When I'm With You (Little Hollow #2)

by Danielle Dickson

  “It’s really not an excuse,” he quickly answers, picking up the money and holding it out to me. “Dinner’s on me.”

  I push his hand back at him. “I’m paying for my own dinner, you can shove your money up your ass. I don’t owe anybody anything.”

  I scramble out the booth and throw my purse strap over my shoulder, storming out the restaurant. I probably could’ve handled that a lot more maturely, but screw him.

  “Great guy. Thanks, Sam. I spent the rest of my night sitting down at the beach.”

  “He really is a great guy and it more than likely wasn’t an excuse, Kee.” Oh yeah right. “Honestly, he’s his mom’s emergency contact. She had a stroke seven years ago that paralyzed her so he has to look after her.”

  If there was ever a perfect face palming moment, this is it. I feel like the biggest asshole on the planet. Thanks for the heads up, Sam. I can’t believe he didn’t try to explain, he just stood there and took me acting like a primadonna on the chin.

  She practically waves me off and starts talking about the fundraiser to take my mind off of things. I roll my eyes as she starts making a list of what we need to arrange, get, or do in time for Saturday, I’m not staying around for this. I say a quick goodnight but she doesn’t answer me, so I quietly slip away to my room.

  I’m so fucking tired of trying to fit in, I love who I am and I’m not changing for anybody. Being icy keeps me from getting hurt.

  My mind wanders back to Lewis and I hang my head in my hands, or it gets me in some embarrassing situations. Stupid, stupid, stupid! Well we aren’t going to be friends anytime soon. I should probably go and apologize, then at least it’s in his hands, not that I want anymore friends, but then at least hopefully he won’t think I’m an asshole anymore.

  I peel off my shorts and throw them in my laundry basket, pulling on some pajama shorts and a tank top. I stretch and sigh, remembering I forgot to brush my teeth. Walking back out into the apartment, Sam is still pouring over her list, so deep in concentration that she either ignores me or doesn’t even realize I’m here. I’m glad that she’s happy to plan this on her own, I’ll help get everything she needs but I can’t sit and plan a party for a community who hasn’t given me the best of welcomes.

  We’ve ran out of creamer so I head in the direction of the smallest grocery store I’ve ever seen. It’s warm out today and I’m definitely not complaining, the heat agrees with me, I’m glad I’ve chose to settle in a warm state.

  A woman who must be in her late fifties walks toward me and I give her a small smile. I shit you not, I watch her look me up and down then cross the sidewalk and start walking on the other side. What. A. Bitch. I’ve only been in town for three days and I’m already sick of all the disapproving looks from its residents.

  I shake my head and carry on walking, who does that?

  I make it to the store and notice a sign hanging in the window, getting closer I see it says they’re hiring, perfect. I need to get a job ASAP before I go stir crazy. Sam works in the local hair salon; after we met I found it weird that out of all the professions she could have, she was a hairdresser like me. She had asked if I could work in the salon with her but there was no vacancies, it wasn’t a big salon.

  I don’t need a job for the money, I have plenty of savings. In fact, I probably have enough to live frugally for a long while, but I’m not the type of person that can sit around on my ass all day and do nothing.

  I look around the store for someone that works here, eager to apply for the job. I see a middle aged woman walking down an aisle with the store logo on her shirt, and walk up to her. “Hey, I saw the hiring sign out front. Do I just need to drop in my resume or is there a form to fill out?”

  She looks me up and down like the woman outside did, pursing her lips. “Oh I’m sorry, dear, the position has been filled.”

  My fists clench and I narrow my eyes. “Is there a manager I can speak to, please?” The please is strained.

  “I’ll just go check if she’s in the back, if you could just wait here,” She says, looking me up and down again like I’m going to steal something if she leaves me alone.

  I grit my teeth and nod. She pauses for a minute before turning and walking away toward the back of the store like she can’t wait to get away from me.

