A Reason to Leave

by Melissa Ellen

  Today was no different and by the time my shift was coming to an end I was exhausted. I bussed the last of the tables before clocking out and leaving to pick up Ava for a late lunch.

  “I’m starving,” Ava complained as she ungracefully got into the passenger seat of her car. I swear her belly was growing at warp speed.

  “We’ll grab lunch before we go pick up my car. Where do you want to eat?”

  “Anywhere that has a sampler of fried foods…. and peach cobbler.”

  “Are you sure that’s a good idea,” I gave her belly a side glance.

  “Did you seriously just belly shame me?”

  “Um….no?”

  She cocked her eyebrow at me, “Uh, huh. For that you are buying me lunch. And I will be adding vanilla ice cream to that peach cobbler.”

  I chuckled. “You’re grouchy.”

  “I’m pregnant. And hungry. You made a hungry pregnant woman wait to eat two hours past her normal lunch time.”

  “It’s only been an hour and a half, technically.”

  “By the time we get to a restaurant, it’ll be two.”

  “Okay. Okay. I’m sorry. I’ll buy your lunch,” I grinned at her with my peace offering.

  Ava’s phone chimed with a new text. She pulled it out of her purse to read it.

  “Who’s that?”

  “Rhett. He’s asking if you’ve fed me and his baby, yet.”

  “How did he even know you hadn’t eaten?”

  “I may have been sending him hangry texts earlier,” she shrugged her shoulders unapologetically.

  “You two are ridiculous. I guess he’s blaming your bad mood on me, too.” I rolled my eyes.

  She laughed while she typed her response, “Of course.”

  After we ate lunch, where Ava ordered a sampler appetizer, an entree and a dessert, we left the restaurant and headed to the body shop to pick up my car.

  I slowed the vehicle, turning into the small parking lot of Frankie’s Body Shop. I parked and we both stepped out of the car. Well…I stepped out….Ava more or less rolled out.

  “Are you sure you’re going to be able to drive?” I asked, looking at the tight space between the steering wheel and driver’s seat as she waddled around the car to the driver’s side. She narrowed her eyes at me.

  “Sorry,” I apologized again, throwing my hands up in surrender before she belly bumped me like a sumo wrestler.

  “Just give me the keys,” she put out the palm of her hand. I handed them over. “Do you want me to wait around until you get your car?”

  “No. I’m good. Are you heading back to work?”

  She shook her head, “I’m going home. I took the afternoon off. I need a nap.”

  I didn’t doubt it after the amount of food she ate. You would have thought she was eating for five not two. I wasn’t going to voice that out loud, though. She was obviously sensitive to her size. I would be glad once the little man finally made his appearance in the next few months, so she was less testy.

  I gave her a hug and thanked her for loaning me her car. I waved at her as she drove off the lot, then turned and headed inside to get my car.

  The bell above the door rang as I walked inside the small room that served as the customer service area. There was nobody in sight. Just a cluttered counter with a bell. With all the loud racket in the service bay area of the building, I wasn’t exactly sure how a dinky bell on the counter was going to page anyone, but I rang it anyways. And then, I stood there…impatiently….waiting. Waiting for someone, anyone to come help me. Well, they won’t be receiving a five star rating on customer service anytime soon.

  The phone on the counter began to ring. After the third ring, I looked around to see if anyone would come answer it. I leaned over the counter, eyeing the old corded phone as it endlessly rang. Bored and with nothing else to do, I started to browse through the papers that were spread across the counter.

  “Can I help you?” a loud deep voice boomed behind me.

  “Crap!” I jolted up straight, feeling guilty for being nosy. It’s not like I had seen anything, really. “Yes,” I said, settling my nerves, turning to the short, stalky, middle aged man who had a beer belly that could rival Ava’s. He was wearing a stained mechanic’s shirt with the name “Danny” stitched on it. “I’m here to pick up my car.”

  “Name?” he asked walking to stand behind the counter across from me.

