Page 25 of Beneath the Hood

“It’s been hard, but Chase has been a godsend.”

My teeth grit at his name, and the hole that blazes in the center of my ribs flares.Chase fucking Adams.My closest friend. My biggest lapse in judgment. The one Lee welcomed back with open arms when he popped up eight years after leaving. After destroying everything he had.

Fuck her for forgiving him so easily. And fuck her for not realizing he hurt me too. That this hurts me too.

Anger swirls in my gut and I press end before hearing the rest of her message.Chase. It always comes back to Chase.

I’m missing her, and he never has to.

Not anymore.

* * *

The Healy has been gonefor two days, and I’ve moved on to a cherry red Ferrari 458, one of my personal favorites. Shame the inside isn’t as pretty as the out, but since they’re planning to blow this car up, there’s no need for the fancy interior. Just the illusion of perfection.

As I work on detailing the badge, a sadness teases at my conscience. This was always my dad’s dream, but in these moments I wonder whether he’d want any part of it if he knew what it was really like.

Dad lived for the satisfaction of polishing potential. Unearthing something beautiful. Unique. Something to take pride in. There’s no pride in empty cars with pretty faces.

My knees crack as I stand from the front of the Ferrari, and a flash of chocolate brown hair catches my eye through the glass doors. My stomach flips and I’m heading inside before I can stop myself.

Walking to the reception desk, I peer over the counter, a smirk splitting my face as I see Blakely. She’s talking on the phone, her hair thrown up in two gigantic buns, and she’s sitting on a large blue ball.

She gazes up at me and smiles—agenuinesmile—the first one I’ve ever seen her give. My lungs squeeze tight, forcing me to suck in a breath at its beauty. It’s slightly crooked, pulling up just a smidge higher on the left, scrunching the corners of her eyes.

My smirk transforms until I’m grinning wide back at her.

It’s nice to see her this way. So… light. Fun.

My eyebrow quirks as I watch her, amusement dancing its way through my chest at her antics. She looks ridiculous with those Star Wars buns and a giant exercise ball for a chair.

Her eyes stay locked on me even when she speaks into the phone. “Thank you so much, sir. I’ll be sure to let Karen know it needs to be adjusted and have her call you back with the final numbers.”

Hanging up, she resumes her vigorous bouncing. “What?” she pants.

Nodding toward the ball, I shrug. “What are you doing?”

She glances down before bringing her gaze back. “Exercising. What’s it look like?”

I rub my jaw. “Didn’t you work out enough last night?”

Her eyes darken. “It’s a new day, Jackson. Calories don’t burn themselves.”

“Actually, they do.”

“Semantics.” She waves her hand in the air. “Did you have a purpose for coming in here or are you just hanging around to annoy me?”

I bark out a laugh. The audacity of this girl to think thatI’mthe one annoyingher. “That’s cute, princess.” I lean on the reception counter. “So, what are we doing tonight?”

Her head cocks as she stops moving. “What makes you think we’re doing anything?”

My hand covers my heart. “You don’t want to hang out with me anymore? You’ve been begging forweeks,Blake.”

She clicks her tongue. “Guess you didn’t live up to my expectations.”

I scoff. “I am extremely offended by that statement.”

“Facts don’t care about your feelings.” She smiles.

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