Page 93 of Stuck With You
“Sir, I won’t be crawling back home with nothing to show for it.”
“I respect that,” I say, and his eyes brighten with hope. “You’ll have to prove you can pull your weight.”
“Yes, sir.”
“When can you start?”
“Uh, I have to give the grocery store two weeks, but if they let me go before, I can start that day.”
“You’ll begin with oil changes and tires.”
He nods. “Yes, sir.”
I stand. “I’ll email you the paperwork.”
He pushes out of the chair, placing his hat on his head, and extends his hand.
I shake it. “And if you call me sir one more time, your ass is fired.”
He laughs. “Yes, s—”
I eye him, and he catches himself.
I lead him out of my office, and he follows me into the shop.
He shakes my hand again, and I let him know I’ll be in touch with the paperwork.
When the door bangs closed, I realize the garage is quiet. I turn to see all eyes on me.
Wind’s lunch box is open on the workbench, and Trig takes a bite of a burger.
“He didn’t run out of here like you threatened to call the cops, so we have to be trending in a better direction.” Carson tosses an apple in the air.
“I hired him.” I step behind the counter to pull up the schedule.
I hear the crinkle of the chip bag and the crack of Wind’s daily Dr. Pepper.
I scroll through the afternoon schedule, knowing the overflow will have to wait until the morning.
“You hired him? Is he still in diapers?” Trig asks.
“Cal hired you when you weren’t much older.”
His eyes drop back to his sandwich.
“He might be young, but you can finally do something productive and teach him a thing or two.” I point a pen at him.
They groan.
“You’re supposed to hire someone to help us turn vehicles over faster. Not someone who needs their hand held and snack time,” Trig says through a mouthful.
“Does he have his own tools?” Carson asks.
I don’t answer, and they groan again.
“If he jacks up my impact wrench, that’s on you.” Trig points at me this time.
I cross my arms and widen my stance. “Listen. He needs this job and the confidence that will come with it. He’s looking to prove himself, and you all know exactly what that’s like. So, you will help him get acclimated and teach him because, underneath all of that loud ass groaning, you’re decent men.”
