Brett
“Yo, Brett. I said get me an oil filter, not a belt. What the hell are you so distracted about lately?” Charlie yells.
“Shut the hell up. I’m not distracted, I just can’t understand you when it sounds like you’re talking with a dick in your mouth,” I toss back, throwing the filter at him.
I keep telling everyone, I’m not distracted. There’s no reason for me to be. Just thinking about Eva. Damn, I used to have such a crush on her when we were young. She never took my shit, always gave it as good as she got it. I teased that girl relentlessly, always trying to get her attention.
“What the hell are you grinning at, Daniels?” Robert, my boss, asks walking by.
Alright, maybe I’m a little distracted.
There are days I kick myself in the ass for not going to work for Asher, but I know it wouldn’t have worked. I don’t like taking orders. I sure as hell don’t like taking orders from my best friend. It would have ruined our friendship. I would have ruined it. Asher is the only person who’s been in my life that hasn’t left for one reason or another. My parents were too busy snorting cocaine to even remember they had a kid. I got shipped off to my grandparents, who tried to teach me right from wrong, but I wasn’t an easy kid to deal with. Too much anger.
When my grandparents died, I was left with no one at only eighteen. I’ve lost countless friends over the years. Some died one way or another, some didn’t like my life style. Others lied to my face and they were lucky I didn’t beat it off.
Having a relationship was just something that never interested me. Why even bother when in the end they’ll leave anyway. It’s a waste of time. Anyone I’ve ever cared about has left me, expect for Asher. So what’s the point? Having fun, that’s what it’s all about.
“Hey, are you going to help me or are you going to stand there daydreaming like a chick?” Charlie asks, raising an eyebrow.
“Christ, don’t get your panties in a bunch,” I say, flipping him off. “Move, I’ll get this shit done. You probably need to go get waxed for all the dick you’ll be getting this weekend.”
He laughs, wiping his hands on the rag. “What are you into someone or something?”
“Charlie, you’re a cool guy. I have mad respect for you, but if you ever try to get personal with me again, I’ll punch you in the mouth.” Alright so maybe I still have a little anger.
After I finish up work, I climb into my black Chevy Silverado 2500. Pushing the key in the ignition, I listen to the engine purr to life as I light up a cigarette. Just before I throw it in gear, my phone rings and I grab it.
“What’s up?”
“Hey Brett.” Eva’s sexy voice comes through.
“Hey, what’s going on? You’re not calling to cancel on me, are you?” I ask, taking a drag of my smoke.
She laughs, and damn it makes me smile. “No. I just thought instead of coming here, how about we meet up at the diner.”
“Yeah, that works. Still around seven?”
“Sounds good. I’ll talk to you later.”
She doesn’t even wait for a reply, just hangs up. Grinning, I toss my phone on the passenger seat. Making the short drive home, I drive past Asher’s garage and see he’s still busy working. Pulling in, I throw my truck in park, and jump out.
“Hey man. You’re working late,” I say, leaning against his tool box.
“Get the fuck off my box,” he says, narrowing his eyes at me.
Laughing, I step away. He makes it too easy. “Why are you still here?”
“I’m just about finished. I was buried in paperwork all day and just needed to get my hands dirty before I left.”
“Yeah, fuck that. I’d rather be covered in grease, cut up from working on a car,” I say, slapping his back. “But you’re a different kind of guy.”
“No shit.” He slams down the hood and picks up his rag. “So what’s your plans for tonight?”
“Remember Eva Chapman?”
“How the hell could I forget. She was the only chick that you ever really liked, why?”
Crossing my arms, I lean against the side of the Ford Taurus he was working on. “I’m meeting her at the diner. And, shut the fuck up, I had a crush on her when we were kids. That doesn’t mean shit.”
Grinning, he tosses the grease filled rag behind him. “Sure it doesn’t. Is this like a date?”
“Just because you went out and handed your balls over to Payton, doesn’t mean I’m looking to do the same thing. That’s never going to change. Stop acting like you don’t fucking know me,” I say, with a bit too much anger in my voice.
He laughs, fucking laughs. “Yeah that’s the same shit I said, and look at me now.”
“We’re not the same person. Hey, I was just stopping to see if you needed help. Obviously, you don’t, so I’m leaving,” I say, turning to leave.
“Have fun with Eva tonight,” he yells.
Just because he found his happily ever after, or whatever the fuck, doesn’t mean I’m going to. No screw that, I don’t want it. Eva may be hot as hell, but she’s a friend. Just a friend.