Clutch (Custom Culture)

by Oliver, Tess

  Barrett’s order number was called. He jumped up to pick up his food.

  I looked over at Gus. “So, how long are you in town for?”

  “Long enough, I hope.” It was a strange answer.

  “Long enough for what?”

  “Long enough to get to know you.” From anyone else it would have sounded like a well-practiced line, but there was something really intense and raw about Barrett’s friend. He didn’t seem like a guy who’d flirt or flatter without serious intentions, unlike his blond pal.

  Barrett returned with their tacos. “Here you go, but I’ve got to warn you, it’s not going to be like the fish you get up in Alaska. Nothing is that tasty.”

  “It seems like seafood would lose its appeal if you spent a lot of months on a fishing boat,” I said.

  Gus shrugged. “Sometimes. It kind of depends on who you share it with.” He held up his taco. “Want a bite?” He was talking to me as if we were the only people at the table, and it was both weird and kind of cool all at the same time.

  I leaned forward and took a bite of his taco. He watched my mouth with such scrutiny, I could feel my cheeks warm.

  “So, Dray told me you were banished from seeing my brother?” Barrett blurted. The look he gave me told me that his interruption was well planned. “Although, knowing how you are, Tater Tot, you would go out of your way to see him just because you weren’t supposed to. I guess that was how you got shipped off to Florida.”

  I picked up the soda. “Look who’s talking.” I shot a questioning look of why are you being such an ass, which he picked up on right away. It seemed that he sensed something between his friend and me, and he’d gone into brother loyalty mode. It was both tragic and amusing how so many people just assumed that Clutch and I would be together some day. I was slowly facing the ugly reality that it would never be. But the people who knew us best still hadn’t come to that conclusion.

  “You’re right. It’s none of my business.” He focused on his tacos for a second and then must have decided to make my life his business again. “Wait a minute— were you at the car meet last night?”

  I stared at him without responding.

  He pointed at me with his taco. “I knew it. That would explain why Jimmy was in such a bad mood on the way home.”

  Jasmine snickered.

  “Yeah, I saw him, and thanks for assuming that I was the one who put him in a bad mood. Maybe he was just annoyed because you were with him.”

  It must have been cryptic and confusing to Gus, but he listened to our conversation intently. “Clutch is Jimmy, your brother, right?” he finally asked for clarification. Then he turned to me. “Are you with Barrett’s brother?”

  Jasmine removed the top from her cup to get at the ice. “She wishes.”

  I scowled her way, and she quickly filled her mouth with ice and pretended she hadn’t just made the bitchy remark.

  “It’s late. I’ve got to head home.” The conversation was boring me. I stood from the table, and Gus’s eyes followed me.

  “Hey, are you going to Cassie and Dray’s party tonight?” Barrett asked before I walked away.

  “Scotlyn asked me to go with them but I’m not sure.”

  “Ah, come on,” Barrett said, “you should come. I think Jimmy was picking up some car that he has been dying to get his hands on. He’ll probably spend the whole night staring at his new purchase. I’ll bet he won’t even be there.”

  “I might go,” I said. “It was nice meeting you, Gus.” Amusingly, it occurred to me that I wanted Clutch to be there just as much as I didn’t want him to show.

  Chapter 13

  Clutch

  The little wreck of a glorious car looked so fragile, it seemed I could pick it up and crush it in my fist. I’d moved some of my weights and pushed it into my garage. I didn’t trust the garage at the shop. The car, even in its immobile, rusty state, was too valuable. I threw the padlock on the garage door.

  Aimee was just walking up her driveway. She waved to me and walked inside. Luckily, the incident with Barrett hadn’t caused her any trouble, or at least any more trouble than she already had.

  Barrett was still out with the truck, and I hadn’t seen him all day. My phone buzzed and I pulled it out. It was Dray. “Nix said you weren’t coming tonight because of your new car. That’s bullshit, Dude. Cassie will be insulted if you don’t show.”

