Page 19 of Suits and Spark Plugs

“I know.”

Kelly paused and caught my eye. “So why don’t you let him? You’ve got a crazy cute boyfriend who is successful. What am I missing here?”

I shrugged. “Nothing. He’s great, but...”

“But...”

“I’m still not sure I want a boyfriend, and I really wish everyone would stop calling him that.”

To her credit she didn’t remind me of her long-held belief that a man would solve everything. Instead she cocked her head to the side and asked, “Why?”

“I have plans.”

“Your plans could have room for a companion.”

“Maybe. But I need more time to see if that’s true or not. I don’t want to get sidetracked by a set of gorgeous blue eyes. I can’t...”

She reached across the table and grabbed my hand. “I know. You can’t do your mom’s life.” I nodded, appreciating that she understood my deep fears. We worked quietly for a few moments, before I blurted out, “Seriously, every time he says something about liking me or wanting to take care of me I feel like I want to run away or something.”

Her eyebrows raised. “Sounds like it’s safe to say you aren’t getting warm flutters.”

I shook my head. “I should be, though, right?”

“Listen, if I waited for warm flutters all the time, I wouldn’t have nearly as much fun as I do. Blaine likes you. Good for him. I like you too. So does your family. It’s not like being liked is new for you. Those words shouldn’t make you want to run in fear.” She steadily worked, keeping her eyes on her task. “Just let it play out. There are worse things than having a guy like Blaine fall in love with you.”

“Fall in love with me? That’s a huge step from ‘let it play out.’ My gosh, we’re still getting to know each other.”

“There’s that whole love at first sight thing.”

“I guess it’s possible,” I said thoughtfully. “Men are more visual than women and ten percent more likely to believe in love at first sight.”

“This has nothing to do with science.” Kelly groaned.

“Well, the type of love you’re chasing is definitely not scientific,” I teased. She tossed a fork at me, which I dodged while laughing. “What if I decide I don’t want to be distracted by a boyfriend?”

“Then plant one last one on him and shut the door in his face.”

I chuckled. “Good plan.”

“I’m here anytime you need advice.”

The conversation lulled after that, and I couldn’t help but steal glances at the clock. My shift was over soon, and I was planning to go to Mainstreet Mechanic afterwards for my first cleaning shift. Connor had promised to come back and meet me there. He’d show me where the cleaning supplies were and give me a key so that I could come whenever I needed to after hours and lock up when I was done.

“Your eyes have that squingy look again,” Kelly interrupted my musings.

“That’s still not a word.”

“Yet your eyes are still doing it. Worried about your first night cleaning the mechanic shop?”

I sighed. “A little. Do you want to come with me? Be a buffer between Connor and me?”

“You’ve never needed a buffer in your entire life. You’ll be fine.”

I wrinkled my nose. “How did he suddenly get sucked into our lives when it was our motto to avoid, avoid, avoid?”

“My fault. In my defense, though, he grew those muscles and let his hair get a little longer. Have you noticed that he has freckles? They’re super dreamy...strictly from an observational friend type standpoint.”

“My eyes are feeling squingy again,” I replied.

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