Page 13 of Britain

I shrug. “I don’t know. I mean, I moved there from my parents’ because they have the little mini apartment for me and barely charge me rent so I can save money. My parents were constantly in my business…not in a bad way, but in an overprotective way. Now I have some privacy, but ninety percent of the time, my nieces don’t understand the meaning of personal boundaries. I don’t plan on living there forever, but right now it suits my needs.”

Is he judging me right now? Does he think I’m some sort of loser? Fuck me, what do I care, but dammit if I don’t.

The doorbell sounds, and we head back inside. He grabs the pizza and six pack of pop, and I follow him to the living room. He sets it all down and disappears into the kitchen. Silas returns with paper plates and paper towels.

I’m not shy and dig in. He got a pizza with the works, and my mouth waters. “I love Gino’s.” I take a huge bite, moaning as the flavors hit my tongue.

“Don’t do that.” I look up and I’ve never had a guy look at me like that before. Is it wrong that I like him looking at me like that?

“Sorry,” I mutter with a mouthful of pizza. My mom and Beth would both be throwing a fit right now if they saw me—especially doing it in front of a man.

“Don’t be sorry…it just gives me dirty thoughts that I don’t think you’re ready to hear yet.”

My heart races and my stomach flutters at the thought of hearing them. I know I’m blushing right now. I need to break whatever this tension is. “What? You mean you don’t think I’m a lesbian?”

Silas looks at me in confusion, his eyebrows drawn together. “A lesbian? Why would you ask that?”

Well shit, I didn’t mean to piss him off. “Sorry, that wasn’t fair. I don’t have much luck with men. Because I work on cars, don’t wear makeup, and don’t do my hair, it apparently means that I like girls. There’s nothing wrong with being gay, straight…whatever, but I’m not.”

He sets his plate down. “Do you want to know what I thought the first time I saw you?” I nod. “That you were the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen.”

My mouth opens and closes, but no words come out at first. “I don’t know what to say. Thank you.”

“I told you why I was a jerk. I’ve never had a strong reaction to someone before. I’m sorry if this is making you uncomfortable, but I wasn’t going to lie to you.”

I take a drink of my pop. “You haven’t, I’m just not used to someone being so honest with me. I’m used to people making assumptions about me.”

“Just because it happens doesn’t make it right. Now let’s eat our pizza before it gets cold.”

I’m grateful for the reprieve, and end up eating three more slices. When we finish I help him pick up and wrap the leftover pizza to stick in his refrigerator.

“I should probably go,” I say, but I don’t sound very convincing.

Silas looks like he doesn’t want me to leave, but he’s not stopping me from doing so. “I’ll walk you out.”

We ride side by side down to the parking garage. He pulls my door open for me and holds on to the top of it. “I had a really good time.”

“I did, too.” Before I climb in my car, Silas bends down and his lips brush my cheek. God, he smells good.

Silas shuts my door once I’m inside. I roll down the window, and he leans down. “I’ll see you soon.” He steps back, but stands there watching as I fire up my baby and then back out of my spot.

My mind whirls as I make my way home. I swear I can still smell him, and it makes my belly quiver.

***

It’s been three weeks since I had pizza with Silas, and I’ve tried avoiding him, but he’s relentless. He stops by the shop, calls me, and texts me. We’ve had coffee a few times, but every time we meet all he’s done is kiss my cheeks, or my forehead, but not my lips.

He’s making me doubt myself, which is not his fault. I’ve just got no experience with this stuff. Focusing back on the task at hand, I change the oil in a Ford Focus. Once I’m finished, I fill the rest of the fluids. I wipe down the car before lowering it and pulling it out to the parking lot. After writing out the receipt, I take it out to the customer and have him sign the paper before taking it to the counter and ringing him up.

“Thanks, Britain.”

“See you in six weeks, Charlie.” We have a lot of customers that have been coming to my dad forever—Charlie’s one of them, and he takes excellent care of his vehicles.

When I finish for the day I pull off my coveralls, brush my hair, and then tie it back up in a ponytail. I’m just pulling into the driveway when my phone rings. I see it’s Silas. “Hey,” I say when I answer it.

“Are you done with work for the day?”

“Yep, I actually just got home.” I enter the back door and head down to my place.

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