Page 8 of The Relationship Mechanic

Vini swallowed hard at being calledcute. There was no doubt now that Jessica was smooth, but rather than wanting to head in the opposite direction, Vini wanted to lean into it and flirt back. Ava’s warning was in the back of her mind, but it was easy enough to ignore it when faced with Jessica’s glances and knowing smiles.

“Bowling doesn’t get you excited?” Vini asked, letting her tone sound coy. She was rusty not having flirted with anyone in months, but she figured it was like riding a bike. She would hop back onto it and ride until the wheels fell off.

Jessica tilted her head, her eyes dragging down before sliding back up to meet Vini’s gaze. “Balls and pins aren’t exactly my thing.”

Jesus.“What is your thing?” Time seemed to stop when Jessica moved. She closed the distance between them before leaning in.

“Play your cards right, and you just might find out.” Her breath licked over Vini’s ear making her shiver. Before she could respond, Jessica had made her way over to the crowd, leaving Vini with heated cheeks and a dry mouth. She turned in time to catch Ava’s look and schooled her face into a mask of indifference. Vini could play calm and collected.

The tingles still licking up and down her spine were no one’s business but her own.

Ignoring Jessica for the past two hours had been a test in patience. When the match started, Vini had moved to one of the tables Terry had set out for spectators. She had ordered a water to fix her dry mouth and nearly sucked the whole thing down at once when Jessica glanced back at her with a look that was pure heat. Vini was surprised none of the people between them burst into flames. She had slowly been warming up until she damn near had to fan herself to cool down. It wasn’t until a cheer went up in the crowd that she was able to snap her attention away from Jessica.

“Who won?” she asked a woman standing close to her. Vini didn’t know much about bowling, but it didn’t seem like the scoring was as straightforward as basketball or football. She had given up trying to follow it many throws ago and instead cheered distractedly whenever the Peach Blossom Strikers got a strike.

“St. Mary’s.”

Vini sucked her teeth in annoyance, but Ava and Grace were smiling like they had won. After the pressures of the season, they probably felt like they did. Fixing a smile on her face, Vini moved closer to congratulate the team.

“You guys bowled a good game.”

“The girls bowled a great game,” Ava enthused her lips spread in a wide smile as she high-fived the girls. Grace stepped closer as the crowd dissipated. A warmth washed over her back and without turning, Vini somehow knew it was Jessica.

“That was a close match. For a team that only started this year, you all are amazing.” Vini glanced over at Jessica as she took up space beside her. She didn’t know how Jessica could tell it was a close game, but she wasn’t going to say anything to contradict that. “Congratulations.”

Grace pulled her into a quick hug. “Thanks, friend. I’m glad you were able to come see the team play.”

“Of course. I wouldn’t have missed it for anything,” Jessica replied. She stepped back. “Plus, I was able to meet Ava. You’ve talked so much about her that it’s great to finally meet her in person.”

Ava arched an eyebrow. “Oh? What has she been saying about me?”

“Perhaps we should head out to celebrate,” Grace interjected quickly. Vini snorted softly at the slightly panicked look on Grace’s face. She didn’t know why. Everyone knew the two of them were together. Playing it cool was pointless. “I know I would love to celebrate a successful season.”

Ava stepped closer to Grace, her smile morphing into a smirk. “And how would you like to celebrate, dear co-coach of mine?”

“Well,” Grace started leaning into Ava before realizing they still had an audience. “I should probably get Jessica back to the house, and then we could—”

“Actually,” Jessica interjected, “I booked myself a suite at the Blue Bell Bed and Breakfast. I figured win or lose, you two would want some time to yourselves.”

Vini had to fight hard not to smile at the impressed look on Ava’s face. Grace looked grateful before trying to push back, but Jessica was having none of it.

“But you rode with me here. I can at least drive you back to the house to get some things.”

Jessica waved off her words. “Already done. I stashed a go bag in your trunk.”

“At least let me drive you—”

“I can drop her off,” Vini volunteered before she lost her nerve. She knew she needed to add more, based on the surprise on all their faces. Well, all except Jessica who looked like she knew exactly what was running through Vini’s mind, which would have made one of them at least who knew what she was up to. Vini didn’t have a clue. Ava’s previous warning was still in her head, but the volume of it was growing ever quieter by the second. “I was planning to grab some things from the shop, and I can drop Jessica off on my way there.”

She didn’t have any reason to stop by her job, but she figured with the way Ava always got onto her about working too much, it might take some suspicion off or give her something else to focus on. Her bets paid off when Ava spoke up.

“Seriously, Vin. You better not be working after hours again.”

Vini shrugged. “I make my own hours, but no. I promise I’m just grabbing something and then heading home. Well, I might grab a drink at Janie’s before that, but either way, no working tonight.”

Vini could have continued, but the looks Ava and Grace were giving one another let her know she didn’t need to. When they headed out to the parking lot, she and Jessica followed, and soon enough they were alone again with nothing but Vini’s nerves and the center console of her truck keeping them apart.

“You know, I wouldn’t mind a drink myself,” Jessica said once they were on their way down the road. Vini squeezed the steering wheel as the leather under Jessica squeaked with her shifting. It was difficult to pretend she was just another stranger when she was so close and yet so far. “Mind some company?”

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