Chapter One: Harvey
∞∞∞
I sigh and turn the wrench one more time loosening the lug nuts on the old car. One more time fixing this monster of a car for Hattie. She refuses to get a new car and I don’t have the heart to get into it with her one more time. I don’t have the heart for much anymore. Not since Jeremiah left town.
I push that thought right out of my head. I’m done wondering what I did wrong. Wondering how he could just take off like that with no word for months.
Some friend he turned out to be. Hattie says he’ll be back as soon as he realizes how bad he fucked up. But I’m done. I’ve got nothing to say to him.
I paid for our date even though Hattie said I didn’t have to. It’s for the town so I’ll pay it anyway and fuck Jeremiah Jenkins. I’m done trying.
Sure, I’ve been in love with him since he wandered into my dad’s shop at eighteen looking for a job. Sure, I’ve dreamt about him every night for the last ten years. And after my parents passed away in the car accident and he came to the house and was so sweet and comforting, asking if there was anything he could do, sure I wouldn’t be able to handle the business on my own. I proved him wrong of course.
But I’m lonely and tired and I want someone to come home to although I’d never admit it to my girls. They think I’m a badass for doing so much with the shop. And I am.
But at night, when I’m by myself, I long for companionship. And it’s making me cranky as all hell.
I can’t wait forever for Jeremiah to wake up and realize I’m the one for him. I need to move on. Need to find someone who’s willing to make me a priority in their life instead of just a duty.
That’s what I was to my dad. From the time I could understand words, I knew I was a disappointment to him. But to say he was disappointed in me being a daughter, is to understate it. That’s how come I’m Harvey. My dad wanted a boy and refused to even consider that his child was going to be a girl until I appeared. Ta-dah! Instant disappointment. I spent my whole life trying to live up to what he wanted in a son. Which is why I’m a mechanic named Harvey.
I slip out from under the car after checking the tires and straighten the top of my coveralls. Somehow I always end up flashing people. Big boobs and a petite frame in big coveralls is a bit of a problem.
But I can handle it.
Until I hear a cough and look up. Jeremiah’s arctic blue eyes are fixed on my chest where it’s half-hanging out of the top of my coveralls.
“Hey, Midge! How ya doing?”
Are you kidding me here? My mind freezes and I can’t think what to say. But I sure as hell know what to do!
I stalk over and slap him, hard, in the face. My hand imprint lingers, a bright red beacon to my anger.
Then I turn around and pace back to the office. He pauses for a second and then he follows me. His steps hesitant, no longer sure of his welcome.
He shouldn’t be. Freaking asshole.
I turn around and my hand slams into his chest when he doesn’t get stopped fast enough. “What the hell do you want?” I growl, incensed all over again when he shoots me that smirk that always used to make my heart race.
Damn thing still does but I’m not letting it lead me astray this time. I’m not falling for the pleading in his ice-blue eyes either.
“I came to see you, Midge. What’s the matter?”
“Really? You show up after no word for months and just act like nothing’s happened. Like it’s no big deal. Well, too damn bad. It is a big deal. I don’t want you around me anymore, Jeremiah Jenkins.”
“Don’t be like that! I had a job to do.”
So this job was in Antarctica and you couldn’t contact me?”
He grins, his eyes sparkling. “Fuck, I’ve missed that sassy mouth of yours.” His gaze lingers on my mouth when he says it and I can feel that fluttery feeling in my core. Like right before you plunge down from the top of a rollercoaster. His gaze is heated and his lips part on an indrawn breath. That’s all it takes for me to start thinking again about what it would be like if he kissed me.
Friends aren’t supposed to think like that. And right now we’re not even that. We’re about the furthest thing from it as far as I’m concerned.
I sigh and lean back against the wall beside my office door, crossing my arms to cover my racing heart.
“I’m not sure why you’ve come back here. As far as I knew you were gone for good. You should have kept it that way.”
“What about our date? I needed to come back for that at least.”