Page 4 of Shifting Gears

“Shouldn’t be a problem, crazy American,” Ken said as he lay back down on the garage creeper and pulled himself under the car.

I made my way up the stairs to my loft, locking the door behind me before going to the closet. I opened up my stash compartment and grabbed my brass from it and a few bucks. Needed to buy a few things before I could do this right. I put everything back and went downstairs.

“Minato! Tell the old man I’m going out and I’ll be back later,” I hollered across the shop in his direction.

He gave me a nod in reply as I left.

It was a cloudy day, but not cold, so having my hood up wasn’t something that made people question if I was up to something sketchy. I made my way to a shop that I knew sold car stuff, and lucky enough, I found myself a slim jim to buy. Paid for it and a small screwdriver before leaving the shop. I needed one more element before I could start looking for a car to boost. Thankfully, masks were a common thing here, and while I would not find something like I used to wear, a plain black face mask would do. I put it on and walked out of the store, and it turnedout, people gave you a lot more space if you were wearing a mask. This just made my job a lot easier.

I walked around the city until I found a busy area where the streets were bustling with cars and trucks. That was when I saw a public parking garage with stairwell access.

Perfect. No gate guard either.

Taking the stairs two at a time at a jog, I went up a few floors until I saw a skybridge. I walked out and chilled on the walkway that went between the parking garage and a tall skyscraper. I figured a lot of wealthy people worked there. Now all I had to do was wait.

I spent the next hour watching the cars pass by below when I sawit,and my body tensed.

There is no way it’s her.

I watched an eerily familiar-looking blue Nissan Skyline GT-R roll up to the parking garage entrance. I couldn’t take my eyes off it as it drove up the levels, and when it finally came to a stop, I gripped the railing as I waited for the driver to exit.

Of course, when a man got out of the car and strode toward the skybridge I was on, my body relaxed again.

Knew it. Why the fuck would she be in Japan?

I told myself that, but seeing a car that looked like hers was all it took to have me dragging out my phone and scrolling down to the messages from Rosalie. Hadn’t opened them since I’d left, but I couldn’t make myself delete them. I had blocked her number the night I said goodbye, but that was it. No sense in giving her false hope I’d be coming back just because she tried calling and texting me. That was over for good. But, damn, it’d been great while it lasted.

I paused on some of the silly selfies she had sent me one day when it was slow at her job. She had tested out some new colors on some sample models, and the airbrush had a jam, and the paint backfired all over her face and shirt. Remembering herexcitement when she had gotten home and her going on and on about how she’d continued working after the mess and created two new colors made me chuckle to myself.

Did you ever get to use those colors on an actual car, baby girl?

“Shit.”

I was sucked right back into the feelings I’d had about her. Seeing that Skyline in almost the same color as her car might be a sign—even though I didn’t really believe in stuff like that. But what was the harm in checking in, making sure she was doing fine? But I wasn’t about to message her directly. Nah, I had a better idea. One that wouldn’t have me giving her hope that I was still thinking about her and wanted her.

I clicked out of her texts and scrolled through my other messages until I found my old plug’s info. I knew he lived in the area close to her dad’s custom car shop, where she worked.

AJ

Hey, need you to do me a favor.

Billy Crystal

What’s that? Wait, ain’t you living over with the Karate Kid or something now? What do you need from good ol’ Billy Crystal?

AJ

I need you to swing by Kayden’s Customs, check in on the woman who works there.

Billy Crystal

You need me to check in on some chick? What’s in it for me?

AJ

You can’t drive by on your way to do some business?

Billy Crystal

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