I stopped by the garage and knew it was a mistake to do so. Donny and Rich were each working on a car. There were a few vehicles waiting. Hank was on his knees with a pickup truck jacked up on one side, the tire off, looking like he was checking the brakes. There was a second where I surveyed everything. The building was on its last leg. It needed a new roof a year ago. The white paint was chipped everywhere. Shit, anyone who drove by the place that wasn’t from town would think it was a shutdown building. More than a handful of vehicles lingered around, skeletons of the vehicles they used to be.

It was like we were a garage and junkyard all at the same time.

The pavement cracked and uneven, no lines for any organized parking.

Even the office door… it was faded, dirty around the edges, the doorknob wiggly and black from years of being stained by grease.

I couldn’t believe I stood there and picked apart everything wrong with the garage. And at the same time, I wondered just what in the hell anyone would want by offering me money for the place. It made me think of Harper and what he said to me. The son of a bitch wasn’t lying. But someone wanting to come through town and build? How would that play out? And what kind of money would I get for the garage?

I gritted my teeth when I saw Rich walk over to Donny and punch him in the arm. Donny nodded. Rich thumbed toward the outside of the garage. The two then took a smoke break, standing there, talking and laughing.

That was the essence of the town. Working hard, having a smoke break, getting back to work. Money wasn’t going to change it. Money would ruin it. Money would…

“Boy, I’d love to know what’s going through your mind right now.”

I turned my head and Hank stood there, holding a set of brake pads in his hand.

“I didn’t even hear you walking toward me,” I said.

“Shows how deep in thought you are.”

“Everything okay?”

“Brakes are shot,” Hank said. “Rotors too. He’s going to be pissed.”

“Want me to call?”

“No,” Hank said. “Me and Bart go way back. Shit, we dug by hand the ground to help get the foundation ready for some of the houses back behind Grove Street.”

“You actually worked at some point in your life?” I asked.

“Yeah. Funny, Gavin. Funny.”

“Hey, Hank. Gus.”

“Gus?”

“He just settled up in here, huh? And just waited to die. Is that what it’s all about?”

“Nah,” Hank said. “Gus found his spot and just kept it warm. The town needed him. The town needs this place. We all need each other, Gavin.”

“That we do,” I said. “That we do.” I looked over at the brake pads in Hank’s hand. “Whoever you’re calling… just make it right.”

“Always do.”

I walked forward and skipped Donny and Rich.

I went into the office.

There was a smell that itched my nose. The smell of the garage could never be covered up, no matter how many air fresheners we hung up in the one corner of the office.

Behind my desk I looked at the bills. I opened the drawer and checked the deposit bag. I slammed the drawer shut and punched the stack of mail on the desk.

I opened the door to the garage and whistled.

Donny and Rich appeared.

“Close it up,” I announced. “Finish those two cars and lock the doors. Take an early night.”

I shut the door and walked out of the office.

I got into my truck and drove away from the garage. My garage. My business. The thing that supported me and broke me down at the same time. I had to get away from it.

And I didn’t want to go home either.

Home made me think of her. Of Olivia. A stark reminder that I let my guard down just a little. When she showed up at the bar things should have been very clear. And when she threw up outside my truck, I should have grabbed her phone and called for her fucking friend. But I left a sliver of opportunity there and she took it. Of course she took it. She was trained to do that. The world of business in the big city taught her how to work her way into my life.

But what didn’t make sense… why my house? Why stand there and want to learn how to split firewood? Why curl up in my arms in front of the fire? And why the fuck did she want to know about Luke?

I was angry by the time I punched open the door to the bar. Finn was behind the counter, a wrench in his hand. He looked at me and looked at the clock on the wall.

“Little early?”

“Make it cold,” I said.

Dinky had the mug of beer on the bar before I took my seat.

Finn came walking down, dirty flannel sleeves rolled up his thick arms. His beard was unkempt while his hair was slicked back with grease. He looked like he was auditioning for a car movie in the sixties and never got the part and never changed his look.

“On me,” Finn said, nodding to the mug of beer.

“I already knew that,” I said.

Finn smiled. “Rough day?”

“No. Not at all.”

I grabbed the mug and took a drink.

“Had to check two of the lines,” Finn said. “Might have to call Charlie in to do some work.”

“That’ll be great,” I said.

“Enjoy your beer,” Finn said. “I’m about to head out.”

“Busy night ahead?”

“Always,” Finn said.

He laughed. I laughed.

Finn took care of the bar during the day until Dinky would wander down and take over. Then Finn would go home, heat up a TV dinner in the microwave, sip whiskey, and pass out. He lived in the house his father left him. In some fucked up way, I don’t think Finn ever got over the death of his parents or accepted his fate of owning the bar in town.

But that was his life.

I focused on my life as I downed the first beer.

