Page 85 of Ignite

“What, this little old thing?” I’d finished wiping down Ethan’s ute with a soft cloth, removing any trace of dust or fingerprints on the black gloss.

“Hella yeah.” Trey slowly inspected the ute from all angles. “It’ll be worth whatever you want to charge me. Hell, I’d marry you and carry the babies if that’s what it will take.”

“Um, did you even take biology?” I said, laughing. “And, no. Cash or a payment plan will be fine.”

“This is from us guys,” Korbin said, setting down a meat tray. “Bailey won the meat raffle up at Beringa Returned Services Leagues Club last night. Since we don’t pay you for our trucks, we figured we could at least feed you.”

“And you figured if you gave me more meat than I can eat in a year, then I’ll invite you over?”

“It’s been a while since we had a Mettner Meal.” Korbin’s tone was gentle, not wanting to upset me.

“Too right. Let me catch up on some sleep and I’ll send out the invites.” I threw him my car keys, “Can you put it in my car, I’ll drop it off before coming back and dropping off Ethan’s ute.”

“I can do that,” Trey said, standing protectively in front of Ethan’s ute. “You do you, and leave the ute to us. Korbin can follow me to Ethan’s and take me from there.”

It was a good idea.

But, I wanted to see Ethan’s face when I dropped off his ute.

I wanted to see the realization that this town was his new home and we could have a future in it. There would still be the whole issue of his stupid pride getting in the way of him joining the RFS, but he’d come around.

He had to.

But when faced with Trey’s offer, I lost my nerve.

“No, man.” Korbin faced off with Trey. “Rylee did the work and deserves to hear his thanks first hand.”

“No, really.” I looked for Ethan’s keys and tossed them to Trey. “You’ll be doing me a favor. I’ve got tonnes of paperwork and could use the time.”

Korbin didn’t buy my act. “Face your fear, Ryles, face him.”

“I’ll see him at the gym or around. I’m not leaving town.”

“You sure? We can stick around and help you out,” Korbin refused to take a step towards Ethan’s ute until I physically pushed him in that direction.

“I’m sure,” I laughed. “I’m sure that I’m not letting either of you near my paperwork, I’m sure that Trey is gonna bitch and complain when I give him a quote for his job, and I’m sure Ethan wants his ute back asap. I even sent Ethan a text, so he’s expecting it to be dropped off.” I cupped my face and sighed so sweetly that Korbin had to do what I wanted. “Please? I might be pulling a late night, so, please, pretty please?”

“Okay, kiddo.” Korbin pulled me into a bear hug. “But the two of you need to sort your shit out, okay? I want my favorite cheerleader on the sidelines, not hiding away.”

The guys left with Ethan’s ute and I felt a tremendous hole in my life. There were no more ties between us. And I hadn’t received my usual, annoying text from him in two days.

He was over me.

I looked through the photos I’d taken of Ethan’s ute, and then over at the wall. I’d overreacted. Ethan had taken the best of the photos from my work and set them in frames that were unique and perfectly suited to my style. My father had a style that had been uniquely his. When we worked together, our jobs had a different signature.

But Ethan had shown me that I’d embraced my own style. He’d proven that I could do this. His actions hadn’t been self-serving as I’d accused. They’d been selfless and the act of love.

I sighed and closed my eyes. Forcing Ethan to sign up to something he didn’t believe in, didn’t seem so important anymore. We would both serve our community in different ways. He was a good person, and I wanted a do-over.

Once I’d sent photos of the ute to the printer to get printed and framed, I locked up, went home, and hoped that Ethan would drop by.

Ethan

I kept re-reading the messages, unable to remember a time I’d been this happy.

Rylee:Ready to get your girl back?

Ethan:Do I get to choose which girl?

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