Page 18 of Watermelon With You?
“Are you sure?” she asks, and I don’t miss the hopefulness in her tone.
“Yeah, no sense tryin’ to get this sorted out right here.”
Nodding, she climbs in and rests her head back on the headrest as I pull around to the front and climb out to hook it up.
It doesn’t take long—I could do most of my work in my sleep which is indicative of my expertise and also my lack of social life.
“She answer you yet?” I ask as I pull myself into the cab.
“No. But I don’t expect her to.”
“She on a date?”
“That’s her business,” Aspen says with a smirk, her head tilting to the side to look at me, “but it’s interesting seeing you jealous.”
There’s no reason we need to delve into it. She already knows I am.
“Why don’t we talk about why you think my brother is a douche?”
“Hard pass, Banks.”
I cover my laugh with a cough and focus on the drive back to the garage. Aspen talks for most of the way, only requiring me to throw in some random commentary or a grunt every now and then.
It’s also the most interaction we’ve ever had.
Pulling into the lot, I’m surprised to see the lights are all on inside. I park and we both get out. “I just need to grab my keys.”
Holding the door open for her, I watch as Aspen walks inside and zeroes in on where my brother is typing away at the computer.
“What are you doin’ here so late?”
“I had some stuff to take care of and…” His eyes drift to Aspen and he swallows hard, his body tensing as he takes her in.
Interesting.
“Hey Phoenix,” she purrs, leaning against the desk, “can you give me a ride home?” My brother’s mouth opens and closes without making a sound. She holds up her hand. “I promise I won’t even hit on you.” Her tone is flirty but it lacks her usual delivery.
“Oh, I don’t know. I…”
“Really? You’re gonna be like that after one kiss?”
“That’s not—” he starts, and she slams her hands on her hips as my eyes widen in surprise.
“You better hope my brother never finds out you were too much of an ass to bring me home when I was stranded after workin’ all day. That shit would never fly in my hometown.”
Her bravado is slipping, and I hustle toward my office to grab my keys. I can’t hear what he says, but I watch her shoulders slump, and I want to punch my brother in the face.
Hearing me call her name, Aspen turns and catches the keys easily when I throw them to her. “Aspen, I don’t want you to have to wait, so take my truck and I’ll get it later. Sorry he’s being such a dick.”
“Thanks,” she says with a tight smile, and I want to make a joke about her remembering me being so nice when Cora comes here on a warpath, but I don’t. “Talon?”
“Yeah?”
“Maybe don’t tell her she needs a new flux capacitor.”
Son of a bitch.
She leaves, the door closing quietly behind her, and my brother remains unmoving in his spot.
