Chapter 10
Jameson
“Can I talk to you about something?” Johnny asks.
“Course,” Luke answers, sliding out from underneath the Camry we’re working on.
Johnny leans against the doorframe, crossing one foot over the other. “My sister … you remember her from a few weeks ago?”
My head jerks up as Luke nods.
“I was wondering if you had any work for her here? Cleaning or working the front desk? Anything really.”
“I don’t—”
“You wouldn’t even have to pay her, if you can’t swing it,” Johnny cuts in. “I just want to get her out of the house. Give her something to do.”
“How old is she?”
“Fifteen.”
Luke wipes the grease from his hands. “I guess I can set her up at the front desk.” He pauses, thinking to himself. “It’ll free me up to get more repairs done.”
Sam … working here?
Johnny lets out a breath. “Thanks, Luke. I really appreciate it.”
“I’m not letting her work for free, though.”
“You don’t—”
“Five dollars an hour is the best I can do.”
“Fine,” Johnny says. “That’s more than fine. Seriously, thank you.”
Luke waves a hand. “Don’t thank me. I’m the one getting a good deal.”
My father stalks through the door. “What deal are you getting?”
Luke grabs a wrench from the pile of tools next to him. “Johnny’s kid sister is gonna start working the front desk.”
My father cuts his eyes to me, but I keep my face blank.
“No,” he snaps.
Luke looks up at him. “Excuse me?”
“I said no. I don’t want her working here.”
Johnny shifts uncomfortably.
“Didn’t ask you,” Luke says. “It’s my garage, and I decide who gets hired.”
My father scoffs.
“I don’t get involved in your business.” Luke gives him a hard stare. “Don’t get involved in mine.”
Johnny takes a step forward. “I don’t want to—”
“You’re not,” Luke dismisses him.
But Luke’s opinion isn’t what matters to Johnny. He’s not his boss, not really.
Johnny turns and looks at my father. “If this is gonna create a problem—”
My father stares back at him, the seconds dragging by before finally he grunts. “It’s fine.”
“You sure?” Johnny asks, and I internally cringe.
Slowly, my father tilts his head to the side. “Didn’t I just say it was?”
“Yeah,” Johnny answers, clearing his throat. “Just checking.”
“Well, don’t.”
Johnny nods.
My father’s attention shifts to me. He gives a pointed look toward the door, and I get up to follow him.
Once we’re in the back room, he grabs a piece of paper from his desk and hands it to me. I look down, seeing five names written messily, and my stomach sinks. Next to each one is a number.
He leans against the desk. “I want you with Marcus on this.”
I tuck the paper into my back pocket. “Got it.”
“If they don’t have the money today, let them know this is their final warning.” He watches me carefully. “Make sure they’re motivated to pay, yeah?”
“Yeah,” I answer.
“Good. Marcus is waiting by the car.”
I turn to leave and make my way outside, silently hoping those five names have the money.
I know the kind of motivation I’ll have to help deliver if they don’t. And since Marcus is coming with me, there’s no getting out of it. He’ll report back to my father if I don’t follow through.
When I slide into the passenger seat of Marcus’s car, he looks over at me. “You ready?”
“Yes,” I lie.
Yesterday was a shitshow.
Only one of the five names had the money they owed.
I hate who I have to become in those situations. What I have to be when my father or Marcus is watching. How easily it comes.
Pushing through the front door of the garage, all those thoughts leave my mind when my eyes land on Billy. He has a wide smile on his face as he leans his elbows on the reception desk.
I stop when I see who he’s talking to.
Sam.
I knew she would probably be here today. I haven’t stopped thinking about it since Johnny asked Luke yesterday.
It’s already past noon, so she’s likely been here for a while. I was training this morning with my old man for the fight I have in a few weeks. It was hard to keep my head in it, thinking about seeing her again.
I’ve never met a girl who’s stayed in my mind like she has. I keep telling myself that I must be holding onto an idea of her, that I can’t possibly feel this strongly about someone I’ve only met once. But as I come up to the desk, her eyes flick up to mine and I know it’s more than just an idea.
When she looks at me, I feel something. I don’t know what it is or why I feel anything at all. I just know I do.
“Hey,” she says.
I tip my chin up at her. “Hey.” Looking between her and Billy, I ask, “How’s it going?”
“Good,” he says. “My dad trained her on the basics this morning, but it’s been slow, so we’ve just been hanging out and talking.”
Talking? What have they been talking about?
“I see what you mean,” Billy tells me.
Sam glances between us. “What are you talking about?”
“Jameson said you were cool.”
“He did?”
“Mmhmm.” Billy nods. “And he doesn’t think anyone’s cool.”
She leans back in her chair and puts her feet up on the desk. “Well, I’m honored.”
I snort, and Billy snaps his head in my direction.
“So,” Sam starts, “Billy says he’s working here this summer. Are you?”
I run a hand through my hair. “I’ll be around.”
Her lips purse before she evens out her expression. “You don’t work on the cars?”
“Sometimes I do.”
How I spend the rest of my time sits between us.
“There’s a hangout tonight at the park,” Billy says, redirecting the conversation toward something lighter. “You wanna go?”
Sam shifts in her seat, twisting a ring on her finger. “Are you asking me?”
“I’m asking both of you.”
I’m about to say no when Sam answers, “Sure. I’ll just have to ask my brother.”
Billy knows he has me. “Jameson?” he prompts.
“Yeah, I’ll go.”
He slaps me on the back. “Sweet!”
The side door creaks open, and my father walks through with Luke behind him. Sam immediately drops her feet from the desk before Luke stops in front of it.
My father strides past us without a word.
I turn toward Luke for an explanation, but he subtly shakes his head. He pastes a smile on his face and says, “I’m ordering pizza to celebrate Sam’s first day.”
“Oh, you don’t have to do that,” she tells him.
“I want to,” he answers. “Now, I know you boys want pepperoni.” He looks over at Sam. “What toppings do you like?”
“Just cheese is fine,” she says. “Or I can have pepperoni. I’m not picky.”
Luke watches her like he doesn’t believe her answer, but he doesn’t push it. “What about your brother?”
“Johnny will eat anything.”
“Okay, pepperoni it is then.”
“Thank you,” she breathes.
“No, thank you.” He motions toward the computer. “You’re a fast learner. I can already tell having you here is going to help out a lot.”
She fidgets under his compliment, like she isn’t used to receiving them.
How can someone like her not be used to getting compliments?
Luke calls in the order then looks between me and Billy. “Can you boys come give me a hand in the garage?”
We both nod and start to follow him out. Once I reach the door, I quickly look over my shoulder at Sam and find her already watching me. Instead of dropping her eyes, she keeps them fixed on mine.
God, she’s beautiful.
I hear Billy call my name and reluctantly turn away from her.