Chapter Twenty-Six #2
“That would be great, thank you so much. Saves me asking my dad for help, because he will take ages trying to fix it and every other issue. I’m hoping this will be a quick fix.”
And a quick fix it is. It’s only the engine oil and coolant. Easy peasy.
Holden tops up the coolant, and I lie under the car on the wooden dolly, changing the oil to a better quality one that we put in the utes. Makes them run a lot smoother, and Betsie needs all the help she can get.
“Should be sweet after this,” Holden says, having a look under the bonnet. “The belts are fine, shields are in place, and the engine mount isn’t broken.”
“Easy done. I’m almost finished here, then you can top up the oil.”
“Good.” He fiddles with some more things as the oil stops draining. I place the end back on. Sliding out from under the car, I wipe my hands on an old cloth, wiping oil off as Holden fills Betsie up with some fresh liquid.
“This should do it.”
Smiling, I toss the rag down as the wooden door to the garage rolls opens. Cole walks in. “Hey, losers.”
“Who are you calling loser?” I scoff lightly with a grin. “We didn’t come second in the race on the weekend.”
Cole mutters out a curse, and Holden tsks like the dad he is.
“I only came second because the last pit was longer than it should have been. They could have put less petrol in, and I would have won it, but no. They insisted on adding more,” Cole defends.
“We’re only kidding, man. You did great.” I clap his shoulder.
Holden drops the bonnet and dusts off his hands.
“What are you both doing here?”
I nod towards the car. “Laynie needed us to take a look. Just needed some oil and coolant.”
“Ah,” Cole breathes, digging his hands in his jacket pocket. “Are you done? I want to get out of the cold.”
Holden sniffs a laugh, putting everything away on the shelves.
I ask, “Then why did you come in here?”
“I was walking past and heard you two talking, so I thought I would come and get you. Unless you’d prefer staying out here. It’s also starting to drizzle.”
“Lucky Laynie is staying the night,” I murmur, but I don’t think either of them hear. The last thing I want her to do is drive home when it’s wet and slippery.
“All right, let’s go in. I can’t feel my fingers anymore,” Holden grumbles, slipping on his thick denim jacket. I pull mine on and follow them out to Reid and Macie’s little house. It’s drizzling, and the sight of the ranch at night, glistening with a sheen of moisture, almost looks magical.
Pushing open the front door, Cole walks right in, rushing up to Laynie, who is holding a bowl of buttered popcorn. “Laynie Moo!”
I slip my boots off and close the door behind me, trailing Holden. Cole and Laynie locked in an embrace. She’s grinning, all teeth and shininess. Cole then moves onto Macie.
Laynie meets my eye, her smile dropping a fraction as she steps closer. “Is she okay?”
“Yeah, Holden and I fixed Betsie. She should be fine to drive home tomorrow.”
“Thank you.” She hugs me with one arm, the other holding the bowl as if she’s scared of putting it down and losing it to one of my brothers.
I scoop her up, my nose digging into her hair. Surrounded by sweetness and strawberries. Delicious. She always smells of springtime.
“It was nothing,” I murmur against her head before pulling away.
She lifts her chin, her gaze dropping down my face to my nose, mouth, then neck before flickering away to see what Macie is laughing about. I take the opportunity to take some popcorn, and Laynie smacks my shoulder gently. “You sneak.”
“But it’s so good,” I get out between bites.
Snickering, she grabs onto my hand, the feeling sending shooting nerves up my arm as she walks me over to the container on the bench.
My stomach grumbles at the various desserts she brought with her.
She always knows exactly what to bring. I think it’s why my family likes her so much.
That, and because she’s genuinely a sweet person.
Assessing the pastries, I chew on my bottom lip before smiling up at her. “Have I ever told you how grateful I am that you’re a baker?”
I feel her pinch my side, and I flinch, letting out a laugh. She giggles, soft and light like warm sunshine. I grab her wrist before she has time to escape, pinching her side.
“Okay, okay. Truce!” she squeals.
Chuckling, I let her go and realise how quiet it is. Macie, Reid, Holden, and Cole watch us from the living room. They wear knowing looks, and I swallow, taking the paper container before my hands betray me and hold onto Laynie again.
“What movie are we picking?” I ask, changing the subject before any of them ask what’s going. Not even I know… Maybe I should have them question Laynie and I? The truth might come out if they do, but I also don’t give them the chance.
I don’t want to be turned down. Especially not in front of my brothers. That would be ruthless.
Brushing past Laynie, I see her hesitation for a beat before following me to the couch, sitting between Holden and me. I place the container on the coffee table and take a raspberry croissant. Macie picks up a muffin.
Reid picks an action movie, and we settle in for the film. I devour the croissant. Laynie holds out the popcorn to me, and we both pick at it. My arm slides around the top of the couch, resting above Laynie’s shoulders, and her mouth twitches.
I bite the inside of my cheek, wanting to know what’s running through her mind. Does she want my arm on her? Should we be sitting this close? It’s not like we haven’t before, but that was before I found out about the baby. Can she feel what I feel? Is her body just as heated as mine?
Sucking in a breath, I catch Macie watching us out of the corner of her eye from the other couch.
I clear my throat softly. I don’t move my arm, instead letting it hang close to Laynie, yet so far away.
As much as I want to hold her hand or something, I won’t do that.
Especially not in front of my brothers. I won’t hear the end of it if they see anything.
I now understand how this was so hard for Reid and Macie. Not making anything obvious while constantly needing to be next to the person. It’s addictive and satisfying, and I greedily want more.