Liv

A fresh new layer of snow covers the ground today, even though the previous night’s storm didn’t last long. I rolled out of bed determined to right the problem of the battery. After last night, I wanted to be able to wipe my hands and my conscience regarding my grumpy neighbor.

Hannah got off to school without a hitch, and I’m about to walk into the auto shop to set things right. Some would say after his treatment last night, I’m crazy to subject myself to more of him. I don’t want to be anywhere near him, but not any more than I want to have this hanging over my head.

“Howdy, and welcome to the Rack, Rod & Roll. What can I help you with?” the woman behind the counter asks. She peers at me through dark-rimmed glasses. She’s a tiny thing with a cute pixie cut. Her eyes are brown and beautiful. She’s dressed in what looks like dirty mechanic overalls, but they are bright pink.

“Hi, um, I’m looking for a man—”

“Oh, honey, aren’t we all,” she cuts me off, smiling slyly, and tilts her head to the side. “Are you looking for the kind of man who can peek under your hood?”

“Well, he kind of already did,” I explain, ignoring the way my answer comes across. “I’m looking for Travis.”

She leans forward and looks me up and down, stopping on my face. “You seem about the type.”

“I think you have the wrong idea. I’m not… we aren’t… I’m his new neighbor,” I croak, feeling a flush creep up my face. Trying to avoid eye contact, I pull my wallet out of my purse. “He helped me with my car yesterday morning, and then last night, he changed the battery. I’m here to pay for it.”

“You’re the one who got his panties in a twist?” She watches me for a beat before finally breaking into a smile. “Wait right here, and I’ll get him for you.”

“No!” I yelp, and she looks at me with wide, knowing eyes. I catch her name scrawled across the jumpsuit and use it trying to get personable and cover the panic filling my body. “Betty, he doesn’t need to know I’m here. I just want to pay for the battery, then I’ll be on my way.”

“Do you know what kind of battery he installed?” she asks slowly and picks up a pencil, tapping the eraser on an invoice pad. I swallow hard and shake my head, because I don’t know the brand or anything else. “Then I got to call him in here and get the product information.”

I close my eyes and take a breath, suddenly remembering my car is outside in the parking lot, with the battery in it.

“My car is in the parking lot. Give me a moment, and I will go outside to get the information you need.” Without waiting for her response, I spin on my heels and exit the small room, completely focused on getting her the information. Willing to do anything to keep from having to face him again.

It only takes me a few minutes to pop my hood and get the brand name before I’m back inside, kicking the extra snow off my boots.

“I got it—” I start, but when I look up from my boots, I come face-to-face warm chocolate eyes. Travis’ eyes. “Where did Betty go?”

“My aunt is at lunch.” He smirks and crosses his arms before leaning back against the counter behind him. He looks amused and only slightly annoyed. Aunt? That woman is his aunt? I guess it’s possible; they share the same chocolate-colored eyes.

“She is?” I squeak and look down at my watch. It’s still a little too early for lunch. He’s lying. Betty’s probably off somewhere laughing her ass off at me. I clear my throat, trying to act like I’m in no way affected by him. “Oh, well, then, I’m here to pay for the battery you put in my car last night.”

“The battery is paid for,” he informs me, his voice deepening with each word. I think I could spend an eternity listening to the sound of it, but then I remember how much of an asshole he has been since meeting him two days ago.

“How? I haven’t paid for it.”

“I already took care of it.”

“No, that’s unacceptable.” I cross the room, pull my debit card out of my wallet, and place it onto the counter in front of him. “I’ll pay for the battery.”

He looks down at the card as if it’s going to stand up and bite him, then looks back at me. “I told you it’s taken care of.”

“No, it’s not. It will be once you pick up my card and slide it through your little machine there.” I point at the credit card machine resting next to one of his computers on the counter. “Now, I have things to do, so if you would do your job, I can be on my way and you can get back to whatever it is you were doing.”

We fall into a stare down, but I’m bound and determined to win it. Minutes pass, how many exactly, I’m not sure, but he finally picks up the card and runs it through the machine.

He hands me a receipt and a pen. I sign it, but not before checking to make sure he’s charged me right. The amount seems fair, not that I know how much a battery costs, but I sign the receipt and give it back to him. I hold out my hand for my card, but instead of handing it back, he lifts it higher in the air.

I huff at him and stand up on my tiptoes, making myself taller to grab my card. When I snatch it from his fingers, it takes everything in me not to yell at him over childish antics. I peek up at him through my lashes and watch as he lifts an eyebrow in surprise. I ignore the look on his face and turn to walk out of the shop.

I don’t know what he expected from me, but clearly it wasn’t my ability to keep my mouth closed. If it were another day, he’d get an earful, but today, I have shit to do.

“You think I’m an asshole.” His voice stops me.

“It doesn’t matter what I think,” I murmur and glance over my shoulder at him. “You made it perfectly clear the first day, Travis. We might be neighbors, but there is nothing neighborly about us.”

“Liv—” he starts, but I don’t want an explanation.

“I didn’t cross that line, Travis. You did. Twice. I’ve made it possible to redraw it.” I slip my purse strap over my shoulder and take a breath before walking out the door.