  “Valerie Blackwood. You called me over the weekend to let me know it was ready.”

  “That’s right. The silver Camaro convertible. You banged that one up pretty good,” he chuckled, amused with himself. I glared at him.

  “I didn’t do it.”

  “Whatever you say darlin’….,” he said as he rifled through the mess of papers on the counter. Seriously? Could they be any less organized?

  “Ah, here it is,” he said, staring at a piece of paper, “looks like you owe four thousand.”

  “What?! That is more than you quoted me. That can’t be right. Is that after the insurance?”

  “Afraid so. We had to replace the door, remove various smaller dents and repaint the whole car, since we weren’t able to match the existing paint exactly.”

  What the hell? This was highway robbery. “You didn’t think to consult me first?” I said, throwing my hands on my hips. I was pissed. More than pissed. I was ready to blow a freaking gasket. It’s not that I couldn’t afford the bill. It was the fact that they were charging me twice the original quote. I’m sure they thought they could take advantage of the fact I was a young female.

  “Calm down, darlin’. I’m just the messenger. I don’t do the numbers.”

  “Who does the numbers? I want to speak with them.”

  “That would be the boss man, Frankie.”

  “Well, get him for me. I’m not paying this.”

  “No can do.”

  “Why the hell not?”

  “He isn’t here today. He’ll be in tomorrow. But I won’t’ be able to release your car to you until you are paid in full.” The shop phone started to ring, again. “One minute, darlin’,” Danny said, picking up the phone to answer it.

  Damn it. Ava had already left and was probably half way to Malibu by now. Lexie would be at work and so would Rhett. I didn’t want to disturb them. Ethan had a full day shift, so that option was out too. Who else was there? I pulled out the piece of paper in my pocket. No. I shouldn’t? Should I? I didn’t have a lot of choice. The only other person was Caleb and I was not calling him. Screw it. I pulled out my phone and texted Dax.

  V: Hey. It’s Valerie. You busy?

  As I waited for his response, I started to have second thoughts. My phone vibrated in my hand.

  D: Hey, sweetheart. Just playing some Xbox with B-man. What’s up?

  I hesitated, trying to think of the best way to ask him for a ride. I didn’t want him to get the wrong idea. Danny hung up the phone.

  “Well, what’s it gonna be, darlin’? You payin’ or leavin’?”

  I bit my bottom lip as I tried to decide. “There’s nobody else I can talk to about the bill?”

  “Maybe…. Let me see if he’s back from lunch.”

  Danny walked around the counter and went through the shop door into the service area in search of someone who could help me. I texted Dax back.

  V: Never mind. Thought I might need a ride, but I’m good now.

  D: RU Sure? I don’t mind.

  V: Yeah, but thanks.

  D: I had fun the other night. Come watch us play tonight?

  That was a definite no. For one. Liam. Secondly, I didn’t want to lead Dax on. I was already regretting texting him to start with. I started to type my response when Danny walked back in followed by a tall, masculine figure. I looked up, clenching my hand around my phone.

  Great. Freaking great. Somebody in the heavens upstairs hated me or at least liked torturing me. Liam stood just inside the door with his arms crossed against his chest. His face impassive. His eyes slowly dragging
down my body.

  His text message from last night suddenly made complete sense, so did the fact that he knew my name and phone number. He had it all at his fingertips on the shop paperwork.

  I narrowed my eyes at him, crossing my own arms across my chest as I cocked my hip to the side. I was going to let him have it this time. All the built up frustration and anger was rapidly coming to a head.

  “Thanks Danny. I’ve got this. You can go,” Liam dismissed him.

  Danny looked between the two of us and chuckled, shaking his head. “Good luck, boss. She’s feisty.” He grinned and patted Liam on the arm for support as he walked out. Danny left us alone in the tiny room as we stared each other down.

  “You have a complaint, princess?”

  “I have multiple complaints,” I said with malice. “But we’ll start with the fact you are overcharging me for the work on my car.”

