Page 157 of Ice Mechanic

APRIL: I ate already. Maybe dinner instead?

I glance up.

Gunner catches my eye first and he jerks his chin at the door.

I text April back to tell her I’ll have lunch with the team and that I’ll swing by the garage at closing. After pressing ‘send’, I jog to catch up with the guys.

We take over the Tipsy Tuna the moment we arrive. Theilan, Watson and the rest are boisterous and cheerful. Renthrow drags two tables together without even asking. The rest of the team swagger into the restaurant and find their seats.

“Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes,” Bobby’s wife says, smiling down at me as she takes our orders. “Welcome home, Chance.”

Something rearranges in my chest. Warmth shines through her honest smile. I see a few grey and white heads bobbing around the other tables. All the old regulars seem to agree.

I’m used to getting recognition and special treatment when I go to shops and restaurants. But here in Lucky Falls, I feel my presence is more appreciated than my hockey stats.

“We missed him too. He’s been too busy dating to hang with the likes of us,” Theilan announces, grabbing both my shoulders and shaking.

I laughingly brush him off and give my order.

“So the usual?” She responds, scribbling furiously. “I’ll be right back with those.” She winks and darts off.

I gaze at her back in a daze.

Gunner, who’s seated to my left, passes me a napkin. “What are you staring at?”

“I… have a ‘usual’,” I say. “I’ve never had a ‘usual’ before.”

Gunner shakes his head as if he doesn’t understand and doesn’t want to either.

“By the way.” I turn to him when our drinks are served. “There’s something I wanted to ask you.”

He gestures for me to go ahead.

“It’s about your uncle,” I say, watching him closely.

Gunner’s bored expression shifts at the mention of his uncle.

His thick eyebrows hunker low.

“What about him?” he asks in a strained voice.

I pause and choose my words carefully. Although I haven’t mentioned it to April, everything she told me about her ex boss’s sleazy ‘advice’ as well as the unfair firing lingered in my head.

I’ve been meaning to bring it up with Gunner. Pursuing a legal fight against his family is something that would divide the team and ruin our hard-earned truce, so I’ve been hesitant about making a decision.

“Some information came to light about him and his behavior with April when she worked there,” I say vaguely.

Gunner’s lips tighten until they almost disappear from his face. “What kind of information?”

“The kind that I could give to a legal team.”

His jaw clenches. I can’t tell if he’s angry with me or with his uncle.

I wait for a response.

Gunner offers none.

I’m searching for another way to ask my question when the door opens. The bell above jangles and a blonde woman wearing pink mechanic over-alls saunters in. I recognize Rebel instantly and glance over her shoulder to see if April is with her too.

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