Page 45 of Pit Stop

Thirty-Two

Tillman

After talking with Zeke over the paperwork and numbers and getting them sent back to him I check the time. I still have plenty to head over to JamesTown before Odette is out of class for the day. I talked to Onyx when she got back and decided to go and surprise Odette by picking her up from class. I head back out to my car and towards a place that used to be like another home for me. The place that instilled the love for cars I have now and probably some for 80s hair bands as well.

I’m not shocked that when I pull into the parking lot that one side is lined with cars, trucks and motorcycles all waiting to be worked on. Numbers hang from the rearview mirrors of each car so they know which one goes in next. The other side of the parking lot is mostly workers and a few customers. It’s a four-car garage with an office and waiting area inside. It’s a staple in this part of Los Angeles. One of the few auto shops that does customization at an affordable price. That’s something the James family is proud of.

The building looks exactly the same with the exception of a fresh coat of paint and a new sign above. The building is painted a light gray with a white roof and garage doors and a red trim. All the doors are open. Four cars are currently being worked on.

Axell appears in one of the open garages. “Hey man.”

“Hey, how are you?” I ask as I approach.

“Just working,” he comments as he looks around the garage. “How are you?”

I nod my head. “I’m good. You guys seem busy.”

Axell examines everything while nodding his head. “Yeah, this is our normal, so it’s not too bad right now. Do you want to come in and have a seat?”

“Sure.” He leads us through the shop. My eyes dance around, checking everything out. It still has the same setup, but of course everything else has been updated. The walls are painted a pristine white, the floor a matte gray, and everything else red. Large, tall toolboxes line the walls in the back. Axell opens the office door and I walk in and have a seat in one of the two metal folding chairs sitting in front of his large desk. “The place looks great.”

“Thank you. We’ve worked on upgrading everything the best we can. The building is older, and it can easily turn into a money pit if you don’t stay on top of it.” Axell walks over to the coffee pot in the corner of the room and pours him a mug. He turns around and I wave off the silent offer. “So, what brings you into my neck of the woods?”

I chuckle. “I talked to the boys. All four are interested. Slade seems really interested in training to be a mechanic if you’re really willing to take that time.”

“That’s great and yes we’re always happy to train some fresh meat… show them the ropes and whatnot.” Axell stands up and heads for a filing cabinet next to the coffee maker. “Do you know what size they wear?”

I shake my head. “I don’t, but I can bring them all by after school today if that works. You can give them a run down and whatnot.”

“Sounds perfect.” Axell walks back over and has a seat. I must have a certain look on my face because Axell is studying me intently. “What else is on your mind?”

“Is it that obvious?” I ask. I really felt like I used to be harder to read than this. Maybe I’ve lost my touch.

Axell chuckles. “No, I just know you and I know that look.”

I sigh and start with, “There’s this girl.”

“There always is,” he replies with a full belly laugh. I go on to tell him everything about Odette and where we are now. He listens intently, never interrupting just like the Axell I remember. “It sounds like to me you met the one that means more.”

My eyebrows pull together in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“My mom used to talk about the angel sent to save us from ourselves. She was our fathers. Sadie is most definitely mine. Bowie has Hollis. Jagger has Londynn. Ace has Kynlee. I always wondered if you’d find yours. I wasn’t sure because of how you were having to live your life. Basically, my mom believed that every guy had an angel in the form of the person they are drawn to against all odds. The one they love more than anything and will do absolutely anything for. You fight for them. You breathe for them. That angel brings out the good in you, the light in you. No matter what you do you cannot deny how you feel for them, you can’t deny the connection and if you try it only pulls you in stronger.” Axell has a shit eating grin on his face when he finishes up. I’d like nothing more than to slap it right off him, but he’s not wrong. Everything he just said feels exactly like Odette and me. It’s weird honestly, but I also don’t want to trade it for anything else in the world right now. Annie James was a lot of things in this world and intelligent was definitely on that list.

“That sounds strangely familiar.” Admitting that feels like letting the last piece of me that’s ready for battle give up and surrender, but I’m oddly okay with it.

Axell itches his jawline. “I’m sure it does. She told all of us that story. Well, except for Jovi who she probably did tell but he wouldn’t have understood. Sadie made sure he heard it though later on.”

Silence falls between us as we think back on what was the backbone of the James family for years. Annie took care of all her boys and loved with such a fierceness you couldn’t deny it. “She really was something. I miss her. Annie was the closest thing I had to a mom after I lost mine. She just took me in, no questions asked.”

“Yeah, she did that with everyone. Connor, Jaxx, Roscoe, Lane, if you were a friend of ours then you were family. That was always her philosophy.” Axell looks away before swiping at his eyes. “Damn, I miss her and dad.”

“I’m sorry man.” I never understood why you apologize when somebody loses someone they love. It doesn’t really help them, yet we say it anyways. I check the time on my phone and realize I need to get to over the college to pick up Odette. “I hate to be a downer and then run out on you but I need to get to the college so I can pick up Odette.”

Axell stands up, waving his hand in dismissal. “Don’t apologize. Go grab your girl. I’ll see you later with the boys.”

I head out the door, hollering over my shoulder. “Yes, you will.” Making my way to the college takes longer than I’d like. Traffic is pretty heavy and the college is a pretty good ways away. I keep checking the clock on the dash because the last thing I want is to completely miss Odette. Onyx mentioned that Odette planned to walk to the bus stop and take a few buses to get home. As I’m sitting at a red light, I pull a no-no and send a quick audio text to Odette, ruining the surprise, telling her I’ll be there shortly.

She doesn’t reply and I’m assuming it’s because she’s still in class or at least that’s what I’m hoping. Something in my gut tells me something is wrong. I try to ignore it, but just like Axell said, it’s not something easily ignored. I’m just being paranoid just like I was yesterday when we were leaving Finders Keepers and I thought that car was following us. My past tends to make me a little crazy. Regardless, I speed up a little more so I can get to Odette quicker.

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