Unscathed

“Keeping healthy isn’t a fad,” Aunt Claire said. Then patting her behind, she said, “I just want to lose a few pounds for this weekend, that’s all.”

“Why, what’s happening this weekend?” I asked, then took a sip of the orange juice she had made.

“It’s our wedding anniversary,” Uncle Rob said, his nose still buried in the newspaper.

“I thought you’d forgotten all about it,” Aunt Claire said, pressing another orange flat into the juicer.

“How could I forget?” Uncle Rob sighed, folding the newspaper in half and placing it on the table. “It’s all you’ve been talking about for the last six weeks. I’m surprised you don’t stick an ad in the paper.”

“Oh, stop being such a grouch,” Aunt Claire smiled, flicking a piece of orange skin at him.

He ducked out of the way. My aunt and uncle were always at each other, but not in bad way. It was like they were teasing each other the whole time. I could tell they loved each other a lot. My mother and uncle resembled each other, but that was where the likeness stopped. Uncle Rob was warm-hearted and kind, whereas my mother’s heart couldn’t be pierced with an ice pick. My uncle would have had a lot of love to give to his daughter if she had still been alive. It seemed kind of unfair that Uncle Rob lost his daughter in an accident, and my mother gave her daughter away.

“Will you be okay on your own this weekend?” my uncle asked, dragging me from my thoughts.

“Huh?” I said, glancing at him. “Oh, yes, I’ll be fine.”

“Are you sure…?” he started again.

“Robert, leave the poor girl alone,” Aunt Claire said. “She’s nineteen years old. Of course she’ll be okay. Won’t you?” She smiled at me.

“Sure I will.” I smiled at my uncle. “Don’t worry about me.”

“I bet Mina’s already arranged to have her girlfriends over, haven’t you?” My aunt winked at me.

“Sure,” I shrugged. I hadn’t arranged any such thing. I had forgotten all about the fact they were going away. But now I’d been reminded of it, I could arrange a small gathering or I could… I could… invite Jax over?

I pushed the thought away, but now that I had thought of Jax, it was like he wouldn’t leave my mind.

“Well, you have the number for the cabin up at the lake,” my uncle said. “So if there are any problems…”

“There won’t be any problems, Robert,” my aunt cut in. “Stop fussing. You’re just like an old woman at times.”

“I just care, that’s all,” Uncle Rob said, looking at my aunt, then at me.

“I know you do,” I smiled. “But I’ll be just fine. You two go and have a great time. Try and relive some of that old magic.”

“Hey, cheeky,” my aunt smiled. “Not so much of the old. I’ve still got it!” and she patted her butt again.

Laughing, I turned and headed towards the door. “Catch you later,” I said over my shoulder.

“Have fun!” my uncle called out.

And I intended to that coming weekend.

I pressed the key fob for my car, and the lights flashed – all but one. I checked my wrist watch, wondering if I would have time to drop my car into that little auto shop near to the college campus. The auto shop where Jax worked.

Sure I had time.

Biting into my lower lip and smiling to myself, I headed away in search of Jax again.

Chapter Eleven

Jax

I wiped my hands on a filthy red oil rag and sighed in exasperation at the car in front of me. The damn distributor cap was stuck and not coming off and I wanted to take a sledgehammer to it. I used the rag to wipe the moisture from my forehead before my salty sweat dripped into my eyes and stung them again. It was so hot in this garage, even with the fans blowing on me.

I tossed the oil rag onto a nearby bench and wiped my hands once more on my blue coveralls before grabbing a water bottle from the break room’s fridge. I downed the contents in one gulp.

I heard the shop’s buzzer ding, indicating a customer. I paid it no mind; Jennifer, who worked in the front of the shop – in the nice, clean, air-conditioned part of the shop where the tidy, sparkling lobby was – was on duty. I’m sure she’d handle whoever it was.

I was tempted to go see for myself, only as an excuse to say something to Jennifer. She was uber-hot with long, straight brown hair and a super ass. But she had this boyfriend who was bigger than me and had more tattoos and owned a more expensive motorcycle than mine, so I didn’t mess with her. Even though she flirted with me incessantly. I looked down at myself and decided this grease-monkey look wasn’t my best and stayed in the shop.

I stared at the evil Volvo up on the lift and took a deep breath, determined to break it before it broke me.

I picked up my wrench with determination when I heard Jennifer’s voice over the intercom: “Jax, you’re needed up front.”

