Page 7 of Dirty Mechanic
I blink. “I’m… A grandpa?”
He nods. “I love her,” he says. “When Huntz kidnapped her, I felt like I lost everything. I don’t want to waste time. Life’s too damn short.”
He’s not wrong. He’s racing toward a future while I’m racing against my past, and the clock.
I never thought I’d be around for this chapter of life, chasing grandbabies and letting them run around the orchard. My chest tightens. What if I fail him the way I failed Sarah? The way I failed Annabelle?
I motion to the bulge in his jacket pocket. “That what I think it is?”
He pulls out a velvet box and pops it open.
Sarah’s delicate rose gold band rests within. The diamond catches the morning light the same way it did the day I slipped it on her finger. I picture Misty wearing it, laughing, twirling it when she is nervous, and holding Blake’s hand for the first time.
Life’s not only short, but it also creeps up on you faster than grey hairs.
I swallow and shove the emotion down.
“Mom would be proud.” My vice tickles my throat. “You’ve got her eyes and her heart. She had a way of softening a room just by walking into it, and so do you.”
Blake smirks. “Don’t forget your stubborn streak.”
I laugh, pulling him in again to mess up his hair. He’s bigger than me now. And stronger. But right now, he’s still that boy who once asked me if love could fix everything.
Fuck if I know.
“You’re a good man, Blake. Misty’s lucky.”
“I’m the lucky one, Dad.” He steps back. “You know, Misty told me Annabelle’s coming back.”
The name slams into me like a crowbar to the ribs.
Annabelle.
The ground shifts beneath me.
I knew she was coming. I heard it in the whispers and felt it in the silence. The kind of silence that doesn’t just fill space. It suffocates it. Every missed call. Every unread text. Every damn excuse I made to stop hoping. I promised myself if she ever came back, I’d be smarter. Stronger. But standing here, all I feel is the old pull. It’s sharp and reckless. Because this isn’t just an old flame walking back in. This is the start of something I might not survive.
My focus drifts to the line of trees along the ridge where the sun’s barely started to burn away the morning fog. The world looks softer from here, like it forgot how cruel it can be.
I put my hands in my pockets. “She’s on her way?”
Blake smirks again. I’m fucking starting to hate all his little smirks. “Yeah. Should be here soon.”
Soon. How soon? Before I finish at the track tomorrow night? Before I’ve had a chance to get my head on straight?
Hell. I may not be ready to face Annabelle, but I’m not letting her run again.
Fuck.
I drag a hand down my face, trying to shake off the nerves. “You need anything else, kid?”
“Actually, yeah. My brakes are giving in again.”
I raise a brow. “Again?”
He shrugs, sheepish. “Meant to bring it by, but got caught up with chores.”
“Bring it in as soon as possible. Better yet, I’ll tow it.”