  “That’s because when I talked to Nix I hadn’t heard what time I could pick her up. She’s safe and sound in my garage now, so I’ll be there.”

  “Good thing. I thought I might have to come over there and kick your ass.”

  I laughed. “Yeah, you and what army?”

  “Seriously, you better show. Cassie invited that high school friend she wanted you to meet. She thinks you two would be perfect for each other.”

  I harrumphed into the phone. “I love Cassie and everything, but this desire to fix me up has got to end.”

  “Yeah, yeah, that’s what I’ve been telling her. Just make sure you’re there and that you smell nice. Later.”

  ***

  Barrett had not returned home. I had no idea what he was up to, but I was pretty sure it wasn’t anything good. Halfway through my shower it had occurred to me that Taylor might show up at Dray’s house. But from the conversation Jason had had with Scotlyn, it sounded as if Taylor was having more problems at home, which probably meant she wouldn’t be out partying. My feelings about her were so confused I didn’t know if I wanted her to be there or if I would be more relieved not to see her. It was like being stuck back in high school again. Something I didn’t need.

  There were already plenty of cars lined up along the street in front of Cassie and Dray’s house. It was always interesting when the two mixed their extremely different friends into one party, but, surprisingly, it was always a good time. Two of the guys that I knew only as Dray’s sparring partners sat on the front porch drinking beers and talking with two of Cassie’s friends. They parted and I slid between them and through the open front door.

  Cassie spotted me instantly, which was easy to do. I had to duck to walk beneath the ceiling fan that hung between their living room and dining room. I’d managed to crown myself on it enough times that I’d ended up with a small, permanent dent on my forehead.

  “Oh good, you’re here,” she grabbed my hand and dragged me toward the kitchen.

  “Are Nix and Scottie here yet?” I asked as she motioned for me to bend down beneath the low kitchen doorway.

  “Not yet.” A girl, who could have been Cassie’s taller twin, with dyed black hair, long bangs and several facial piercings, leaned against the kitchen counter sipping a fruity drink. Sparkling blue eyes smiled up at me from beneath the fringe of black bangs. There was a spray of tiny stars tattooed along her neck. As usual, my size produced the highly familiar stunned reaction, but she recovered quickly.

  “Violet, this is Jimmy, the friend I told you about.”

  She put down her drink to shake my hand. “I figured it must be. I doubted you could have more than one friend who has to duck beneath doorways.”

  “Hey, Violet, nice to meet you. Cassie has told me a lot about you.” The only thing I knew for sure about her was that she was just getting over a really bad break up with some guy she’d dated since high school. And the last thing I needed or wanted was to be someone’s rebound guy. But sometimes Cassie was as pushy as Dray, only without the threats of violence.

  Cassie handed me a beer and scurried out, obviously confident that she’d started something major in her tiny kitchen.

  Violet picked up her drink again. Her nails were painted yellow, and I briefly wondered if her ex had gotten tired of the creepy colored nail polish. “Cass tells me you’re into cars.”

  I smiled into my beer and nodded. I could never figure out the exact meaning of being into something. �
�I restore classic cars and sell rare car parts. So, I guess I’m into them. They make me money, and I’m really into having shelter and food.” I had no idea why I was being a dick, but she didn’t seem to mind.

  She nodded in agreement. “Money is good. I make custom jewelry.” Her wrists and fingers were proof of that.

  “That must be your jewelry in the display case at Freefall. It sells well.”

  “Yeah, Nix is such a doll. He lets Cassie use his shop as my storefront. He hasn’t asked for any compensation. He is such a doll.”

  “Yeah, you mentioned that.” If I had a dollar for every time I’d heard some girl call Nix a doll, I could stop being into cars and retire.

  She reached over and grabbed the glass pitcher off the blender to refresh her drink. “My ex drives a sixty-nine Camaro.”

  Had to be a record. Only ten seconds into the conversation and we were on to the ex-boyfriend topic.

  “That’s a good car if it’s done right.”