The bar started to get a little noisier, which I welcomed.

Rich and Donny showed up. The rest of the regulars popped in after work. Everyone wanting to share their war stories for the day.

I checked in with Nikki to make sure she was sober and that Ava was taken care of. Thankfully on that front, it was good. I didn’t tell her about Olivia or that I told Olivia about Luke. Then again, I hadn’t really told Olivia the entire story of Luke.

Looking across the bar, I shook my head. We used to all sit on that side of the bar. That’s when we were young and free. When being wild was normal. With our hearts roaming, sometimes confused, forever falling in love again and again. But for Luke, he knew what he wanted. Even if Nikki always didn’t.

I rubbed my jaw, wanting to chase all that shit away.

Dinky poured me another beer and asked, “Where’s your friend tonight?”

“Not a friend. Just a thing. That’s done.”

“Done, huh?”

“Yeah.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure of that, Gavin.”

“Why?”

“I was just out back for a little air and I saw her getting out of a car.”

 

* * *

 

I stood and turned. Dinky grabbed my arm.

“Hey, what’s wrong? What happened?”

“None of your damn business,” I said.

“Look, Gavin, a woman like that doesn’t come around here often.”

“Exactly the problem,” I said.

“She looks at you a certain way.”

“Fuck off, Dinky,” I said. “We were here for an hour and that was the first time we met.”

“Still. It’s always about the eyes, Gavin. Just like the way Stacey used to look at your brother.”

I made a fist and showed it to Dinky. “You want to go down that road right now?”

“I’m serious. She would look at him in a way that he looked at Nikki. And you, Gavin, you were always in the middle of that storm. And I’m not just talking about the way that woman from the city looks at you. You looking at her…”

I pulled away from the bar.

That’s when the door opened and in came Olivia.

Just like the first time, our eyes locked tight.

The rest of the bar seemed to just fade out to a murmur.

Olivia walked toward me so I did the logical thing.

I grabbed my beer mug off the bar and walked out of the back of the bar.

The parking lot was dimly lit as I walked toward my truck. I opened the back of my truck and turned, jumping up to the bed.

Olivia was right there though, dead set on following me.

“Gavin,” she said.

I slid off the truck and reached into my pocket. I took out all the money I had and threw it at her.

“That’s all I’ve got for now,” I said. “Wait, you’re supposed to pay me though, right?”

Olivia grabbed for her phone, hit a few buttons and then placed it to the bed of the truck. On the screen was a picture of a little girl. Bright eyes. Bright face. Smiling big. Holding an ice cream cone that was way too big for her to eat. Each scoop of ice cream a different flavor.

I looked at Olivia.

“Now swipe,” she said.

I did.

The next picture was the same girl but a different look.

I quickly put the phone down.

“Guilt?”

“Honesty,” Olivia said.

“That’s the girl.”

“Abigail,” she said.

“What does that have to do with any of this?”

“I didn’t lie to you, Gavin. The first night I came here was just to come here. The girl I was with, Whitney. She’s a total bitch. She wanted to come here and hook up with someone.”

“And you?”

“I just wanted to get away for a night. Because of what happened to Abigail. I had nowhere to turn for… whatever. It doesn’t matter about me. That first night I wasn’t here for anything but what happened.”

“The second time?” I asked.

Why was I giving her the time of day now?

The question lingered in my mind. I refused to believe that I was talking to Olivia just because she was beautiful. Or because as much as I wanted to call her a fucking liar she had a genuine sense about her.

But I stood there, leaning against my truck, listening.

“I’m supposed to speak at a memorial for Abigail,” she said. “My father told me his plan for this town. Made it clear that if I don’t play his game he won’t let me be at Abigail’s memorial.”

“Sounds like a nice guy,” I said.

“He’s not.”

“That was sarcasm, darling.”

“I know. But I’m telling you, my father is not a good person. And the whole princess thing was not my doing. I lost my mother so young, Gavin. I knew nothing but what I was told and shown. This is not who I am.”

“Then who are you?” I asked.

“The person telling you the truth. Of why I was here. What my father wants to do. And I’m here again…”

“Why?”

“To help.”

“Help. You’re going to keep your father from destroying this town?”

“I’ll try my hardest.”

I laughed. I pushed away from the truck. I shook my head. “Why should I believe a word you say?”

Olivia grabbed my arm with both hands. I turned my head and saw the look in her eyes. She was damn near in tears.

“I’ll lose everything,” she whispered. “My father, the all powerful Sterling, doesn’t care about family. He’s got a guy picked out for me to marry. He wants me to have a baby with this guy. Then he wants me to divorce the guy. All to build the name. The business. The brand. The empire. It’s all at my feet. Millions of dollars. But I’m standing here, looking at you.”

“How cute,” I said. “The rich girl wants the poor guy, huh? What is this, some fucking kid’s fairy tale?”

