Page 25 of Still Here Without You

“She’s all ready for you, Joel,” my friend says as he wipes grease from his hands. “You were right, just had to replace the ignition coil. It’s all fixed now and running like new.”

I sigh in relief.

“Thanks, James. I appreciate it. Sorry, I should be keeping an eye on that and fixing it myself.”

James barks out a laugh, adjusting the baseball cap on his head. “While we both know you are very capable of fixing it yourself, you never will.”

“You’re probably right,” I say with a nod. “Let me settle up the check and get out of your hair.”

“You know I’ll work on this baby anytime,” he says, moving toward the counter. I follow him with a smile. James helped me restore my bike back to new a couple of years ago. And by help, I mean I paid him to do it. I could have had a go myself, but he needs the business, and I’ve got college to deal with, so it worked out for both of us.

“My sister keeps asking when she’s going to see you in her parlor,” he says with a raised eyebrow, his lips pulling up into a smirk.

“I know, I know. I actually saw her out the other day. I’m still thinking about it. I don’t have the right image in mind yet.”

“Let her choose. That’s what I do.”

“And your tattoos are amazing. But I want something meaningful for my first.” I tap the counter and furrow my brow in thought.

“The first of many?” he says, and I laugh.

“Is your sister paying you for these sales?” I ask.

James laughs out loud and mumbles, “She should be,” in mock annoyance.

When my bill is settled, I tap the counter again and grab a mint from the jar they keep by the register. “I’ll see you for her service if not before?”

“I’ll be here.”

With a wave, I make my way to my first love, glad to have her back in working order.

I’m cruising down the back streets, enjoying the fresh air, when I spot Dylan’s truck coming toward me, flashing his headlights. Pulling my bike to a stop, I sit up straight and wait for him to arrive. As soon as we come eye to eye, he winds down his window and huffs out a relief-filled sigh.

“Happy coincidence? Or did you hunt me down?” I ask with a raised eyebrow.

Dylan runs his hand through his hair. “Both. I was on my way to see if you were still with James, but it’s a fluke that I’ve found you here.”

“What’s up?”

“I just ran into Delilah,” he says and then pauses, like he’s waiting for a reaction from me.

“Ooh-kay.”Get to the point.

“Well, I didn’t exactly run into her. I saw her.” He’s speaking quickly with an edge to his voice that I know means he’s holding back his feelings. “Joel, she’s a mess. She ran off from the cheer locker rooms in tears. I tried to call out but I don’t think she heard me.”

My heart races, and my stomach churns at his words.

“Where was she headed?”

“I don’t know,” he says, throwing his hands in the air like he’s annoyed at himself for not having an answer. “I just saw her leaving the stadium. I tried calling you, but—”

“Shit! My phone’s at home. I don’t even know where she’d go.”

“Maybe try her dorm.”

“Oh, so clever. Why didn’t I think of that? So where the fuck is her dorm?”

“I don’t know. I’m not the one sleeping with her.”

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