But I don’t say anything. Not to the cashier – who's still grinning – and not to Mrs. Nicolini, because I can’t. I can’t make this an even bigger confrontation by opening the door for an argument. My body is revolting at just the idea.
So with my head down, and my lips shut, I swipe my card, and wait for the long receipt to print. The second the cashier holds out the strip of paper, I snatch it, and the bag, and walk as quickly as I can for the exit.
Chapter16
Axel
There’sa sharp knock on the doorframe and I look up from my old desktop computer to find Rodrigo standing just outside my office. “What’s up?”
“Dude at the paint store called to say that color you ordered is in. He wants to know if he should mail it or if someone is gonna go get it.”
I’m pushing my chair away from the desk before he finishes. “I’ll get it.”
Rodrigo’s eyes widen. “Uh, alright.”
There’s a hint of question in his tone, but I know he doesn’t voice it. But I get it. It’s not like me to go pick up paint – or anything – in the middle of the day, but my mind hasn’t been focused all week. Or I should say it hasn’t been focused on work all week.
My hand pats the front of my jeans, checking that my keys are in my pocket. “I’ll grab lunch while I’m out, so it’ll be a bit.”
Rodrigo nods, then turns, heading back to work.
I like all my employees – if I didn’t, I’d fire them – but I’m not buddies with any of them. I don’t really do small talk. Hell, I probably say more to Brian than I do to anyone else, and he’s still barely talking to me after I took his phone and car last weekend. I can only fucking imagine what the fallout would be if he found out I took his date too.
“Fuck,” I curse at myself and drag a hand down my face.
Following Rodrigo’s path out of my office, I pick my way across the concrete shop floor, exchanging grunts and nods as I pass the different bays with a variety of cars in varying degrees of assembly. Bypassing the human-sized entrance, I walk out one of the open garage doors and into the late morning sun.
It’s a little early for lunch, but I’ve been here since before 7:00 and it’s a valid excuse for why I’m going to be gone longer than necessary. And I know I’ll be gone longer than necessary because I’m going to take the long way there. The very long way there. Through Darling Lake.
There’s nothing I need in that town. Save for one person.
One beautiful, funny, intelligent, stunning person.
I let the purr of the engine settle me.
I’m just going to drive past BeanBag.
I repeat that in my head as I pull out of the parking lot and onto the frontage road in front of Axel’s Bodyshop. My Bodyshop.
She’s probably not even working. Or maybe she is, but she’ll be in the back office working like I just was. And if she is… then I won’t see her.
Then I’ll never see her.
A now familiar tightness wraps around my lungs.
I keep telling myself all the reasons why I can’t pursue her. She’s too nice. Too innocent. Too young for me. But even at 21 years my junior, she’s already in a similar position as I am. Owning a business. Living in a nice home. She’s settled. And whether I want to actually admit it to myself or not, Maddie’s an adult.
I press my foot on the gas as I merge onto the highway heading towards Darling Lake.
I don’t know if Maddie meant to tell me where she worked. And honestly, I don’t know if she remembers telling me – which makes me feel like a bit of a stalker. But it’s not like I hacked her phone to find out. And I’m not going to stop. I’m just going to drive by.
The devil on my shoulder snorts.Just drive by, sure. And what in the fuck is the point of that?
I ignore the little voice. I’m just making sure she’s okay.
The music blaring through my speakers cuts off as my ringtone replaces it.
I expect to see the shop number scroll across the display but it’s Brian.