Page 90 of Blossoms of the Heart
Chapter 18
Tai
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“You know I’m pretty certain smoking still kills.” Mitsuke said as she walked into the garage.
I lowered my head to meet her on coming gaze and released the smoke that I’d just drew into my lungs.
I took another draw from the nearly burnt out cigarette dwindling between my thumb and forefinger. That was just to annoy her.
She placed her hands on her hips and shook her head. The blunt ends brushed against the edge of her elbow.
“Mitsuke, how was your trip?” her week long trip to LA turned into two weeks. she’d gotten back a few days ago.
“Far tooo busy for my liking.”
To my surprise –although I shouldn’t really have been surprised, she snatched the cigarette from my fingers , tossed it on the ground and stomped on it with her bright yellow heels.
“Why’d you do that for?” I snapped.
“I just told you. Smoking kills.” She tilted her head to the side and regarded me with a sly smile.
“Right now it’s the only thing keeping me alive and sane. Smoking calms the nerves and the soul.”
I picked up the wrench from the tool box at my feet and started undoing a bolt in the hood of this beauty that had come my way last night.
Dante came through and won it. Handed it over to me without as much as a word. Apology accepted.
It just needed some work after the battering it took from last night’s race.
Sometimes we won money, but the best prizes were cars. If we saw a car we wanted we’d wager that.
In the garage right now we had about fifteen cars. These were all for sale once my guys finished working on them.
“Calm the soul?” Mitsuke shuffled around and sat on the little chair I’d placed nearby when I was sorting through the tools I’d need.
I looked at her and smiled.
She never came to the garage to visit me. She told me she hated the smell of cars and grease and that was fine by me since she distracted the hell out of the guys and I’d have a hard time trying not to kill someone.
Today she wore short shorts, a stringy top that looked like something from the seventies and those killer heels. Dressed for the runway as always.
She also knew to call ahead when she was going to come here, and she didn’t.
Something was up and I had a strong feeling it was to do with Phoebe.
Phoebe wasn’t at work again today. Akito was still unwell.
I called him to check up on him but I didn’t ask about Phoebe. Not like I did yesterday.
Today was me keeping my distance. I worked hard today and I thought I’d come by here to sort this car out. I suspected we’d have to stay over at Akiyoshido tomorrow and since I didn’t want to leave anything important hanging or dragging over into next week I decided to go to Candace’s place first thing in the morning. I’d message first then head over if I didn’t get a reply. Then I’d wait for her to come back. I had it planned that if I didn’t see her then that would be it.
I’d get on with my life and leave her in her stupid game.
“Calms the soul.” I confirmed.
“Sounds like you have women on the brain.” She giggled.
