|45| • Everest
I was acting like a child.
This was the fifth time I check my phone in a span of two hours. I missed her. I was also worried sick. Did that mean I was no longer invited into her home? Her dad most likely hated my guts by now. What I said that day just came out of me without thinking.
I was angry, and frustrated. Why did he get so angry because I wanted to sponsor her? It wasn't even a proper university, it was culinary school! Ah, this was frustrating.
Huffing to myself, I finished changing the shocker on the car, going to pump the tyres for the Porsche.
Beads of sweat formed on my forehead, my legs flexing from crouching for too long.
For some reason, Abel was yet to come. If I was being honest, I could hardly face him without looking away.
His dad would have most likely filled him in.
Just when we were starting to get along.
"What's on your mind, man?" It was Guy who said this, his dark brown hair in an unruly ruffle. He blew strands out of his face, using a handkerchief to wipe his sweat. "You look like your mind is a mile away." He noted casually, taking the beat-up engine out of the G Wagon.
Ah, did I make it that obvious? My mind was admittedly on Amelia the whole time I was here.
The thought of losing her, because I didn't hold my mouth, dawned on me.
Although I'd explained and apologized, I didn't know if she was still angry at me since I'd yet to see her.
But, she wasn't the only one on my mind.
Abel and Joseph were as well.
Just when things were starting to go well, this happened. Why did it have to happen? Perhaps I overstretched my welcome by telling her father I'd pay for her tuition into the baking school.
Pursing my lips, I took in a breath. "See? You're doing it again!" Guy huffed, snapping his fingers near my face to bring me back. I chuckled, shaking my head. "Sorry man, it's just...a long story."
He hummed, arching his eyebrows. "Trouble in paradise?"
Would I call it that? This made me shrug. "That's one way to put it," I uttered, pulling out the pumping machine from the tyre, going to drop it beneath the shelf, Guy wasn't so far behind.
"If you want to let off some steam, we could go drinking tonight." Guy brought up slyly. From what I'd heard, he and the guys were going drinking tonight, to celebrate Andrew's engagement.
I shrugged, not knowing whether to accept or decline.
"I'm not sure, I might come though. I do need a bit of distraction.
" I admit lowly, running a hand through my hair.
Guy eyed me suspiciously, "I hope it's nothing too bad.
Can't have Abel storming in here and kicking your ass for breaking his sister's heart. "
My hands went up in surrender, "Woah there, I broke no one's heart. Besides, I only want what's best for her."
He smirked. "Okay, lover boy. Let it stay that way."
Guy went back to work after that, humming soft tunes from his lips as he went to get a new engine for the car he was fixing.
Kissing my teeth, I stretched out, hearing a few bones crack.
Would Amelia see my message if I texted her right now?
I knew she was working but I wasn't sure when she had her break.
Staring at the last message she sent, I smiled.
I told her that I loved her and she replied with 'Evie!
I'm shy...but I feel the same way. Ditto.
' I mean, I didn't expect her to write it back, but knowing she felt the same way was good.
I missed her.
I also wanted to hug her, to feel her lips in a soft kiss, to tell her I didn't mean to call her a brat.
She had every right to know what happened between her father and me.
Goodness, my hair was going to start pulling out from how hard I was tugging on it.
Perhaps I'd throw caution to the wind and call her straight up.
As I was about to do it, a familiar voice sounded in the workshop. "Everest." The voice called my name. Shoving my phone into my pocket, I turned to search for the voice.
My eyes slightly widened when I saw Abel. It wasn't because of him that reaction clouded my face, no, it was because of the dark-skinned, elderly man with a black chiffon head wrap holding his hair in place. Joseph.
What was he doing to her?
I mean, of course, he could come to his son's business but it was strange, I'd never seen him here before, and he was glaring directly at me.
Crud.
Did he come to declare war?
Right here and now?
Clearing my throat, I cleaned my hands against my apron, walking towards Abel. "Uh, hey man. You're late today." Abel shook my hand, dapping me casually. So, he wasn't mad? Good. Abel shrugged, pointing at his father who hadn't said a word yet.
"My dad said he wanted to come here today and speak with you."
