Page 22 of The Relationship Mechanic

Jessica launched into a summary as Vini got to work. She let the sounds of Jessica’s words carry her through the first oil change of the day and into the second. As Jessica spoke, it was almost as if Vini could taste and hear the sights she described. Occasionally, Grace’s voice would filter over the line, but not once did Jessica mention needing to go. It wasn’t until Aiden walked in that Vini realized she and Jessica had been talking for more than two hours without a single lull in conversation.

“Who are you talking to?” Aiden called out, interrupting Jessica’s story of backpacking through Thailand with literally only a backpack of belongings. “Is that Jessica?”

“Aiden! Are you taking good care of my girl?”

Aiden’s smile then could only be described as catlike as he wagged his eyebrows at Vini. “Only until you get back here and take of her yourself.”

“That didn’t sound right at all,” Vini replied making a face. Aiden laughed before making his way back into the lobby. Vini sighed and grabbed a rag to clean her hands. Her stomach growled, protesting a lack of food. “I should probably go grab some lunch before my stomach decides to eat itself. When do you and Grace get back in town?”

More sounds started filtering in across the line. “Grace has to be back to work on Monday, so we get back tomorrow afternoon.” The sounds of people talking grew louder, as did the sound of upbeat music. Vini knew she needed to push through and say something before she lost her nerve.

“There’s a drive-in movie in the next town over that I planned on going to tomorrow night. Thought it might be something new for you if you want to join me.”

“Drive-in movie? Like, the type of drive-in you see in old movies with the cars and big screen and everything?” Jessica’s disbelief was clear in her voice. “I thought those things had gone the way of the dinosaurs.”

Vini shook her head. “No. I mean, not completely, I guess. This one happens once a month, and I try to catch it when I have time. Last time Dani and Ava joined me, but Dani has a shift and Ava will probably be sucking face with Grace.”

Jessica laughed. “You’re not wrong. Grace has mentioned Ava like once an hour since we left. If it wasn’t so cute, I would strangle her.” Vini chuckled not surprised in the slightest. If not for Ava having been gone and hanging out with Brad, Vini would probably have the same problem. “Also, what makes you think I won’t try to suck your face at the drive-in? Isn’t that what the cool kids do?”

Heat scorched through Vini at the thought. It would be a lie to say she hadn’t been hoping for it, but she also just wanted to spend some time with Jessica at one of the places she enjoyed. “I don’t know about the cool kids, but this drive-in has caramel popcorn that is guaranteed to turn you on.”

“You had me at caramel. I’m in.” Grace’s voice suddenly cut in loud and frantic. “I have to go. Grace is freaking out about finding her parents and not missing lunch. Our flight lands at two so we should be back to town around four.”

“That’s fine,” Vini replied quickly. “I’ll come pick you up around five when I get off. The movie starts at six, and we want to get there early to get a good parking spot.”

“Sounds great. Have a great rest of your day, Vin. Talk to you later.” Jessica’s phone disconnected before Vini had a moment to answer, but even so, the smile didn’t leave her face even when Aiden dropped a box of supplies.

Twelve

Being back in Peach Blossom after a weekend in Miami was like night and day, but the weirdest part wasn’t that she missed Miami. It was that shedidn’t.Jessica had gone with Grace to see Grace’s parents for the holiday weekend, and things had gone just as well as they always did when she went home with Grace. They ate a ton of food, Cuban this time, did some early Christmas shopping and generally people-watched. Rather, Grace people-watched, and Jessica added much needed commentary to round it all out. What had been different were the texts and phone calls Jessica exchanged with Vini.

It wasn’t that they were chatting nonstop. That would have been rude, after all. But when Jessica was strolling down the beach admiring the way the sky was unblemished by a single cloud, the picture she snapped wasn’t just for herself. When she settled into the guest room in the evening, it wasn’t her mom she had called to talk about her day. The fact that it hadn’t seemed out of pocket to her was what left her mildly concerned that something had changed that she was unaware of.

Her phone rang, jarring Jessica out of her musings. When she saw who it was, she groaned and counted to five before connecting the call.

“It’s about time you answered the damn phone. I thought you were going to send me to voice mail.”

She smiled down at the phone. “That would probably have been what you deserved. As it is, I can’t believe I’m finally hearing from the famous Jason,” she teased. “How the hell are you?”

It had been a few weeks since she last talked to him, what with his busy work schedule and the time difference of him being out on the West Coast. When he had announced he was going to medical school, Jessica thought he was kidding. As a kid, he had taken after their mom with the acting gene and had starred in a couple popular sitcoms. His calling it quits at twenty to instead become a doctor was a pivot that had happened faster than Jessica had been prepared for. Now though, it was like he had been born to be a doctor, and the days of acting for anyone other than his patients were probably far behind him.

“Living the dream, sis. How’s Mayberry and cow-tipping?”

“You are so fucking old,” she replied with a laugh. “Please tell me you’ve watched a show younger than Mom in the last month or so.”

“No can do. My love for the classics will remain undeterred.”

Jessica shook her head. “It pains me to realize we’re related.” She walked over to the recliner that sat in front of the window and dropped down, getting comfortable. She had spent most of the day sitting and watching people from her vantage on the second floor. It was quickly becoming one of her favorite pastimes outside of finding her place between Vini’s legs and in her arms.

“But seriously,” Jason continued, “how are things going there? Has the heat died down enough for you to come out of self-imposed isolation? Are you still trending on social media?”

She snorted. “Not even close. Honestly, I haven’t even been online at all lately.” That was odd too. While Jessica didn’t live and breathe social media, she still tended to check up on it. She hadn’t banned herself from going onto any of her usual platforms, though she had banned herself from posting anything that might give up her location.

“Wow. Mayberry must be amazing if you haven’t been paying attention to the Gram or Book of Faces.”

“Oh my God, it’s Peach Blossom, you ass,” Jessica finally corrected. “And I’ve been busy with other things. I’ve actually made some friends here. I’m going to a drive-in movie tonight with one of them.”

Jason was silent for a moment. Both of them had grown up moving around so much, and even now Jessica continued the tradition. While Jason was more stationary because of his school and career, like her he was not a fan of small towns. When he had heard that she was planning on staying in Peach Blossom for six weeks while the drama surrounding her latest relationship escapades died down, Jason had proclaimed that she would no doubt be bored out of her skull and on a plane to Italy within twenty-four hours. It was amazing how wrong he was.

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