Page 11 of Old Habits

I pause. The last thing I’m in the mood for right now is Coach Rogers’ weird person questions. “I’m fine.” I find his invoice in a stack nearby. “Looks like it’s seventy-five even today.”

He scratches his bearded face instead of whipping out his wallet. “William, if I may offer a little unsolicited advice…”

“Actually, Coach, we’re a little backed up here…”

“I’ll make it quick. I look at you and I’m reminded of a quote by the great Albert Einstein.”

Ah, jeez.

“Life is like riding a bicycle,”he says. “To keep your balance, you must keep moving!”

I nod. “That’s nice.”

He reaches over the counter and pats my shoulder. “Keep moving forward, son. Don’t let the past hold you back. I foresee great things in your future.”

“We can only hope. So, about your bill—”

“A wife,” he adds. “A few kids. Who knows? Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and there are plenty of young women around Clover…”

My eye twitches. “Would you excuse me for a minute?”

I shove the garage door open, stepping down into the smell of rubber and the sound of shrieking power tools. Three cars sit in a line at various stages of repair but my eyes instantly fall on one in particular. It’s old and blue and…

No. It can’t be.

I walk across the garage, my mind flashing with memories with every step I take toward.

Tucker juts out in front of me. “Whoa, hey! Will… what, uh… whatcha doing back here?”

“Move,” I say, stepping around him.

The closer I get, the more I’m sure.

Tucker stays on me. “I know what you’re thinking but it’s not,” he says.

“Oh, yeah? Then, whose car is it?”

He stutters. “It’s Julie’s car.”

I raise a brow. “Julie’s?”

“Yeah. Julie’s.”

“Julie who?”

“Julie, uh...” he twitches, “Moss.”

“Julie Moss?” I repeat.

“Yeah. Julie—”

I grab Tucker by the collar. “You mean Jovie Ross?”

“No, uh-uh. I didn’t say Jovie Ross.”

“Tucker...” I pull him closer. “Is Jovie back?”

“No— Jovie?” He snorts. “Hell, no. She hightailed it out of here years ago. She ain’t ever coming—”

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