“I don’t mind a few fucks.” I wince. “Not that you and I—”
“Fuck that. Imma stop you right there. I have a girlfriend. I mean to make her my wife one day. I am not interested in you or any other woman.” He grimaces. “I will say that some of the women who drop off their cars here will try to flirt with me to try to get me to lower the price on their repairs. Little do they know that I charge them a bit extra for labor for having to deal with that bullshit. Oh, and I don’t do any of that shady shit where I swap out a good battery for another one. Straight and honest. I believe in karma. Been fucked by karma before, so I'm on the straight and narrow, you get me?"
“I got you. I appreciate that because I wouldn’t overcharge anyone even if it meant I would lose my job and have no money to buy food to eat.”
Max nods a few times. “What’s your number so I can call you to let you know you didn’t get the job?”
“You mean to tell me I did get it so that I can try to help get those flirty ladies off your back?”
“Hmm. Maybe you can deal with all of the customers.”
“You sure that guys will want to drop off their cars and bikes with a woman?”
“A woman like you? Hell, I’m willing to bet you look sexy in these overalls. They’ll want to bring in their bikes to have oil changes and such just so that they can see you bend your ass a bit.”
“Um…”
"Yeah, yeah. Sex sells, or so they say."
“I’m not in it for that.”
“Good. I don’t know if I like the idea of you being alone out here and not in the back. We’ll see. But that’s only something to see if you get hired.”
“Understand, buddy.”
“Good, dollface.”
I laugh. “You aren’t half bad, Max.”
“Don’t tell no one. I have a rep I hafta maintain.” He shakes a finger at me. “If I do hire you, you’ll earn your paycheck.”
“Don’t you worry. I’m a hard worker. Wouldn’t want it any other way. No handouts for me.”
Max nods and hands me a napkin and a pen. I write down my number and head out of there.
No handouts. The scholarship had been earned. My real grades. Just a fake school.
But I sure do feel like I’m living a lie. I hate that.
But what choice do I have?
I so need this job. If Max doesn’t hire me… I don’t know what to think.