Page 36 of Ice Darling
“But…they’reStewart Kinsey’smechanics.”
April grabs two cans of the pink lemonade and tosses a bottle at me. “Stewart’sthe bad guy, not his mechanics.”
I applied to Stewart’s garage when I was looking around for a job, and I met the manandhis mechanics. I can say with certainty that a few of his technicians are just like him.
But before I can make my case, a sleek Lamborghini rolls to a stop on the grass. I drool over the shiny rims and gorgeous paint job.
I’ve seen Chance McLanely’s convertible a hundred times by now—he and Gunner Kinsey practically live at the garage—but, no matter how often he comes by, I always stop and stare at his convertible.
April runs to her boyfriend. “Hey.”
“Hey, Tink.” Chance McLanely wraps her in a hug and lifts her until her steel-toed boots leave the grass. His arms look big enough to crush her, but he’s as gentle with her as a glassmaker with a new creation.
“What are you doing here?” April tilts her head up at him. When she’s all soft and smiley like this, she seems like a completely different woman than the tactical mechanic that she is in work mode.
Chance looks amused. “What am I—you didn’t forget me, did you?”
“Forget you and the very important thing that you’re here to pick me up for?” April says in a playful voice. “Nope. I totally remembered. But just in case, can you tell me what you think I’m forgetting?”
Chance grins at her as if she’s the best thing since custom exhaust systems. “My dad. You. Me. Dinner?”
“Oh. Right!” April smacks her forehead and leaves a dirty stain. “Randal!”
Chance wipes away the dirt with his thumb and then sets a tender kiss on her forehead. “He’s really excited about this.”
“I am too. I can’t believe it slipped my mind.” April steps out of her boyfriend’s arms. “I’ll be right back.”
“If you’re in a rush, I can put up the tools,” I offer awkwardly.
“Thanks, Delia, but I have one more teeny, weeny test I want to run.” April lifts her fingers an inch apart and smiles apologetically at Chance.
He checks his watch. “Fine, babe. Ten minutes.”
“I love you.” April bounces on her toes and kisses his cheek before scampering off. When Chance moves to follow her, she shoos him away. “No, you’ll distract me with your hotness, and if I only have ten minutes, I need to focus.”
The tall hockey player tosses April an indulgent smile and retreats to the cooler where I’m standing.
“Hey, Delia.” Chance dips his chin at me.
“Hey.”
“Have you heard from Renthrow lately?”
I frown at the question. There’s a note of expectation in Chance’s voice that I don’t care for. “Why would I? Renthrow and I have nothing to do with each other.”
His eyebrows jump subtly.
“Did he say something different?” I demand.
Chance clears his throat. “No, he didn’t say anything.”
I nod.
The hockey player’s eyes search my face, making me squirm.
I tap a nail against the side of my soda can and ask as casually as I can, “How’s Gordie?”
His expression pinches. “Uh, Gordie is… She’s been having, uh… She’s a little less than okay.”
