Page 32 of Big Trouble
Mom placed her hands on her hips. “You did go to the appointment, right?”
“Of course.” I rolled my eyes. My life wouldn’t be worth living otherwise. Briefly, I filled her in on the positive news, but omitted to tell her about my internal struggles.
“Jack, I’m so pleased.” She placed a kiss on the top of my head. “I hated to think of you having to start again, to find something else that you cared so much about.”
An image of Lo in the back of my car her head thrown back in the height of ecstasy, flashed into my head. I had no idea how she’d gotten so deep under my skin so quickly. She was different from anyone I’d ever known. She didn’t seem to care about my past or my fame. She was certainly far removed from the grid girls who only wanted me for what I could do for their career.
I liked her.
And I think she liked me too.
Was Lo the answer?
“I’m sure I’ll find something,” I said. “Did I mention I saw Scarlett at the hospital? She’s looking good.”
“Blooming, I expect.” Mom smiled before her eyes dimmed. “Such an awful thing to happen. But she’s got her friends around her and everyone has rallied around.”
It was funny to think that in a way, I had too.
I should be more grateful for it.
The next morning, I woke late. My dreams had been punctuated with Lo, the accident, Scarlett and the doctor. I didn’t feel at all rested. By the time I’d got downstairs, Mom had already left for work. She had, however, left me a list of things that needed doing, including picking up some groceries and fixing a fence panel. I had to be the dutiful son before I could get started on the bike waiting for me over at Maddox’s garage, otherwise I’d never hear the end of it.
Once the chores were complete and I was free, I headed over to the garage. I frowned to see the door all shut up and apparently no sign of life.
I hammered on the door. “Maddox? Are you there?”
Footsteps came from the other side. “What the hell do you want, Jack?” growled Maddox. He was bare chested, jeans slung low on his hips.
My mouth curled. “Wouldn’t say no to whatever you’re having.” I looked past him to see Lyla coming down the stairs, buttoning up her shirt.
“Fuck off,” he grunted.
“Such bad language from someone my mother thinks is a good boy.” I laughed. I barged past him. “I wanted to do some more work on the bike this afternoon.”
“You should have called; I’d have rolled out the red carpet.”
I rolled my eyes and headed towards the bike, ignoring the kissing going on behind me. I guessed Lyla didn’t have work this afternoon. Nor, by the looks of it, did Maddox. Ugh.
“I’m heading off now,” called Lyla. “Maybe see you tonight? We’re probably going to go to CC’s again.”
If I had my way, I’d take Lo out tonight, just the two of us. But how was I going to figure that one out? I didn’t have her number and I only knew where she worked. We were meant to have the appointment this afternoon, but…
“I’ll see,” I said. “I wanna get working on this baby and make some progress.”
“Sure.”
Lyla reached up and gave Maddox a long, lingering kiss. I averted my gaze.
He slapped her ass as she walked away, a grin spreading across his face. “Come on then, bike boy, let’s get to work.”
We spent the next hour working away on our respective projects, me on the bike, Maddox on the MG. The radio was on and occasionally one or the other of us would burst into song, singing along with the music. At one point there was even a fantastic dual rendition of the Backstreet Boys. It was almost like we were back in school, like nothing had ever gone down between us.
When we took a break, Maddox made us coffee and found a couple of doughnuts he claimed were left over from breakfast. Apparently, he and Lyla had stayed at the apartment above the garage last night and neither of them had bothered to cook a proper meal.
“You messed up with Lo again last night then?”
Maddox and the others had been in the bar when she’d arrived, and then she’d gone back in there after we’d hooked up. I narrowed my eyes. How much did he know?
