Page 20 of The Sweetest Devotion

I cringed, thinking of my time in the dating pool. “Know what my biggest pet peeve is with men?”

Jadyn turned, giving me her full attention. “What?”

“Dick pics,” I confessed. “Like, I know it’s for reference, but I still can’t wrap my head around them sending pictures of their dicks next to household items like remotes and Febreze bottles.”

Jadyn cackled as she drank more of her wine. “And you know they’re not sanitizing that shit either when they’re done. Bet you their families are always wondering why they keep gettin’ pink eye.”

I was laughing again, loosening up despite my ordeal.

But then, I decided to be realistic and come back to Earth. I shook off Jadyn’s words and my pleasure. Keith and I had a simple fling. Nothing more and nothing less. My last hoorah before I spent the rest of my life in a loveless marriage.

* * *

In the morning, Jadyn dropped me off at Rod’s Repair before heading off to work. She’d let me borrow some jeans she’d been meaning to return to the store. While they hadn’t fit her, they clung to me like a glove. Her striped T-shirt she’d given me barely covered my stomach, but at least we were the same shoe size.

Note to self: next time you run away, make sure to pack a change of clothes.

“Go with the flow, and give meallthe details!” Jadyn demanded after I’d climbed out of her Volkswagen.

Business was alive and well this Monday morning as I turned from Jadyn’s exit and faced Rod’s Repair. Several vehicles lined the parking lot and inside I could see people waiting around the lobby and some standing at the front counter.

This didn’t have to be awkward. This semi-walk of shame could be casual, friendly.

After telling myself to believe that lie, I walked into the shop and threaded my fingers together as I approached the front counter. A female mechanic was ushering an elderly couple toward the back of the shop that led out into the garage area. Nowhere in the vicinity did I see Keith.

The male receptionist was typing away at a laptop when I came over to the counter. “Just a second.” His eyes were glued to the screen and I took a moment to look around again for Keith.Nowhere.

There was a young mother and two of her kids seated on the chairs against the front windows in the waiting area.SpongeBob SquarePantswas on and the little ones were engrossed as they looked up at the screen with snacks in their hands. Across from the family was an older man sitting back browsing a magazine.

Another man was standing by the vending machines debating on the options before him. Outside of the echoes of SpongeBob, the shop radio was on, creating a lively atmosphere.

“Can I help you?” The receptionist pulled my attention back toward him.

His name tag readJake. His face said he was friendly, but also busy.

“Uh, yeah, I’m here for the Lexus…?” Why had I said it as a question? Now that I thought about it, I hadn’t filled out any paperwork with Keith before we’d hooked up in the back office. I was sure he knew my full name now after bullshitting me about needing to see my license.

Jake’s brows furrowed and he glanced down at the paperwork cluttering the desk behind the counter. He grabbed a clipboard and held it up, scanning for something. “Oh, yeah, Nichols, right?”

“Yes, Kennedy Nichols,” I said. “Is Keith around?”

Jake shook his head as he was back to the laptop. “Busy, and does not want to be disturbed.” His fast fingers danced across the keyboard in seconds. “All right, looks like he got you all set up. Let me pull up the invoice and we?—”

“Excuse me?” I cut him off, not understanding what he meant by Keith being too busy to see me. “Where is he?”

Jake looked at me funny. “In the back, working on some reports. You’re good to go. All you have to do is pay for the spare.”

I didn’t care about my Lexus. It sounded like Keith was blowing me off, or maybe he was busy and didn’t want to be bothered. Still, he knew I was coming by.

“He’s expecting me,” I said.

Jake didn’t look convinced. “Uh-huh, he fixed the car, and then he went into the back and said he didn’t want to be bothered while he was back there.”

Jake was only following orders, and judging by his demeanor, he didn’t want to break them.

One thing about me, I tended to always get what I wanted. It wasn’t often I was told no and it stayed that way.

So, I put on my charming I’m-a-princess-and-you’ll-obey-me smile and attitude. “Jake, he knows I’m stopping by. If you let me go see him, I won’t tell.” I pressed my finger to my glossed lips. “It’ll be our little secret. I promise.”

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