I was confused. Maybe Jennifer could read my mind. I laughed at the thought and again wiped my hands on my coveralls before turning the doorknob that led to the lobby. Not that it did much good, that doorknob was downright disgusting.

I walked in and eyed Jennifer from head to toe with appreciation. She had on a short denim skirt and a tight black tank top. Mmmmm. She grinned at me around the wad of gum she was chewing, her amber-coloured eyes sparkling. “You have a visitor.” She pointed in front of her and looked at the customer.

I followed her line of sight and shock hit me when I saw Mina standing there. She was scowling at me, and with the combination of her being there and the dirty look she was shooting me, it caused me to hold my breath.

When I finally found my voice, I plastered on a smile. “Hi, Mina. What… are you doing here?”

She seemed to regain her composure and smiled slightly. “Uh, I’d love it if you could replace the light on my… what did you call it? Headlamp?”

I smirked, then looked down at myself. Holy shit I looked like hell. Oh well, nothing I could do about it now. I just hope she couldn’t smell me.

“You know, you can get that light for about ten bucks at Auto Zone, and if you have a screwdriver, you could probably pry the cover off…”

“Jax!” I heard Jennifer snap.

Her hazel eyes were big, and she said through the side of her mouth, “The lady needs help with her car. Be a good boy and replace her light.”

I looked at Mina, who now looked thoroughly amused. “Pull your car into the open bay and I’ll meet you around.” Then I looked at Jennifer. “Go grab me an ELP-3-DP, will you, sweetheart?”

She rolled her eyes but smirked while chomping on gum. “Sure, Jax.” I watched appreciatively as her fine ass disappeared into the back stockroom. She came back with the part, plunking it into my dirty open palm.

I grinned at her. “Thanks.”

I went back through the greasy door and saw Mina standing next to her little blue car. She was leant against it with one foot propped up against the door, her arms folded over her nice chest. She again had the denim shorts on and her long, tanned legs looked downright lickable.

I looked at the Volvo on the rack that had been taunting me all afternoon and smirked, glad for the distraction.

“Hi,” I said, walking up to Mina.

“Hi,” she replied, meeting my stare. “I, uh, have to get to school so I hate to rush you, but I’m in a bit of a hurry.”

I smiled at her. Man, I loved hearing her talk. “It’s not a problem, this will only take a few minutes.”

I reached into my large red toolbox and removed a simple screwdriver and set about the task of removing her front parking light cover.

“So, uh, what are you majoring in?” I asked, uncomfortable with the silence.

“I’ve not decided yet,” she said. “But I should decide soon. My aunt and uncle are expecting me to pick a career.”

I finally got the cover off and set it on the ground. I peeled the packaging of the lamp apart with my teeth. I looked up at her a little confused. “Where are your parents?”

She measured me with a strange stare for a minute, then responded. “Dad’s gone. Mum’s in London.”

Again, with the clipped answers. I decided not to pry further. I got the little burned-out light from its casing and tossed it into a nearby trash can. “So you live with your aunt and uncle then?”

Wow, stupid question, didn’t she just say that?

She grinned. “Yes, they are good people.”

I screwed the new bulb into the casing. “Get into the car and start it up, please.”

She did as I asked.

“Flick the blinker,” I instructed.

Blink-blink… light worked great.

She killed the engine and got out. I picked up the cover and replaced it quickly.

“Thank you, Jax, really. I didn’t even realize it was out. I wish I had a fancy car with one of those computers that tells you when something is amiss on the car.”

“Well you can always bring it here. I’ll be happy to keep your car healthy. Even though we specialize in Volvos and this is a Mitsubishi.”

Again with the stupid small-talk. Why did this chick make me so nervous?

“So, ah, how much do I owe you?” she asked, swiping some of her straight blonde hair behind her ear nervously.

I wiped my hand on the oil rag that was hanging out of my coveralls pocket. “You can have dinner with me.”

She grinned. “A proper date then?”

I nodded and looked down at myself. “Of course. And I promise I’ll be much cleaner.”

“Okay then, it’s a date. You have my number, call me.” She got into her car, and starting it up, she smiled and waved at me, then backed out of the bay and took off down the street.

I went back to work on the mocking Volvo, and when I finally got the cap popped, I realized I needed a part for it, so I went back to the front.

“Jennifer, fetch me a cap, will ya?”