Page 41 of Pit Stop

Thirty

Tillman

Moonlight dances across the floor. Warmth is wrapped around me and last night comes back to me. Moving my head to the side I see Odette curled up beside me. After our kiss last night, we ended up here, spent more time than we should kissing one another until we finally fell asleep. My laptop is actually still downstairs, my coffee mug long forgotten. Instead, I gave into what every part of my body and soul wanted. I forgot about logic and all the reasons I should stay away from Odette—the danger it could put her in. I gave in. I let her make her own decision and she did. At some point I pull her closer to me, pressing a kiss to the top of her head as I fall back asleep.

Later, I’m woken up by the ringing of my cell phone. Back in Black by AC/DC blares through the small gadget. I feel around the bed for Odette, but I come up empty handed with nothing but cold sheets. “You should answer this since you skipped last night,” Odette says, handing my cell phone to me. She’s got the cardigan wrapped around her, hair in a mess, but her eyes hold that hint of happiness that has been missing. Selfishly I hope I put that there, but I still think that a guy like me can never deserve a girl like her.

Sitting up in the bed I rub my hands over my face. Odette giggles and shakes her head as she takes a seat on the side near me. “What?” I ask.

Odette shrugs and bashfully looks away. “You look cute when you first wake up.”

“So do you.” I lean forward and press a kiss to her lips. When I reluctantly pull away, I tell her, “Good morning beautiful.”

One of her hands rests on my shoulder. Her bottom lip pulls between her teeth before she says, “Good morning.” I sit back and admire her for a moment. Someone needs to pinch me because I’m not sure any of this is real. It all seems too good to be true. “You really should call whoever that is back. It could be important.” I’m reluctant to invite the outside world in right now. I never want to ruin this moment, and depending on what is on the other end of that phone it could happen. She must mistake my reluctance for something else. “I can head downstairs.”

My hand instantly grabs her. “You’re fine. I have nothing to hide from you. You can stay if you want unless you need to go.”

Odette checks the time on the alarm clock sitting next to my bed. “I should go make sure Odin is up and getting ready for school.”

I nod my head and she stands up to leave. When I check my phone, I see Axell tried to call me both yesterday and today. I dial him back and he answers on the second ring. “Shit man, I was beginning to worry something was wrong.”

Axell was always the one who was trying to take care of everyone around him. For him, stepping up as the father figure for Ace and Jovi was like second nature. He had been looking out for Bowie, Jagger, and myself long before that. “I’m fine. I was just busy helping a friend in need yesterday. Is everything okay on your end?”

“Yeah, I just had this random idea and thought it might benefit the idea you and Decker have for the boys staying at the hotel.”

I sit up a little straighter. My interest is definitely piqued. “Okay, what’s the idea?”

“I could always use some extra hands at the shop and even the bar. If any of the boys there would be interested, It’d mostly be helping to keep the shop clean and busing tables in the bar, helping in the kitchen if they get behind. A lot of us would be happy to help them learn about cars, too, if they need it. So it could be like training for them as well. I’ll pay them minimum wage at first and see how it goes from there,” Axell explains.

My heart could explode for the boys living here. Something like this could mean the world to them. “Yeah, I think it’s a great idea. I’ll head down and try to get with them before school. There’s four of them right now.”

“I can find four spots if they’re all interested.”

“Thanks man. This means more than you know.” I feel the emotion I try to keep locked away building. The last few days have been an emotional overload for me.

“Don't’ mention it. I’ll talk to you in a bit. I’ll be at the shop until closing today. We have a full roster with a delivery truck coming in,” Axell explains.

“I’ll call you as soon as I know.” We end the call and I get out of bed and head for the shower. I’m dressed and heading downstairs, hair dripping from being wet when I hear her laughter. It’s like music to my ears as cheesy and cliché as that sounds. Everyone is sitting at the table. Breakfast is served. Tons of different boxes of cereal sit in the middle of the table, pans full of bacon, sausage, eggs, and hash browns take up the rest. The boys sit around talking about cars. When I enter all eyes fall on me. Onyx more so than anyone. She gives me a knowing smirk, so I roll my eyes at her. “Is there coffee?”

“Yeah, there’s a cup for you over there on the counter,” Decker replies.

After I grab the coffee, I take a seat next to Odette. Watchful eyes fall on us, and I want to tell them all to mind their own damn business but I don’t. Instead, I announce to the table, “I have a friend who is offering an opportunity to anyone who might be interested.”

“What kind of opportunity?” Bazz asks.

He’s the smart one of the group. You can tell by the way he’s always the first to ask questions that no one else is even considering. “A job opportunity. He owns JamesTown. For those of you who don’t know it’s an auto shop and bar. He needs help cleaning up the shop, busing tables and helping out in the kitchen.”

“Any chance he would be looking for a mechanic?” Slade asks.

I nod my head. “He mentioned he would be willing to train anyone who was interested in that field. It’s minimum wage, legit money with a chance of possibly getting a raise. The only requirement is for you to be serious about it and you need to keep your grades up.”

“I second that,” Decker adds.

Odette sighs beside me. “I think it’s safe to say you know where I stand on that.”

“Anyone who is interested we can head over today after school.”

“I’m interested,” Slade announces without hesitation.

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