Page 17 of Vex

“So, can I go? Can I? Please? I have to finish up the car, and Trigger said he’d come in on his day off just to help me,” Tessie asks while turning pleading eyes my direction.

“Of course, honey. We’ll call for an Uber…”

“No need. Chubs said he’d pick me up at 9am if you said yes. I just have to text him and let him know I can. Thanks!” Tessie interrupts to say before bolting back toward the house. Upon reaching the door, she turns back to us and proceeds to say, “Sorry for breaking up your moment earlier. Go back to sucking face. I got a text to send. Night, Vex.”

“Night, Tessie,” Vex answers with a laugh as she rushes inside and closes the door.

“She’s not going to sleep at all tonight,” I say with a smile.

“Not for a second,” Vex agrees.

“I better get inside and let her talk herself out,” I inform Vex with some regret.

“Yeah. I’ll pick you up tomorrow for your shift. Plan on getting home very late tomorrow, Taja. We’ll be spending some time together after your shift,” Vex informs me in a serious voice.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Vex,” I respond as I walk to the house.

Chapter 10

Vex

I have some time to kill today before I pick up Taja, so I take a run to the club’s garage to see how Tessie’s doing. Dismounting my bike, I walk in the front door and immediately see Petey behind the parts counter. Mac’s perched on one end of the counter humming to himself.

“Hey, Vex. How’s it going?” Petey asks.

“All good, Petey. Hey, Mac.”

“Hey Pretty Boy,” Mac shouts as he approaches with his wing extended.

I chuckle at the feathered little menace as I fist bump his wing.

“Need something, Vex?” Petey questions.

“No. Just thought I’d stop and see how Tessie’s doing. I saw her last night, and she was pretty excited about coming back here today.”

Petey’s smile instantly drops and so does my stomach. What the hell’s up with his expression?

“Jesus, Vex. She’s only 15 years old!” he half-shouts at me.

“Perv! Kick ass Gramps!” Mac adds his two cents worth.

“What the fuck, Petey? I know that shit. I’m not here to hit on her for fuck sake,” I say chuckling at him as his expression slowly changes back to friendly. “Her sister bartends at the club. Met Tessie when I gave her sister a ride to and from work. Tessie was excited about coming back here today, so I thought I’d stop and check on her. Her sister, Taja, worries about her.”

“So, it’s the sister you’re after. Got it now. Sorry about that, Brother,” Petey states with a grin.

“Not after anyone. Not looking to settle down. Ever. I’m not that guy. Not happening,” I insist while watching Petey’s grin get bigger. Fuck me. I said too much, and Petey’s not one to miss anything.

I shake my head in disgust at myself, and walk off before I say anything else. I hear Mac cackling as I walk away. Entering the garage’s workspace, I spot Tessie by Taja’s car. She’s listening intently to Trigger as he explains something. Looking closely at her expression, I can easily tell how much she’s in love with being here. I find myself liking the fact that she’d prefer to be here learning a trade than hanging out at the mall. She may be young, but she knows who she is and what she wants. Someone’s done a great job at raising her. Tessie looks up and spots me walking her direction. Her face lights up, and I know she’s going to be a heartbreaker in the near future. The girl’s gorgeous.

“Hi, Vex!”

“Hey, Brother,” Trigger adds to her enthusiastic greeting.

“Hi, Tessie. Trigger. How’s it going?” I ask.

“The starter’s in and works perfectly. Trigger showed me how to run diagnostics on Taja’s car, and it showed a few issues that should get fixed. If she’ll okay the repairs, he promised he’d show me how to fix all of them. If it wasn’t for the cost, I’d wish the engine would die so I could learn how to put in a new one,” Tessie finishes with a snicker.

“Pretty sure that’d make you happier than it would Taja,” I reply.

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