Page 72 of Till The Sun Dies (Checkmate 2)

I hip bump her aside so I can reach the rusted nuts I was working on yesterday before I called defeat and went home. “A teacher. You told me elementary school was your favorite, so you wanted to teach that age.”

She rolls her eyes. “It was a trap. I was the kid in that scenario, so it was fun. Now I’m the adult and I realize my teacher probably hid bottles of tequila in her desk. Kids are the worst.” She laughs. “Did you have crushes at that age? I sure as shit didn’t, but now Kelsey wants to date Brax, but Brax is looking at Shae, and Shae’s looking at some other dopey kid. Now Shae and Kelsey and everyone else are at each other’s throats and taking sides. All because Brax is a horndog that likes the wrong girl.”

I work hard to smother the laughter in my chest. “That’s not at all what I expected you to say about your job.”

She cackles. “I know! Now I’ve got the Bloods and the Crips up in sixth grade and tequila just isn’t cutting it. I should’ve become a mechanic.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. I mean, I know it’s a hard job. You have to work long hours, it’s hot in the summer, and cold in the winter. Sometimes the engines are pieces of shit, or the owners are. I know you bang fingers and get goose eggs on your forehead when you headbutt the engine.” She nods toward my forehead. She assumes the goose egg that went down not so long ago was from work, when in reality, it was from her when she slammed her head against mine in the hospital. “I dunno. I know it’s hard work, but when I started teaching, I was a lot more extroverted. Now I see the draw in turning your music up and just hanging out with an engine all day. It’s…” She smiles. “Healing.”

“Yeah?” I don’t look up at her, I don’t stop working, I just breathe her in and let her energy bounce around inside my chest. “It’s healing. I know exactly what you mean.”

Stepping away too soon, she takes down a mug of coffee and sips. “Want some? You got here pretty quick, so I bet you didn’t have any coffee yet.”

“Sure.” I turn my head only and watch that inch of skin between shorts and top. “Thanks. If it’s not too much trouble, I’d love a coffee.”

“You still take it with milk?”

“Yeah. No sugar.”

“Perfect.” She thrusts her mug between us. “Here you go. It’s cool enough to chug.”

I place my wrench down and study her laughing blue eyes. “I don’t want yours. I’ll go in and get my own.”

“No, don’t go in there. Just have this one.”

“Bish won’t mind.” I turn to the door. “And if he does, he can suck a dick.”

“No.” Laughing, she jumps forward and grabs my sleeve. “You don’t wanna go in there. They’re doing it.”

“Doing… Ugh!” I slam my eyes shut.“It.They’re still doingit. Fuck.” I turn away from the door and accidentally bump into Laine. “I can’t even explain to you how conflicted I am about that relationship. I mean, Luc hooks up with Kari and heads explode. But now Jessie has an active sex life and no one says a thing. What the fuck is that?”

“They didn’t say anything, because he’s scary. And don’t forget he’s a thug.” She steps closer and whispers, “I think he’s killed people.”

Iknowhe’s killed people.

But most surprising, she actually sounds impressed.

“It’s weird that she’s hooking up with a thug,” I argue. “Why isn’t Luc here slamming heads against walls?”

“Because he’s busy at his placedoingitwith Kari. Here.” Snickering, she pulls my hands up and wraps my palms around her coffee mug. “Just take mine. Enjoy it. I made an extra big mug because I knew you were coming. We can share.”

“You don’t mind?” I take another step away from the door. God forbid I hear Jessie have sex inside the house. “Are you sure?”

“You got herpes?”

I frown. “No. But thanks for checking.”

She laughs and steps away. “We’re good. We can share.” She stops under the hood, picks up my wrench, and grins. “Just like old times.”

“Like old times…” I sit on the step and breathe in the aroma of coffee. “Alrighty. Geez, I don’t remember the last time I enjoyed coffee I didn’t make myself.”

Small biceps flex as she works rusted nuts loose. “Jess treats me like a baby, so I hardly have to do anything around here. She makes my lunch; almost always cheese and ham sandwiches. She serves me dinner; whatever Kane brings home.” Laughing, she shakes her head. “That poor guy has no clue what he’s gotten himself into.”

“Well. Thanks.” I take a sip and try not to be weird about the fact the mug is half full. She already drank half. I’m sharing a mug her lips already caressed. “It’s good.”

“Welcome. Did you get everything you need for Wanda?”

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