“No, Gavin, it’s not.”

“So you came the second time so you could get your memorial for that girl? So what do I do now? Huh? Sell my garage and the land so you can ease your heart? Sorry, darling, that’s not my fucking job.”

“You don’t have to be a total asshole to me right now.”

“Go get in your car and tell your driver to take you home. Where you belong.”

“I drove myself.”

“Yeah?”

“I kicked the driver out and stole the car. To come see you.”

She stared at me. I saw honesty in her eyes and that pissed me off even more.

“I know what it’s like to lose someone,” she said. “And I’m not afraid of your life, Gavin. You don’t deserve to be alone either. You make me feel like I’m a real person. You didn’t see me as The Princess. And I don’t see you however you see yourself in the mirror. That has to mean something.”

I had a decision to make.

I looked across the lot. Then back at my truck.

“Hope you have a change of shoes.”

“Why?”

“It rained here today. Things are a little muddy.”

“So?”

“Get in the truck,” I said.

“Gavin…”

“Don’t make me regret this because I know I will.”

I grabbed my beer and put the mug down next to the dumpster. I watched Olivia open the door and climb into the truck.

What the fuck was I doing?

It felt like I was stupidly falling for a woman that was way out of my reach.

Then again, she was sitting in the passenger seat of my truck, right?

She wasn’t that far out of reach at all…

 

* * *

 

The first step she took she sank right into the wet ground. She let out a yell and grabbed for my hand. Next thing I knew, we were holding hands. Her other hand clutching my arm, using me for balance.

Now, I figured some rich woman like her would be grossed out by mud. Would do anything to get out of it.

Not Olivia.

She walked and laughed each time she sank into the ground.

Again, the mystery of this woman…

I stopped right where I wanted to stop.

A massive oak tree.

I pointed to the initials that were carved into the tree way too fucking long ago.

I had to use my cellphone as a flashlight.

“That’s me,” I said.

There was a N and a G with a heart around it.

“Who is N?” Olivia asked.

“Natasha,” I said. “Old flame.”

“Something bad happen?”

“No. We just weren’t meant to be,” I said. “She left town and has a new life. Look under that.”

There was another heart with letters in it. L. N. A slash at the N. A S above that. A slash through that.

Olivia looked at me.

“Luke, Nikki, Stacey,” I said. “But the reason I brought you here, Liv, was this was where Luke was laid to rest. His ashes. Right here.”

“Oh…”

“This was the spot for us. Me and him together, growing up, hanging at this tree. You can’t see it, but there’s a creek right down there. We’d dam it up and go swimming. Or we’d walk the creek for hours. We’d sleep out here. We had the greatest talks of our life out here. When everything went wrong at home, we at least had each other. I was two years older than Luke. I took care of him. He was my little sidekick, Liv. Sometimes a pain in the ass.”

“I’m sorry you lost him.”

“Our old man left us when we were young. Luke took it really hard. I didn’t though. Maybe being older I saw things differently than he did.” I backed up and leaned against a tree. I grabbed for a smoke. I couldn’t believe I was telling her this shit. “My mother worked as hard as she could. I was fifteen when she fell asleep at the wheel of her car coming home from work. She luckily didn’t hurt anyone but herself. In the blink of an eye me and Luke were alone. We were going to get thrown into the system but a guy named Gus fudged some papers to keep things level. He pretended to be our father. He gave me a job at the garage. I own that garage now, darling.”

Olivia gasped. “Wow. I didn’t know…”

“Of course you didn’t. I don’t tell anyone this shit. I take care of what’s important around me to keep it close so it doesn’t get away. I didn’t do that with Luke. He wanted to fly out of this town, and I let him.”

I hung my head. I dropped the smoke and stepped on it.

A second later I felt Olivia touch my face. She forced me to lift my head. I looked down at her.

“Gavin, I promise I’m not here to hurt you.”

“Then why are you really here?”

“I care about you. It’s crazy, I know. And I want you to… show me what it’s like, Gavin. To have a normal life.”

“Nothing about me is normal, Liv.”

Her nails scratched at my face. “I know that. But that’s what I want. I like messy. I’ve lived in messy. But I want… you…”

My hands slowly grabbed for her hips.

I pulled her close.

She felt good.

She felt like comfort. Real comfort.

“I’m sorry, Gavin. For everything. But I’m not lying to you. You have to know if I wanted to hurt you I could.”

“So what’s it like?”

“What?”

“Being rich? Powerful? Being a princess?” I asked.

Olivia shook her head. “Right now it’s terrifying.”

“Why?”

“Because when I look at you, Gavin, I feel… powerless. Like you’re the one in control of everything. I’m not used to that.”

“Well, darling. Here’s the truth. You’re in my town. You’re in my arms. You’re in my eyes. So right now, that makes you mine…”