  I’m starting to get agitated when ten minutes later, the middle aged woman rounds the corner of the aisle, followed by a woman with dark hair and beady eyes. “Hello, I hear you were asking about the job position. Unfortunately,” she looks at her colleague and thinks I don’t notice the little smirk, like I’m a fucking idiot. “Unfortunately the position was filled just this morning.”

  She gives me a tight smile and I return it in kind. “Did it really? Well shit. Thanks for taking time out of your OBVIOUSLY busy schedule to come and talk to me.”

  They both have shocked looks on their faces and don’t say anything as I walk away to pick up the creamer I came for. As I’m heading toward the checkout, I overhear a conversation in the next aisle. “…then hand it in to any of the staff. Interviews aren’t until Thursday, so you have two days.” It’s the icing on the cake. I’ve been as polite as possible up until now, but enough is enough. If they’re going to treat me like a delinquent, I’ll give them nothing but.

  I storm around the corner of the aisle and waltz straight up to them. All three women look at me with surprise. “Thursday? I thought the position had already been filled?” The manager gawps at me not knowing what to say.

  It’s the first woman I spoke to that answers me. “That one was, this is for something different.” She smirks triumphantly, a little premature for my liking.

  “Well in that case, go get me a form. I’d like to apply.” I stare at her defiantly, wishing for her to argue with me.

  “I’m sorry, miss, but you’re just not the type of candidate we’re looking for.” The manager straightens up, having found a backbone apparently.

  “And what type of… candidate do I need to be to work in a grocery store?” I’m not a job snob, a job’s a job, but I’m pissed.

  “This is a high-end grocery market and we all take pride in that fact. We can’t have someone with… with metal in her face as the literal face of this store, it would give off the wrong impression.”

  Oh, I get it. It’s got nothing to do with me and everything to do with the fact that they’re just assholes. “Well thank you very much, you’ve done me a favor. I wouldn’t want to work with stuck up bitches with nothing else to do with their lives other than judge people on their appearance anyway.”

  I turn around and flip them off over my shoulder. It feels good for a second, but it doesn’t ease the blow any less.

  And I don’t get my creamer.

  I struggle to unwrap myself out of the blanket fort I made myself last night as my phone blares out from my nightstand. “Alright, alright!” I unhook my leg from the sheet it’s caught in and make a grab for it, putting it to my ear. “Hello?”

  It keeps ringing out and that’s when I realize it’s my alarm. Ergh, morning. I’m not a morning person. I turn off my alarm and flop back down onto my bed.

  Too early. Need coffee.

  I stretch out my whole body and yawn as I peel myself out of bed. It’s barely eight, that’s a lie in to most people but I just love my sleep so damn much, all I want is to crawl back into its welcoming warmth. I rub my eyes, heading for the kitchen.

  Sam is already up, as usual, and hands me a cup of happiness without saying a word. She knows the score by now, I don’t wake up until I’ve had my morning coffee and shower. I drink it up in silence and hold it out to her to refill with a grunt, she shakes her head with a laugh but fills it anyway, knowing I don’t mean anything by it. I take a few more sips, feeling myself come alive with each swallow, and after it’s all gone, I put my cup in the sink and head for the bathroom.

  “What’s on the books today?” I ask, towel drying my hair as I walk out the bathroom after my shower.

 
She slides the appointment book toward her and starts running her finger down today’s page, which reminds me that we really need to stop putting off getting a computer system.

  She huffs. “What isn’t on today? It’s gonna be a long one.”

  I smile, long means busy; busy means less talking.

  She’s right, it’s a really busy day and I have to take on some of her clients much to their dismay, as one turned up late making everyone’s appointment run into one another’s. Each one is silent during their appointment but I prefer it that way, it gives me time to think about what I’m going to say to Lewis later on. I don’t know why I care what he thinks, but I do.

  I finish my last client and huff out a breath, wafting a magazine over my face. It’s hot as hell in here. “We really need to get this air con fixed, it’s so hot in here I’m about to melt into a puddle.”

  She scrunches up her nose. “No one can get to us until next week.”