I didn't know how to react to the news. I was a bit nervous, but I nodded firmly, turning to Joseph with a thin-lipped expression on his face. "Good afternoon, sir."
Formality was a good approach, right?
Joseph grunted. "Let's go sit outside on the bench." He turned robotically outside. I gazed at Abel in hopes that he'd decide what the conversation was about but Abel only smirked, tapping my back and going to greet his other staff.
Was that a reassuring tap?
Or a tap that told me I was in deep shit?
Goodness, this was hard to understand. Quickly, I removed my apron and put on the cotton dark blue shirt I was wearing, rinsing my palms under the sink's faucet. Sparing my reflection a look, I attempted to appear at least presentable before going to my room, or perhaps what I thought it'd be.
"Good luck." A whisper met my ears. I turned to see Rasu smirking at me, from the looks of it, he knew what was going on. Honestly? I needed all the luck I could get, nodding his way, I walked out of the mechanic shop to meet Amelia's father.
He was seated on one of the benches, back relaxed against the block wall, a magazine from the mini shelf in front of the shop in his hand. Clearing my throat, I sat beside him, ready for whatever he was about to throw at me.
"Everest Simon." He started without looking my way, his attention still on the magazine. Joseph's lips turned in a slight frown. "You know, I didn't think my daughter would fall for someone like you." He uttered firmly, putting the magazine back into position. "Someone like me?" I had to ask.
"White. Significantly older. Enough balls to speak to me that way." He listed with several pauses. My eyebrows furrowed, was that a compliment or a sidetracked diss? Holding my tongue, I let him continue. "Honestly? I don't like you." He said.
His words cut through my chest. I didn't expect him to after what happened but hearing it was a lot worse. "But my daughter likes you, no. How did she put it, she's in love with you and doesn't plan on breaking up with you." Joseph mimicked lowly, chuckling to himself before continuing.
"Amelia is childish, naive and gullible. At least she was. Now she has the courage to sit down with me and tell me what she wants. Heck, to even scold me." I felt some kind of way, a good kind of way. She did do that?
"I mean, if someone like her could do that for you, there must be something I'm not seeing."
I held in a chuckle, my heart swooning for my little Amelia. This made me want to see her all the more.
"I want to ask you something, do you really want to sponsor her tuition to that school, without any ulterior motives? I mean, if she finds another man and decides to go with him, would you hang this over her head?"
My guts turned at the question. If she found another man.
I hated the sound of that, it would rip me in half, but frankly, I would dare hold this over her head — as he'd put it.
I was doing this because I truly cared about her, not because I wanted to control her life or something within those lines.
I sighed, "I won't. Obviously, it would ruin me, but I won't wave it in her face.
Whatever she wants to do after I pay for the tuition is up to her.
This is just my way of showing I care and want the best for her.
" I told her, it was hard not to stumble over my words with his intense gaze.
He watched my every move, as though he had a lying detector in the screen of his brown orbs.
"You wouldn't?" He smirked.
"I wouldn't." My voice hard.
"Also, I want to apologize for what I said the other time. I didn't mean to offend you with my words, so I'm sorry that I did." Even if I was frustrated, it was no excuse.
He hummed, cracking his knuckles. "Yeah, Amelia said the same thing. It's okay I guess."
"That's my only concern. But if you're sure you won't, then no problem. Do as you, please. She's not my little girl anymore, she's a woman now. And apparently has a caring man by her side." Joseph said, gazing at me.
I smiled.
"She is, and she does."
"Just...don't break her heart. Or I'll kill you."
My eyes widened a bit. Goodness, an outright threat?
I didn't doubt it for a second that if we went into combat, he'd do serious damage to me, he had a much more intimidating stature, his biceps big and muscular.
One sound punch would make my earring for minutes.
"Uh...I'm not planning to." I chuckled nervously, scratching my neck.
"Now that we're on the same page..." Joseph stretched out a palm, I looked down at it, holding in a smile.
"Welcome to the family." He shook my hand firmly.
It was as though a weight was lifted up my shoulders, I felt so much lighter now. Nodding my head, I thanked him, standing up as well. After we shared numbers, I went back into the workshop with a grin on my face. Things were looking up for us, thank God.
"Good news?" Rasu asked when I sat beside him, he was eating a sandwich. A laugh left my lips. "The best."
