Page 159 of Pride High 3: Yellow
He dropped his board to the ground and glided away, his heart feeling lighter. Anthony’s reputation would be cleared, Mr. Cullen would get his job back, and best of all, he’d done the impossible and made peace with Diego. Maybe they could start hanging out again, assuming the big guy didn’t get locked up for setting Graham’s house on fire. Someone would have to pay for the damage. The police might get bored and move on, but parents didn’t forget so easily. His own sure hadn’t when the garage burned down. Omar slowed and glanced back, wishing he’d thought to warn them about that, but the Trans Am was already gone.
— — —
As Diego loaded supplies into the trunk of his car, he was puzzled by the reluctance he felt. He was only going to be gone for a month, if even that. He couldn’t imagine the police wasting much time or resources on such a petty crime. And hell, usually he wanted nothing more than to put this stupid town in the rearview mirror. School would be out for the summer next week and the auto shop was in capable hands. He’d made the trip to El Paso plenty of times and always liked it there. So why did he feel like unpacking the trunk and putting everything back?
Diego was walking back to the shop for the lanterns he’d bought when a red Ford Bronco with white side panels pulled up to the garage. He recognized it, even before Keisha Hart stepped out. One of the new mechanics was on his way to meet her until Diego waved him away.
“I’ve got this one,” he said.
Keisha smiled. “It’s the customer service that keeps me coming back.”
“We aim to please,” Diego deadpanned. “Wanna go to my office?”
“Yes, but not yet,” Keisha replied. “I actually do have a problem. I keep hearing this weird squeaking noise. Like a loose belt maybe?”
“Pop the hood and start ‘er up,” Diego replied.
He was watching the engine when she joined him at the front of the vehicle.
“It’s your water pump pulley,” he said.
Keisha frowned. “Is that serious?”
“If it stops working, yeah. The engine will overheat. I’ve got a replacement, if you’ve got twenty minutes.”
“Sure!” she said.
He wasn’t surprised when she stayed close to him as he worked. They had done this before. She kept asking questions, but not in a mistrustful way. Keisha knew a thing or two about cars and was curious to learn more. She was a cool chick. He had flirted with her once, about a year ago, and she had instantly shot him down. Diego hadn’t tried since. He could take a hint.
“You’re all set,” he said, wiping his hands on his coveralls.
Keisha listened to the engine purr before closing the hood. “What do I owe you?”
“Don’t worry about it,” he said.
Keisha’s eyes darted around. “Are you sure? We could go into your office to arrange payment.”
He nearly snorted. The line sounded like something out of a porno. “Yeah, good idea. We can go over the paperwork or some shit.”
He watched her climb into the Bronco to turn it off. When she got out again, Keisha had a backpack with her. They didn’t say anything to each other until the office door was closed behind them and he had shut the blinds.
Keisha set the backpack on the desk and pulled out a large jar stuffed full of green buds. “This is the last of it,” she said. “Until around September, when I’ll need your help with the harvest again.”
“Yeah, no problem,” he said, taking the jar and turning it over to inspect the contents. “It’ll be a while before I can sell any of this.”
Keisha perched herself on the edge of the desk. “Why’s that?”
“I’m skipping town for a month or so.”
“Oh! Going on vacation?”
“Something like that.”
“Nice. Where to?”
“Idaho,” Diego improvised. He had never been there and probably couldn’t point to the state on a map. All he knew is that it was in the opposite direction of where he was actually going.
“Sounds… fun, I guess?” Keisha said, scrunching up her face before shrugging. “Are you taking Ricky with you?”