  Damn. I guess these shitty little fans will have to do for now. I start helping Sam sweep up.

  “What do you want to do tonight?” She asks, humming along to a song on the radio.

  I shrug. “Well you know I’m going to set things straight with Lewis after we’ve finished cleaning, then we can do whatever you want when I get back.”

  “Why are you hell bent on going over there?” She asks, stopping sweeping.

  “Because… I’m sick of people judging me and last night, I proved everyone right. I need to apologize for being an insensitive bitch.”

  She snorts but it turns into a full blown laugh, her head thrown back. She’s stunning anyway, but when she laughs it opens up her whole face. I smile and tell her, “You should laugh more often.”

  “Yeah, I should,” she answers, looking at the floor. Changing the subject, she carries on, “Why don’t you head off then? I can do this.”

  “Are you sure?” She nods in answer. “Thanks, Sam, I need to get out of this hot box.”

  I tell her I’ll be back soon and head out the door.

  Stopping across the street from Lewis’s garage, I puff out my chest. No point in dragging this out any longer.

  Walking through the side door I nearly knock right into the guy that Lewis was sitting with last night.

  “Oh, hey, Keeley,” Lewis says, sounding bored with an unreadable look on his face

  The guy from last night nods a hello at me and turns back to Lewis. “I’m not quite sure yet but thanks for the beer Lew. I’ll see you around.”

  I watch as he walks out the same door I’ve just come through until Lewis clears his throat and I turn to face him. Better get this over and done with. “Erm, can we talk?”

  “Sure, can we do this in my office?” He asks, walking away from me, not waiting for an answer.

  I hesitate for a second then follow after him as he walks through a row of cars. I stop at the sight of a beautiful bike. “I didn’t know you fixed Harley’s.”

  He faces me, smiling a little. “I didn’t know you were into bikes.”

  I tense up a little, calm down Kee he doesn’t know anything. “Sure, I’ve always loved them. Do you mind?”

  I point at the Harley and he shrugs his shoulders, which I assumes means he doesn’t.

  I run my hand along the seat and hunker down next to it to admire the unfinished detail on the side. “Did you do this?”

  I stand up, he’s beaming that megawatt smile now. “It’s just a hobby, I don’t normally customize anything. It isn’t that sort of garage.”

  Before my head to mouth filter has a chance to work, I blurt out, “Well you’re hella dumb for not making it into one of those garages, you’d make a fortune off customizing bikes.” My hand flies to my mouth. “I’m sorry that isn’t my place to say.”

  He laughs and motions for me to follow him into his office. “I just don’t have the manpower or the funds to make it that sort of garage at the moment. And... I have no idea why I just told you that.”

  He rubs the back of his neck as he sits down on the sofa against the wall of his office. I sit next to him and choose not to comment on his money troubles.

  “Listen-“ “I’m just going to-“ We speak at the same time. I laugh and he motions for me to go first.

  “Okay, well I’m not one to beat around the bush so I’ll just come out with it and say I was a total bitch last night, and I’m sorry. I had no idea you looked after your mom, so again, I’m sorry.” I can’t look him in the eye, I don’t apologize to people unless it’s really called for.

  He laughs, actually laughs. I narrow my eyes and his hands shoot up in protest. “I’m laughing because it’s no big deal. I was actually worried I’d upset you, so I’m sorry too for not explaining.”

  He was worried he had upset me?

  He stands up and reaches into his pocket, pulling out his wallet. “I was gonna come give you this after work and explain myself, but you saved me a job.”

  He winks at me and I just stare at his outstretched hand with the bills in before my walls fly up. “I’m not a charity case, I don’t want or need your money.”

  Does he really think I’d take the money back? How humiliating. He opens up my hand and closes it over the money. “This isn’t negotiable, it’s your money and I wanted to buy you dinner. I’ve never let a woman pay for a meal before, and I’m not about to start now.”

  He gives me a quick smile and I look back down at my hand. “Why would you want to buy me dinner?” I must admit, I’m shocked.