  A fiendish smile spread across his face, revealing his offending dimple. Ignore the dimple. Ignore. The. Dimple. I chanted in my head. He was not going to lower my defenses with that damn dimple. Or that sexy smile. Or those hard abs that were showing through his sweaty white t-shirt. Oh. Hell. No. I was standing my ground.

  “It’s a fair price. There was a lot of work that had to be done. You’re welcomed to ask around to other shops for comparison.”

  “Even if I believed you, which I don’t, you should have consulted me about the increased costs.”

  “Would it have made a difference?”

  “That’s not the point.”

  “What’s the real problem, princess? You can’t tell me you can’t afford it. I’ve seen your Bentley. Anyone who drives a Bentley as a spare car and dresses the way you do, shouldn’t have a problem with the price.”

  “Screw. You. You’re a jerk. And stop calling me princess.”

  He chuckled, dropping his arms, prowling closer to me.

  “Come on, you can do better than that princess,” he egged my anger on. It’s as if he got some sick pleasure from riling me up.

  “Fine. You’re an asshole. How dare you judge me? You barely know me.”

  “I know enough. And I never claimed to be a good guy.”

  “I guess that is your one redeeming factor.”

  He snickered, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He was standing toe to toe with me, now. The air thick between us. He stared down at me, and I raised my chin, staring right back at him. I wasn’t letting him intimidate me or make me swoon. Ok, mentally I wasn’t. My body was doing whatever the hell it wanted, despite my brain’s stance. It was already feeling needy and begging for his touch.

  “Tell me what you want me to do to satisfy you, princess.” His voice softened, oozing with seduction.

  Kiss me. Wait. Were we talking about my body or the car? I wasn’t sure anymore. He was too close. He was sending my brain into a spiral and my body was using that to its advantage.

  “I want you to do what’s right,” I struggled to hold my voice steady.

  “What if I can’t?”

  “You’re the boss, aren’t you?”

  I continued to talk about the car. It was the safest route, even though I was pretty sure this conversation had taken a turn somewhere along the way. Probably the moment his mouth became only inches from mine.

  He grinned remorsefully, “I would prefer to be in this situation, but I’m afraid I’m not.”

  Was he trying to tell me I was in control here? Why couldn’t he just admit to his feelings? Why was he so damn confusing?

  “Who is?” I pushed him to tell me the truth. The truth about how he really felt about me. About the potential of there being an us. He hesitated answering. His eyes scanned my face and body. He opened his mouth slightly to respond and then stopped. His lips formed a straight line and the hardness returned.

  “My uncle.” He took a step back. “I’ll have to talk to him about it. I can knock some of the price down. But I can’t give you the original quote without him signing off on it.”

  Okay. We were back to the car. He was throwing his armor back up. But he wasn’t fooling me. His outward appearance and rebel attitude was a façade. He had a wall up around him, and I was determined to break through it. I turned my back to him, stepping away. I needed space to process my next move. He grabbed my wrist, stopping me.

  “Valerie.” His firm voice halted me more than his hand that was sending electricity traveling through my body. It was the first time he had said my name, and it sounded so perfect coming from his lips.

  “Why?” I begged, turning back around to face him. He knew I wasn’t talking about the car. I couldn’t keep doing this. I needed him to step up or leave me alone.

  “I’m trying to do the right thing here.”

  “What if, what you think is the right thing, really isn’t?” I pressed my body against him, bringing my hands to the sides of his face. I needed him to feel what I was feeling. He contemplated my words as his eyes studied me.

  “I won’t be gentle,” he warned.

  “I don’t want gentle.”

  I wanted him. Every bit of him. All his hard, rough edges along with the softness I knew was buried inside him.

  “You should. You should demand to be treated like a princess. Any man who doesn’t, doesn’t deserve you.”

  “This is what I mean. Why do you say things like that? You make me want you, and then you push me away. This is a thing. Whether you want to admit it or not. There is a thing between us. It’s right in front of your face. I’m right in front of your face. Make a choice.”

