Page 82 of Ice Princess

My eyebrows fly up.

Gunner’s eyes harden.

I lick my suddenly dry lips. “How’s your dad, Benji?”

“He’s good,” Benji says, looking like he wants to steer the conversation back to my relationship status. “My father hasn’t stopped talking about what you did for Scooby’s Nightmare.Every time we meet up, he hints at inviting you out as a thank you.”

“There’s no need for that.” I shake my head. “I was just doing my job.”

“Yes, but?—”

“Today’s not a social event,” Gunner clips. “If you haven’t noticed,” he gestures to the hockey players who are lifting a tall ladder out of the back of a truck, “we’ve got work to do.”

I turn to Gunner, frowning.

He pretends not to notice and speaks to me in a dark tone. “Rebel, we need directions on where to start painting.”

“Oh, right.” I nod at Benji. “I’m a little tied up today, but maybe you and I can meet up afterwards?”

Gunner makes an animal-like growl behind me.

Benji smiles and undoes the button at his cuff. “Why don’t I stick around?”

“Didn’t you say you came to town for business?”

“I’m flexible.” He rolls up the sleeve of his crisp white shirt. “You need more painters?”

“We’ll need all the help we can get. By the way, Gunner, Theilan said the paint truck came all the way from the city. Who donated that much paint?”

Gunner clears his throat and glances away.

Something in his expression makes me pause. Why does he look so guilty?

“Gunner, did you?—”

Benji blurts, “You should have told me about your community initiative, Rebel. I know a lot of wealthy businessmen who’d love to give to a worthy cause. Tell you what. I’ll make a few calls. Just tell me what you need and they’ll have it here for you by mid-afternoon.”

Gunner rolls his eyes.

I nod absently at Benji. “L-let’s head to the school first.”

Several of the hockey players are already mounting ladders against the school building. Max gestures to me and I’m grateful to leave Benji and Gunner behind so I can focus on the project at hand.

When I’m finished hashing out the details with Max, I get a text from April.

APRIL:Sorry, Rebel. A client’s expecting his car today and I ran a quick test and saw another problem. So sorry. I really wanted to be there by now.

ME:It’s okay. I’m the one who’s sorry for leaving you with all those cars in the bay.

APRIL:It’s totally fine. The rest can wait. I sent Chance ahead since this will take longer than I expected. As soon as I’m done though, I’m coming straight over.

I text my best friend a line of pink heart emojis.

The Pink Garage opens from Monday to Saturday and I hate that April is there, fixing cars alone. We really need to interview the female mechanic she mentioned and get some more help in the auto shop.

“Rebel.” Mom’s voice draws my attention away from my phone. My eyebrows shoot to the top of my head when I see a crowd of people from the neighborhood standing behind her. “What canwedo to help?”

My heart squeezes in my chest. “Mom.”

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