally made up for by the delicacy in my hand.

“This is amazing,” I said, sending a puff of powdered sugar out of my mouth with each word. “SweetMary, mother of God. I could eat these all day long.”

Kinnyreached for one, then groaned, too.

“So good,” he confirmed.

Ilooked toward the woman on my right and said, “Well?”

Shebrought the dough up to her mouth and took a bite. “They’re amazing. That’s why I pre-ordered fifteen of them.”

Iwatched as a speck of powdered sugar dotted her lip, and I wanted launch myself at her to lick it off.

Luckily, I stayed in my seat.

Whenwe were done and heading back toward Kinny’s shop, it was Kinny who forced the issue of her family.

“I’m serious,” Kinny said. “You should really take him with you.”

Iheld out my hands. “I’m off all day long next Saturday.”

Wegot to the shop and the kid was just pulling my truck out of the bay.

Hollisscowled at it.

“I’ll have the kid finish up on your brakes and oil change for you tonight,” Kinny suggested to her. “You’re not gonna get that all done today, anyway. Mr. FancyTruck over here can give you a ride home. I’ll have the car brought over to you in the morning before you have to be at work.”

Hollissighed, then looked at me, likely thinking it’d be better for her to walk home than ride with me. “You don’t mind?”

“No,” I told her. “AndI’ll go with you next weekend.”

Shelooked away, worrying her lip. “Pick me up at twelve if you’re sure.”

Thefact that she was giving in gave me a really bad feeling. “I’m sure.”