"Does that mean you're coming to drink with us tonight?" He asked hopeful, taking a big bite out of his sandwich. What was the harm in going to a club? I had something to celebrate anyways. When I nodded my head, he cheered.
"Guy, Everest said he's coming!"
Guy turned from the G Wagon, towards us with a wide grin. "So we have a full house then?" They cheered, causing me to laugh.
Business ran smoothly, a few people came to get their cars checked, I attended to some of them while Abel did they rest and in about five hours, we were done.
The first one to pack up was Andrew, his ring flashing whenever he rose his hands to drop the tools he used on the shelf, he and Abel were discussing on something silently.
They were still close, I could tel the former looked up to the latter.
I found it admirable. Perhaps they'd known each other before this.
"Get your mind out of the cloud, man!" Rasu's arm weighed me down from my shoulders when he jumped on me. I could tell they were all excited, honestly? I was too. When last did I go drinking? It had been a while.
Back in the days, when we'd sneak alcohol into the training camp, my tolerance was relatively higher, so when I was simply stumbling in words, the other men couldn't stand without kissing a nearby wall of tree — sometimes they'd fall flat on their face.
I wondered if I still had such a high tolerance.
"Who'd drive me home if I get drunk to stupor?" I asked Rasu and he cackled. "Definitely not you, I don't know, you'll call a cab or your girl."
My girl. I smirked. Darn right she was.
Could Amelia drive? I don't think so, I knew she asked me to teach her one of these days, that day hadn't come yet. "Call my girl stupid drunk? No way." I chuckled, following him out of the workshop as Abel closed it with the metal chain.
Andrew gave us the address to the club, which was called Cherie's Bar. It wasn't so far from here, so we all separated into our various cars to meet at the club. As I reversed out of the street, my hands went to dial Amelia's number, remembering I did want to do that before her father came.
"E-Evie! Hi! How are you?" She sounded out of breath, perhaps flustered. I smiled a bit. "I'm alright, I just miss you." Was my smooth confession. She giggled, clacking her tongue. "You sweet talker, I...miss you too you know?"
"That just made my day a lot better, and I didn't think it could get like that."
"Oh yeah?" Amelia asked rhetorically. "I was wondering...uhm...are, are you going to be free tonight? I wanted to come see you." It was her that asked this, much to my surprise. A grin stretched on my lips. Before I could tell her me and the guys were going drinking, I held myself.
I mean, I wasn't going to spend the whole night there, right? When was she going to ask me this again? Did that mean she wanted to spend the night at my place? So many thoughts tab through my head. I cleared my throat, trying to rearrange my thoughts.
"I mean, if you're not it's totally fine, I just wanted to come over, and you know...spend the night? It's too soon right? Silly me—" She began to ramble.
"I'd love that, baby." I cut her off, "Really, I would. What time do you want to come over?" I also wanted to ask her the reason for the spontaneous decision but I held it in. My baby hummed, I could imagine her pursing her lips right about now, a smile came to mine.
"Well, I'm with Binta right now, so maybe by 9?
Is that too late? I just want to spend some time with you without worrying about going home.
.." She tailed off the last part quietly.
Chuckling to myself, I turned into the bar, parking and paying for a secured space since I probably wouldn't be driving it home tonight.
"You sure you don't have something else in mind?" I teased lightly, taking the phone up to my ear and removing it from loud speaker. Amelia gasped, mumbling something under her breath. "No! No I don't...get your mind out of the gutters babe."
Babe?
I liked that.
So, I played along. "Well, who put it there?"
She huffed, "I, I have to go now. I'm keeping Binta waiting." Ah, she was getting flustered, how cute. Biting my lip, I hummed. "Okay then. I'll see you tonight?"
"Yep, see you."
"I love you, baby." I said teasingly, knowing how nervous she got when I said this. Closing the door to my Hilux, I waited for her response.
"I...I love you too." It was barely above a whisper, but my heart still galloped like a darn horse. She ended the call almost immediately, leaving me to my thoughts. Smirking, I suddenly couldn't wait to get back home. My mood had boosted another mile.
Anyone could tell I was cheery as I walked into the bar to get drunk with the boys I was getting closer too by the day.