  “Oh, he did it right. Got a nice number of speeding tickets in it. One of the things we used to fight about.” She waved the hand not holding the drink, and her bracelets jangled with the motion. “But you don’t want hear about him. He’s a jerk.”

  “I really don’t. So, what do you do besides jewelry?” I hadn’t meant it to be a leading question, but my poor grammar produced a wicked smile and she leaned toward me.

  “It depends on just how much alcohol I’ve had.” She lifted her drink to her mouth and stared at me over the brim as she sipped it down.

  Of course, the other side of the rebound coin was the unfulfilled sex life due to the break up. “Is that right?” I asked. Lately, I’d been so wrapped up in my business and other people’s lives, I’d ignored my own needs. Just maybe it was time to take care of those needs.

  Dray’s loud, distinctive laugh floated in through the open kitchen window. I looked out into the yard. He was handing Barrett a beer. I hadn’t expected to see him but then it made sense that Dray would have invited the other pea from his pod. Aside from appearances, they sometimes seemed more like brothers than Barrett and me.

  There was a real sketchy looking guy standing next to Barrett. It had to be the infamous Gus. He actually looked just as I’d expected, like one of the greasy haired dudes who’d hung out on the stoner’s bench at school. Only this guy looked really hardcore.

  Violet turned around to see what had gotten my attention. She turned back to face me. “That has to be your brother. He looks like a miniature version of you.”

  I nodded. “What’s sad about that is that a guy who is six foot tall and a hundred and seventy pounds is mini compared to me.”

  She smiled and ran her long fingernail down my arm. “I do like big.” She pressed her thigh against me. Then something behind me caught her attention and she smiled brightly. “Hey, Nix.”

  I turned around. Nix was standing in the small kitchen, but my attention was sucked away from him and the girl pressing her thigh against me. Taylor was standing with Scotlyn in the adjacent dining room. Our gazes met just long enough to punch the breath from me and then she headed out the back door.

  I glowered down at Nix.

  “Didn’t you get my text?” he asked.

  I pulled out my phone and read it. “We’re bringing Taylor with us.” I shoved it back in my pocket. “I’ve got it now.” My pulse was pounding behind my ears and suddenly I wanted to be anywhere but here.

  “She’s already spotted you,” Nix said.

  “Really,” I glanced around the small kitchen, “and I was sure no one would see me cloaked as I am in the kitchen walls. In fact, this whole damn place is starting to close in on me.”

  “Look, man, I’m sorry. Taylor has become really attached to Scotlyn. She feels like she doesn’t have anyone else to turn to or trust. It’s been good for Scotlyn too. She lost her sister. Taylor promised she wouldn’t drink.” He pointed at my pocket. “And I tried to warn you.”

  “Look, it’s fine,” I said tersely.

  “Yeah, all right,” Nix said. “I’m going out to get a beer.” He nodded toward Violet and left.

  “Who was that kid?” Violet asked, obviously sensing the tension that had built around me in the last few seconds.

  “She’s not a kid.” And that’s when it occurred to me— I had not admitted it out loud yet, which was probably out of self-preservation. All the months of thinking of Taylor as a kid had made it seem impossible to think that she was finally an adult. I’d denied myself the pleasure of looking at her, touching her and wanting her for so long that I’d built up a shield of self-control when it came to Taylor. When I’d broken through that shield and kissed her, it had only caused her more confusion and hurt.

  “She just looked kind of young to be here,” Violet commented unnecessarily. She continued to ramble on about something, but I didn’t hear a word. My attention had been drawn to the scene outside the window where Taylor had immediately walked up to Barrett and Gus. She was talking animatedly to Barrett’s shady-looking buddy as if they already knew each other.

  Violet poked my arm. “Did you hear me?”

  I dragged my gaze away from the window and looked down at her. “Huh?”

  “Never mind,” she said angrily, “I don’t need this shit. I’m going out to the yard.” I stepped obligingly aside, and she brushed past me.