  “Why wouldn’t I? You saved me from sitting on my own last night.”

  “Of course.” I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear that’s blowing about in the breeze from the fan in the corner of the room.

  “And contrary to what you want people to think about you, I see the real you. You’re actually pretty funny and you’ve got a good heart. You just like to protect it with this façade.”

  He raises a brow at me as if he’s daring me to contradict him, but I don’t. I sit here staring at him after he’s analyzed me, he doesn’t know me but he seems to see right through me. I don’t know what to make of it. I consider challenging him and reverting back to hard faced Keeley, but I’m tired of putting on a brave face. All I want is to be accepted in this town.

  Why is he so Goddamn nice? He’s clear cut, nice to the core. What you see is what you get with him, he’s a far cry from who I would normally date but what is that I can see in his eyes? My normal type is more rough around the edges and isn’t really someone you can bring home to meet the parents. The polar opposite to Lewis. So, why am I feeling this attraction to him?

  “Thought so. Why do you do it all the time?” He adds.

  “Do what?” I answer clueless.

  “Put a brick wall up with people. If you opened up a little, everyone would realize they were wrong to judge you.”

  I look up into his kind eyes, starting to feel really uncomfortable about the way this conversation is going. I don’t even know him. “I don’t care what people think about me.” He has a knowing look on his face. “I really don’t.”

  “Mhmm.” I squirm under his intense gaze. “So how old are you, Keeley?”

  I smirk. “Didn’t your mom not teach you that it’s rude to ask a ladies age?”

  He chuckles and I’m worried he’s going to start asking intrusive questions, so I answer him. “I’m twenty-four, twenty-five in three months.” Not knowing what to say next, I play with my fingers. I guess it would be polite to ask him back. “You?” Nailed it.

  “Twenty-five,” he says, getting up and walking out of the room.

  Where did he go? I don’t have to wait too long until he’s back in the room holding two beers. “Beer?”

  I hold my hand out for one and thank him. “You own this garage?” I wave my arm about.

  He nods but his smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes, I’m about to ask him what’s bothering him when he changes the subject. “Last night you said you’d been hairdressing all your adult life. How’d yo
u get into that?”

  “College was never in my future, I hated school and I’d always loved playing with people’s hair so I started working in a salon. I wish I had a more exciting story than that, but I don’t. I liked hair so I made a career out of it.” There’s so much more to it than that, but I would never tell him where I came from, not that I’m ashamed, I just don’t want anyone to know. “How about you? How’d you get into fixing cars?”

  He looks away from me, playing with the label on the beer bottle. “That’s not exciting either, I worked here on weekends when I was in high school. I’m assuming Sammy told you what happened with my mom so I’ll skip over that, but up until that point, fixing cars was only supposed to be my way to save money for college. College was very much in my future, I even had a full football scholarship.” He swallows down some of his beer.

  “It’s really admirable that you gave that up to look after your mom,” I say. I’ve never been emotionally connected to anyone apart from Sam, but it just feels like the right thing to say.

  He mumbles something to himself about money and gives me a weak smile before moving the conversation onto a lighter subject. He soon has me laughing and I drop my guard slightly with him, I don’t know why, but he’s so easy to be around. He’s a breath of fresh air. I look down at my watch, shit! Sam’s gonna think I’ve ran off on her. “I should be heading back, it’s been a long day.”

  I place my empty bottle on the small, wooden table beside me and stand up. He follows me out the office and I stop to look at the Harley one more time on the way out. Damn, I miss being on the back of a bike.

  “Maybe I can take you out on it sometime?” He says.

  I jump, not realizing I must’ve said that out loud. I look up into his dark gray eyes, they’re not clear like they were just five minutes ago. Now they look like they’re brewing up a storm. He looks down at my lips and I take a step back.

  “Yeah, no, maybe?” I stammer.

  Did that just come out as a question? Shut up you babbling idiot.

  He takes another step toward me and I stick up my hand in his face. “Err, I need to go now. Sorry again about last night. Bye.”