Page 22 of Suits and Spark Plugs

I’d worked the early shift that day, after which I’d cleaned the house and grocery shopped. I wondered if we had any food left after this spontaneous house party. My hands clenched in anger at my sides as a sense of dreaded helplessness boiled in my stomach. I hated it, hated feeling trapped by the impossible tasks of doing it all. I couldn’t wait to be on my own, with only myself to worry about. It would be the sweetest feeling of freedom.

It was 7:15pmand I hadn’t seen Mom all day. I still needed to head to the mechanic shop to clean, and I didn’t have time to be the adult right now. I’d been hoping to study for another hour and then go clean after I knew for sure that Connor would be long gone.

I stomped to my bed and flopped down on my stomach, pushing my face into my quilt and letting out a scream that I knew no one could hear. I needed a quiet place to study. I needed a place free of aggravations, bass notes, and interruptions. I needed so much more than I dared to voice aloud.

Then, the light bulb hit. The mechanic shop. I could take my books and study in the office before cleaning. I’d wanted to give him a wide berth, but the reality was that Connor should already be gone. He wouldn’t have to know, and I wouldn’t be bothering anyone. It’s not like I’d be on the clock. They’d only pay me for actual time worked. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a plan.

Newly energized, I frantically packed my backpack, bundled up in my coat and mittens, and raced out into the cold night. This was going to work. No one would have any idea I was at the shop, and they would never bother me there. I’d close the office door so that no one from the street could see the light on. It was perfect, perfect, perfect.

Light flakes of fluffy snow stuck to my eyelashes as I dashed from the loud warmth of my house out to my popsicle of a car. The quiet of the drive over to the shop allowed my tense shoulders to begin to unwind. This was going to work.

Sure enough, the shop was pitch black when I showed up. I let myself in and went straight to the office. I made sure to close the door before flipping on the light. The desk was messy, but there was a big, oversized chair behind the desk that I could sit in and read the chapters I needed to get done.

I slipped out of my coat and used it to cover over me like a blanket when I sat down with my feet tucked under me. The heat was turned down for the overnight hours, which didn’t bother me while cleaning, but would catch up to me while sitting.

It was cozy and quiet in the office, wrapped in my coat and reading my textbook, and a welcome peace stole over me. The falling snow dampened outside noises as my breathing became deeper. I could hear the hum of the fluorescent lights above the desk. I hadn’t felt this kind of stillness around me in ages. I sank into it, not wanting to break the spell.

“Liv?” A voice pulled me slowly from a dark place. It was a man’s voice. “Wake up.”

A large, warm hand landed on my shoulder and I jolted awake, blinking hard at the unfamiliar surroundings. A shadow in front of me caused me to scream.

“It’s Connor. You fell asleep,” the shadow said.

He gradually came into focus. His auburn hair, amber eyes, freckles that dotted his cheeks and nose. I’d love to paint those freckles. Wait...

“What?” I blinked some more.

He took a step back, giving me some breathing room. “You fell asleep. I drove past on my way out tonight and saw your car here. When I drove past on my way home and it was still here, I got worried. Thought I’d better check in.”

“Well, bat’s eyebrows.” I stood up and heard the thud of my notebook falling to the floor.

“Bat’s what?”

“You weren’t supposed to catch me here.” I bent to retrieve the book at the same time he did, and our fingers tangled. The heat of it climbed my arm, causing me to drop it again.

“Do you often sneak in here to sleep?” He handed me my notes.

I shook my head and pushed back my curls, avoiding his gaze. “Of course not. I was coming here to clean and thought I’d take advantage of a quiet place to study for a while first. I must have fallen asleep.” I shoved past him to get to my bag and tuck the notebook inside. “I’ll just clean now and be on my way.”

“It’s almost eleven.”

My head snapped up to meet his eyes. They were liquid honey oozing amusement, and I understood, not for the first time, why girls liked him so much regardless of the risk he was. I licked my lips and blushed when his eyes moved to my mouth.

“Are you serious?” I couldn’t believe I’d slept for that long.

“Totally.”

Flustered, I went back to the storage closet. “I’ll still clean and then be on my way.”

“You can do it another night,” he replied.

I shook my head. “This is the only free night I have this week.”

“I can help you, then. We’ll get it done twice as fast.”

“No. No way.” I hefted the bucket of supplies and came back out to where he was still standing. “You hired me and I’ll do it alone.”

“Is that rule number four in your life?” he asked “‘I do it alone.’”

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