Page 28 of Bliss: Part 1
Then, without even a tick of a muscle, he looked away again.
I took a deep breath and leaned into Dash a little more, needing his silent support. He pulled a blanket off the back of the couch and draped it over us without a word. His arm settled behind me, and I let myself sink into his side.
Ashby was still focused on the screen, brow furrowed in that way he always got when he was trying too hard not to care. Rhys was quieter than usual, though he never looked in our direction. Tripp kept his silence.
But none of it felt bad.
Just…uncertain. It was exciting, even, but I didn’t let that feeling take over and end up hurting me.
I closed my eyes sometime later, letting the steady beat of the game and the warmth of Dash’s body settle me. My head slid to his chest, and he didn’t move. He just stayed still, calm, like he was meant to be holding me.
That was the last thing I felt before sleep pulled me under again.
Nine
Bliss
The last day atThe Oldfelt longer than the rest of the summer put together.
Not because it was particularly busy, but because every second dragged under the weight of knowing this was it. Six weeks. Six weeks of quiet. Of not hearing the bell over the door ding every hour. Of not having to scrub oil off the counter or hand any of the guys a wrench while they yelled at the motorcycles like they were personally offending them.
Six weeks with no tips from customers who flirt with me while their bikes are getting fixed. And though we wouldn’t be all together at the shop for a while, we’d still be around each other daily back at home.
Dad and Odin told us to leave early, but the boys and I stayed until close. We didn’t want to leave them alone, even if there wasn’t much to do today. I wasn’t really working, but I didn’t feel like being anywhere else. Besides, a few customers still had to come by and pick up their bikes before we closed, and that was my job after all.
Dash was hunched beside an old Harley, arms slick with grease, sweat darkening the back of his shirt. Ashby stood at the workbench, flipping through a clipboard, making sure Dad hadn’t skipped logging any last-minute jobs. Tripp helped in short bursts, disappearing into the back every now and then. Rhys leaned against the counter, half-working and talking to Odin occasionally.
And I was sitting on the stool behind the counter, sipping a lukewarm Pepsi and pretending I wasn’t tired from all this heat surrounding us.
The whole shop smelled like grease and the metal tang of motorcycle parts. I had grown up with that smell, and it always made me feel safe. In that moment, though, it made me want to hike up a mountain and smell fresh and cool air. Or sit by the lake and feel the soft breeze.
After the last few customers came and went, we were ready to leave.
Dad finally flipped the sign to CLOSED just after eight and locked the door with a little more force than necessary after we all exited the shop. Then he exhaled like someone who’d been holding their breath all year.
“That’s it,” he muttered. “Six weeks of nothing. Nobody mention anything about bikes, nobody even say the word Harley in my presence.”
“You’re gonna make it three days,” Rhys said, grinning.
“Shut the hell up.”
“We should bet on that,” Ashby added. “Put money on what day he cracks and runs back here. Dad too.”
“I say Dad makes it six days, Owen four,” Dash said.
“You’re all assholes,” Dad muttered, but the corner of his mouth twitched like he didn’t mind. He looked over at me. “And don’t think you’re doing dishes or laundry or anything domestic during this break either. You’re officially off duty. All of you.”
I gave him a little salute. “Yes, sir.”
His eyes softened for a second, then he started walking to his truck.
We all went home and ate a simple dinner. Despite his order, we helped clean up before we all scattered.
Tripp disappeared into the basement. Ashby and Rhys followed. Dash went upstairs to shower, Dad and Odin sat out on the front porch with a cold beer in hand to enjoy the rest of the evening. I just stood in the hallway outside my bedroom, staring at the walls and listening to the ceiling fan overhead.
I felt restless.
Not just in my body, but in my brain. Something inside me was still pacing. I couldn’t stay still. I didn’t want to sit around with them. Not tonight, for some reason.