  I stared out the window and watched Taylor. She’d made it clear she would have rather seen anyone but me tonight. And maybe it was better if I didn’t see her. I could head back home and drink down a few more and sit in the garage staring at the Shelby. I’d always gotten along better with cars than girls.

  Taylor laughed and lifted up her ankle to show the tiny butterfly Nix had drawn for her. Barrett’s slimy fishing mate reached down and brushed his fingers over it. I flew out the back door with enough force that half the yard turned around. But she hadn’t turned or looked away from her new friend. I somehow managed to stop myself from walking over and pounding the guy into the ground.

  I leaned up against the brick wall pretending I could hide in the corner of the yard. A party was going on around me, but I was focused solely on her. Thick copper strands of hair bounced off her tanned shoulders framing the birthmark that started just below the strap of her tank shirt and ended just above her elbow. It was a subtle difference in skin color that few people would ever notice, but I’d memorized everything about her. Like the fact that she had only one dimple, which showed prominently as she tucked her hair behind her ear and laughed at something that Barrett’s friend had said. It had been months since I’d heard her laugh, but everything about it was familiar.

  If she had seen me standing in the shadowy edge of the yard, she hadn’t let on, or maybe, she just didn’t give a damn that I was there. A half-filled ice chest slid across the cement and stopped directly in front of me. I stared down at it.

  “Something told me you should be closer to the beer—” Dray glanced over at Taylor, “—for all our sakes.” He seemed to be assessing whether or not it was safe to get near me, which was completely out of character for my friend who never thought twice about walking into a brawl with three guys twice his size. He finally walked over and plucked a beer out of the ice chest. “Just a warning— Cassie’s already upset with you.”

  I downed the rest of my beer and crushed the can before tossing it into the ice chest. “Don’t seem to be able to make anyone happy these days. Maybe it will put a quick end to her matchmaker profession.”

  Dray lifted his can in the air. “Here, here.”

  Nix walked over and grabbed a can of beer. “It figures you two would be hovering over the ice chest.” He glanced across the yard too. “Who the hell is that guy with Barrett?”

  “The son of the fishing boat captain, and the guy who got him hooked on drugs,” I answered.

  “I’ve got to hand it to your bro
ther, he’s consistent. I don’t know anyone else who manages to always form friendships with the worst people on the planet,” Nix said.

  Dray gulped back a mouthful. “Hey, I take offense to that. Barrett and I are friends.”

  “Fine, I take it back. But it doesn’t necessarily disprove my point.”

  Taylor threw her head back with another laugh, and I felt the sound of it deep inside my chest. Then Gus reached over and placed his arm around her waist. It had only been for a split second. If I had blinked, I would have missed it. But I hadn’t blinked.

  Nix’s hand was on my arm before I could take one step. “Let it go. If you care about her, which I know you do, then let it go. You need to kick back and take a breath.”

  “Yeah, chill out,” Dray said. “I don’t want to have to scrape that greasy scumbag off my patio. Taylor’s probably just messing with your head. She might be young, but she knows damn well what she’s doing.”

  I nodded but every muscle in my body was taut. “I don’t think I’ll be able to hang out here for too much longer. To think I was only worried about this guy’s arrival for Barrett’s sake,” I said with a short laugh.

  Scotlyn and Cassie walked by with most of the women, including her friend, Violet, who managed to shoot me a snarly look over her shoulder before disappearing inside. Taylor stayed outside with Barrett and Gus. My brother was doing a great job at pretending I was nowhere around, but he knew damn well I was standing just yards from him. In fact, I was sure he was acutely aware of my proximity.

  “We’re going in to have cheese fondue,” Cassie called from the stoop. “You guys can stick with chips and salsa. We girls prefer finer fare.”

  Dray held out his hands. “I like cheese, as long as there is macaroni in it.”

  “Then you’re out of luck. We’re dipping in raw vegetables,” Cassie answered.

  “Who the hell dips raw vegetables in cheese?” Dray motioned for her to go inside. He looked back at us. “For that matter, who the fuck eats raw vegetables at all, except for rabbits . . . and chicks, I guess.”