Page 105 of It's Always Us

I don’t know much, but I know she shouldn’t be standing on a tire, leaning over, and reaching in.

“That your lady?” the security guard asks me, following my gaze.

“My wife.” I step away to get her off the tire.

“Does she know what she’s doing?” he asks, and I turn back. “If this line gets any longer, we’ll have a safety issue on our hands.”

“Where’s the driver?” He points to an overweight man sitting on the curb with his phone to his ear and a cigarette hanging from his lips. “Oh, she knows what she’s doing. Better hope she doesn’t need parts.”

I approach the bus, careful not to startle her.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I keep my tone smooth, although everything in me is poised to snatch her off the worn tire.

She doesn’t take her eyes off whatever she’s inspecting. “They had an issue. I’m taking a look.”

“I can see that. How about you get down?” She doesn’t move. “Like . . . now.”

“Just give me a minute.” She pulls on something, and I move closer, gripping her around the middle to be sure she’s steady.

“No. Right now, Lex. If you fall . . . ”

She straightens and peers down at me. “I need to check the—”

“Get down, babe. The driver doesn’t seem to be concerned his bus isn’t working, so—”

“He didn’t even know how to pop the hood.” Her tone tells me it’s the craziest thing she’s ever heard. “I had to show him.”

“Great. Now he knows and can call a tow truck. You have to get down.”

“Get a tow truck in here, how?” She looks around with a huff. “Clive needs these cars out of here.”

“Who’s Clive?”

She points, and the gatekeeper smiles. “Give me a minute to check a few more things, then—”

“Lex, you’re carrying our babies. You’ve lost your pretty mind if you think I’m letting you stay up there, balancing on a piece of worn rubber, or a ladder, or anything else that puts you four feet above the ground. Get down.”

She takes my hand, and I help her down while a horn blares in the distance.

She brushes off her dirty hands. “Fine, then I need you to help me.”

I look around. More people have gathered, waiting for their ride out.

“Me? You want me to help?” I stare at her. “Remember that time I tried to help you line up the transmission on your truck? You told me under no circumstances was I ever to lay my hands on car parts again.”

Her mouth turns up into a beautiful smile. She’s in her happy place, and it makes my heart explode with a kind of joy I’ve only recently been reminded exists.

“Yes, I remember. I meant it, but desperate times call for desperate measures, and I don’t have Carson or Wind here, so you’ll have to do.”

She walks over to the man I now know as Clive, and he follows her, carrying his stool.

All these men are standing around completely helpless while she’s ready to work. Part of me is excited to get in there. I’m going to watch my girl kick this party bus’s ass, and I actually get to assistinthe ass kicking.

Wait.“Why didn’t you say Slade?” A flash of him hugging her skates through my mind. Slade, her best friend. Everything seemed platonic from my angle, but I was very aware of his laser eyes on Lex, which were full of irritation.

No man gets his jock strap in a wad over unanswered calls unless feelings are involved. I would know. I never cared if a woman returned my call, but Lex better damn well, or I’d lose my shit. It makes me curious if there’s anything more than friendly feelings happening on his side.

“Huh?” She points to the stool, expecting me to climb up, so I do.

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