Page 22 of Love in Mission City: The Shorts

Today, I didn’t stand a chance in my khakis and golf shirt.I needed to give up all semblance of propriety and throw on my shorts and white T-shirt.But I wouldn’t.I was raised to believe image in the store meant everything.My father’d worn a tie and my mother a proper dress.The move to khakis was a departure.

Except Sunshine, of course.She’d worn flowy dresses as well as jeans and blouses for as long as she worked here.

My parents never applied the same standards to her.

I glanced down at my disheveled outfit.Might I consider going more casual?

The clientele had changed over the years.We saw many younger people who didn’t want to read books on their phones, while their parents embraced technology.The anonymity of an electronic device.And some of our long-time clients, like Miss Edna, were fading away.

I wiped my brow and headed over to the a/c to lower the temperature.The sale of Raven’s book would cover the cost.I’d wanted to sell the book at cost to Miss Edna, but she insisted on paying full retail.She gave methatglare, and I didn’t argue.

As I grabbed my ice-cold water in my stainless-steel water bottle, I remembered Sunshine’s warning words from earlier.That I should have plenty of water on hand to give to Spike.Like the older man was my responsibility or something.

Not that much older.

And so your type.

Did I really need the voice in my head admonishing me?

Shut up.

Sun re-entered the store.“You should totally take him a bottle.”With that little bombshell, she took the watering can through to the back room.

Damn interfering woman.

And if she said it, then it needed to be acted upon.Likely in the moment.

I followed her into the back room to grab a bottle of water as she headed back into the store.

I discreetly sniffed my pits, which weren’t too bad, and braced myself for the onslaught of heat.I strode through the store, purposely ignoring Sun, and headed into the soupy day.

A haze hung over us, here in the lower Fraser Valley.

My parents’ home had been up in the mountains north of town, and I would’ve preferred to live there, but I didn’t have the funds, so I got to live down here with the pollution.One day, I promised myself.One day I would live up in the clean air.

My strides were a little less strident as I made my way to Spike’s shop.I hoped to find him inside sipping an iced coffee, but no such luck.I followed the sound of cursing, through the open garage door and into the enclosed workspace, open to all the elements.How did he plan to work here in the winter?Actually, likely very few bikes needing repair when it snowed, or the temps hit well below freezing.Maybe he went to Arizona for the winter?

The object of my obsession dropped a wrench on the ground and let out another string of expletives.

“You’ll frighten away the customers with that mouth.”I reconsidered.“Okay, maybe just some of them.”

“Fucking hell.”He let out one long breath, then rose and, after a fashion, turned to face me.Despite not being in direct sunlight, his skin was an abnormal lobster-red and his breaths labored.

I made a grab for his arm.

He swayed dangerously.

I advanced again, this time not takingnofor an answer.I snagged his elbow and, after a moment, he let me lead him inside.

Since the door was open, the inside wasn’t much better.

I noted the door to the office, and saying a prayer he had sense, herded him that way.

A blast of cold air hit us as we entered the room.I all but shoved him into the chair, then pivoted to close the door as quickly as possible.I uncapped the bottle and shoved it at him.

Plenty of shoving going on right now and none of it sexual.

Did you really have to go there?

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