  He lowered his forehead to mine, closing his eyes as he rested his hands on my hips. The seconds that passed felt like an eternity as our breaths mingled and I waited for his answer. But I knew it wasn’t. An eternity would last forever and I knew this moment wouldn’t.

  I inhaled his scent, memorizing it along with the feel of his hands on me. If I stood on my tip toes, I could press my lips to his, but I resisted the urge. I wanted him to make the decision.

  When I felt his hands drop from body, I felt my heart break a little. He was making his choice. And it was the wrong one. He raised his head from mine and opened his eyes.

  “I’ll get your keys, so you can leave. I’ll talk to my uncle about your bill. I know you’re good for the money.”

  Before I could respond or tell him he was being a damn coward, he turned, walking out of the room, leaving me by myself. I leaned against the counter, wanting to cry. But I wouldn’t. I wouldn’t cry over him. He didn’t deserve my tears.

  Danny returned to the room with my keys, shaking his head in amusement. I wanted to punch him in his little round face.

  “I don’t know what you did, darlin’ but you sure put him in a bad mood.”

  “I usually do,” I said under my breath, taking my keys from him.

  “Car’s out front.”

  “Thanks,” I said, stomping out the door.

  “Wow,” Lexie said in shock after I got done telling her about the whole intense encounter with Liam at the body shop. I had come straight to Sweet Beans, needing to vent to my friend. “So, what are you going to do now?”

  “Nothing,” I said, glancing down at my coffee mug as I spun it slowly on the bar. I looked back up to see her disapproving eyebrow. “What? He made his choice.”

  “What about your choice?”

  “I can’t force him to be with me, Lex.”

  She scoffed. I furrowed my brow at her. “What was that?”

  “Nothing. It’s just…. if I’ve learned anything about you and your family, you are a stubborn bunch of bastards and you don’t give up easily on what you want.”

  “Well, maybe I don’t want him as bad as you think.”

  “When did you get so good at lying?”

  “Who says I’m lying?”

  “I do. Your finger may not be in your hair right now, but I know you, Val. You like him. A lot. More than I have ever seen you like anyone….plus, I saw your finger twitch before you stopp
ed it,” she grinned mischievously at me.

  A smile snuck onto my face as I shook my head at her in disbelief. I took a sip of my coffee. My phone vibrated on the bar top. I picked it up and groaned at seeing a message from Dax.

  D: Don’t leave me hanging, sweetheart. I don’t usually beg, but I will make an exception for you.

  “Who is that?”

  I placed the phone back down and looked up at my friend. “Dax. He wants me to come to their concert tonight.”

  “Go.”

  “No.”

  “Why not? It’s the perfect excuse for you to see Liam again.”

  “I’m not doing that, Lex. That’s just wrong. Dax is the one inviting me. I’m not leading him on. I’ve learned my lesson with Caleb.”

  “Who cares? Just be upfront with Dax. The guy has to see what’s going on. Besides, if anything is going to get Liam to step up, it will be you showing up there to see Dax. That much is obvious after what happened last night.”

  “You really think this is a good idea?”

  She rolled her eyes at me, putting her hands on her hips, “Go home, lady. You need to get ready for tonight.”

  I decided to take my best friend’s advice. At this point, what’s the worst that could happen? He has already rejected me on numerous of occasions. What’s one more time? Just one more time for my heart and confidence to finally be shattered into a million pieces. That’s all.

  I picked my phone back up and typed out my response.

  V: See you tonight.

  Lexie’s pep talk gave me the reinforcement I needed. I would just have to explain to Dax the first chance I got that I only saw him as a friend. Hopefully, he wouldn’t hate me.

  CHAPTER 7

  This time when I heard Liam’s voice filtering outside the bar, I was more prepared. It still had my heart racing, but at least I had some control over my emotions. I knew what they were and how I planned to handle them. I was under no illusion that things would go as I hoped, but I had faith that I could make him see me. Really see me. And see that I wanted him for him.