Page 34 of Wrecked

“I was just wrapping up with Leah.” Rory walks to a computer at a standing-height desk, his fingers typing on the keyboard. “I’ll order the parts, but I can’t without a deposit.”

“How much do you need?” I bite my lip, hoping it’s not too much.

He frowns his face in consideration. “Five hundred bucks? I usually ask for fifty percent up front.”

I nod in fairness. “Yeah, that’s fine. Thank you.” I hand him my card and watch as he swipes away.

Patting my legs, I look at Luke and let him know we can go. We stand and say good-bye to Rory.

Luke gives a closed mouth smile to Adam. He walks over to the Blue Whore and evaluates the damage. He takes his glasses off and folds them into his breast pocket. Bending over, he inspects the dents on the passenger side of the car.

“You forgot to turn your car off.” I’m being snarky.

Still crouched with his hand on the car door, he says, “Protocol. Always leave the car running while you’re on duty in case a call comes in.”

I’m standing by the open garage door, my back to the outside, as I cross my arms. “But there’s time for an oil change?”

He’s playing with the handle on the door when he says, “We have a contract with the O’Tooles. They service all Cedar Ridge police cars.”

That’s good for Rory and his family. A big-brand Auto Depot opened a couple of towns away. Price competition must be killer.

Adam rises and puts his hands on his hips, looking down at the car. “Is she fixable?”

Rory talks over his shoulder, “Barely.”

“I tried to swindle Rory down to a reasonable price,” I say.

Rory turns in defense. “I gave her the friends and family discount.” He looks to me. “I thought you made good money over there.”

Looking to the side, I answer, “Paying off loans.”

“You didn’t go to college,” Rory states matter-of-factly.

I hate that everyone knows my business.

“No, Leah’s got a bigger venture up her sleeve. She’s—”

Adam’s words are cut off when Luke starts coughing. Violently coughing. It’s such a commotion that I can’t even say he’s trying to be subtle about it. Adam turns around but doesn’t move to see if Luke’s okay. He’s just standing there, questioningly eyeing me.

Rory stops what he’s doing. “You okay, man? I don’t need to grab the CPR kit or anything, do I? My old man made me take the class, but I do not want to give you mouth-to-mouth.”

Luke holds his hand up in reassurance. “I’m good!”

Rory narrows his eyes at Luke and then goes back to looking at his computer. Adam’s brows furrow as he looks back at Luke. His eyes dart from Luke to me and back as realization crosses his face.

What he’s realizing exactly is up for debate.

Rory, unfazed by what is transpiring between the three of us, asks, “Adam, what were you saying?”

My eyes are trained on Adam, stone cold and serious, as I say, “He was just going to mention how I am drowning in credit card debt.”

Adam’s head tilts, and I cock a brow at him. There are so many things I want to say to him but can’t. Not here. Not now. And, even if I did, he might not understand.

Rory starts walking to the other side of the garage. “I never pegged you as an overspender. Guess what we assume about others would surprise us. That’s all right. You’ll get yourself out of it.” He walks back with a bottle of Pennzoil. “Adam, I’ll have that done in fifteen minutes. Leah, I’ll call you when the parts are in.”

I hang my head.

Luke gives my shoulders a shake of reassurance. “Come on. Maybe we’ll go home and find some old birthday money lying around. I bet Emma keeps it stashed under her mattress.”