Page 4 of Wildfire
I have a friend like that back home, and I already miss her. I've been gone less than a day, and I miss my bestie like I missed my dog when he died. It's almost the worst pain I've ever experienced in my twenty-two years.
Almost.
"By the way, you haven't told me your name yet, Chief. Or should I just call you Chief?"
"Cole. Cole Barone."
"Cole? Like the stuff bad kids get at Christmas?"
He laughs at that, and I enjoy making him smile. It feels good when you can make people smile. These days, it seems everyone is always frowning at me or yelling.
"Yeah. Like the stuff bad kids get at Christmas."
"Have you been a bad boy, Cole?"
The look on his face jolts me a little, and I realize I have crossed a line. Sometimes I do that. I cross lines. When you have the life I've had up to this point, you end up skipping over some of the rules of engagement. I chalk it up to losing my mom at such a young age and growing up with the wild animals that are my dad and brothers.
I throw a packet of sugar at him and grin. My grin always mends fences with men. "I'm kidding."
He nods and ducks his head down just a bit, veiling his expression. Something in me wants to reach out and lift his face back up so I can see it. He's handsome in that severe kind of way. He's a little older than me, but he doesn't have the rakish looks of a young stud like his brother. He's more hard lines and angles, clean cut without being uptight. He looks like the kind of guy that rubs his chin when he has serious thoughts.
"So what next?"
He tilts his head like my golden retriever used to, and I swear I feel a little tug in my heart.
"Next for what?"
"Me. My car."
"Oh, right. Sorry, I was thinking about something else."
Like me asking if you were a bad boy?
"Caleb will look over your car and then call me on my phone since he knows we're together, or at least I know where you are. And then you'll give him the go-ahead if you want the repairs."
"I don't have a choice."
"There's another mechanic in the next town, but my brother is very good at what he does. We practically grew up in that shop. He's been fixing cars since before he grew—"
I throw my hands up in the air to stop him. I had two brothers growing up, so I can only imagine what he was about to say. "I get it. Okay, so I guess I just await my fate."
Avery brings the food over. My stomach growls as I inhale the scent of the hot bacon and fried potatoes.
"I heard that." Cole grinned at me. "Enjoy your food."
"Thanks." I tuck into that meal so fast. I had no idea I was hungry. I think I was running on adrenaline for the last few hours since I left my goodbye note and crept out of my house.
When we are just finishing up, Cole's phone chirps. He politely excuses himself and takes the call outside. I've never been around someone thoughtful enough to excuse themself before taking a call. People don't have manners anymore.
God, I sound like an old lady.
His face is blank when he returns, so I can’t read what is happening. It makes me nervous when I don't know what's happening in someone's head.
"That was Caleb. Let's head to the shop as soon as you're done."
"I'm done now."
"You don't want to finish your tea?"
