Page 114 of Ice Mechanic

This time, I can’t pretend to not understand when I’ve been dismissed.

Rounding the garage until I get to May’s workstation, I observe her filing away invoices and logging client names into a database.

She glances up with mischievous eyes. “April chased you away?”

I shrug because admitting defeat isn’t my style.

May stops working for a moment and looks across the bay at her sister. “She wasn’t always like that, you know.”

“Prickly?” I clarify.

“Skittish,” May says.

I look across the garage to April, wishing I could be the calm to her storm.

“You know why I’m so angry with Evan?” May balances her chin on the palm of her hand. “It’s not just because he was a douche canoe who cheated. It’s because him cheating destroyed my sister. April was so confident and sure of herself before thatrelationship. After…” May blows out a sad breath. “It’s like she’s a different person.”

“Was she friendlier?” I ask, trying to picture a smiley April and failing.

“Not exactly. She was always sarcastic and careful around people, but now it’s really difficult for her to trust anyone. She has this giant wall around herself, but it’s not just to keep people out. It’s, like… like she wants to keep her pain and self-doubtsin.”

“What are you two whispering about over here?” Rebel butts in, peering at May and I with suspicious eyes.

“Nothing!” May chirps and gives me a secret look.

I take out my keys and walk to the door. “How about I work on some lunch for you ladies?”

“I’ll have a triple cheeseburger from Phil’s!” May yells immediately.

“A salad for me. Hold the olives,” Rebel recites before settling on one of the rolling cots and sliding underneath a car.

“And for you?” I ask April.

She doesn’t seem to hear me.

I walk closer and touch her shoulder. “April, I’m getting lunch.”

“Not hungry.”

“You need to eat,” I argue.

“No time,” she grunts.

I narrow my eyes.

She does a quick glance up, sees me glaring, and sighs. “You’re not going to let this go, are you?”

“If begging won’t work, I’ll resort to threats.”

Her lips twitch. “What kind of threats?”

“Either you eat willingly, or I sit you in my lap and feed you myself.”

The blush appears like a dear and expected friend. “I’ll have a burger.”

“Good girl.”

I stroll out of the garage, glad that understanding auto-repair is not a pre-requisite to being April Brooks’ boyfriend.

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