Page 25 of A Simple Regret

Shortcake.

I haven’t said her nickname since the morning she broke up with me and left town, and it’s like a punch to the gut how easily it fell from my lips now, after all this time.

I clear my throat and look away. She closes her door as I place my hands on her bumper and prepare to give her a boost. My heart is pounding in my chest like a snare drum, the reverb echoing through my entire body. I’m suddenly a live wire, the energy ready to strike, but I refuse to do it now. Not with Theo here, sitting on her lap and pretending to drive.

Speaking of Theo…

I can’t help it.

I look.

He’s kneeling on her lap, a cheesy grin on his face, as he grips the wheel and tries to move it side to side. We make eye contact, and I can’t help but automatically return his smile. Everything inside me just…relaxes. Who knew a three-year-old could have this calming effect on me?

Maren says something to him, and he nods in return before showing me a thumbs-up. A chuckle slips from my mouth, and I take it as a sign they’re ready, so I start to push. The car doesn’t move, and it hits me.

“Put it in neutral.”

Her eyes widen and she shakes her head, as if she can’t believe she didn’t remember that. After applying the brake, she shifts the vehicle into neutral, and I’m able to push it back. I already checked on her model, and since her Ford Escape is old enough, it doesn’t have the hidden shift lock button feature. If it had, like most newer models now, it would have entailed taking an extra step to get the shifter into neutral so we could push it.

The car now moves when I push against it, and after a short time, I have it back to where my truck is parked. “Okay, turn the wheel to get to my driveway. When you reach the door, apply the brake, and I’ll run inside and open the door.”

She nods in understanding and so does Theo.

It takes me a few minutes and a little extra muscle to get the car into my driveway, thanks to the grass separating our properties, but I eventually get it there. Honestly, I should have called one of my brothers to help, or maybe even Quinn, but I didn’t want to listen to them and their many opinions I’m sure they’ll all have in regard to my new neighbor.

I slip inside my garage and open the door. Once it’s up, I return to the back bumper and continue with my push. “That’s good,” I holler, stopping my pushing and watching as the brake lights illuminate.

She puts the vehicle in park once more and returns the key to the off position. I want to open her door and help them out, but I stay back. The last thing I need to do is touch her hand, because then I entertain ideas I have no business entertaining.

“Dat was fun!” Theo hollers as his mom helps him out of her car.

I head over and close the garage door, and as soon as it’s down, I turn the thermostat up so the space gets a bit more comfortable. I keep it at fifty-five during the winter, with the exception of when I’m out here working. Then, I usually bump it up to sixty-five. “Did you drive?” I ask the little boy, who comes running over to me and watches my every move.

“Yep!”

I stop what I’m doing and cross my arms over my chest. “Do you have a license, sir?”

He giggles and shakes his head. “I not sir. I Theo.”

“Hmm, Theo, you say? Well, Theo, I’m going to need your license and registration.”

He throws his head back, his entire body shaking as he laughs. Frankly, it’s the sweetest sound I’ve heard in a long damn time. “You funny.”

I reach over, pull his hat off, and ruffle his hair. “You are too, my friend. Are you ready to get to work?”

His eyes widen. “I help?”

“Of course,” I reply, picking him up and setting him on my workbench. He looks at the pile of boxed car parts and picks up a spark plug. “That one’s your size.”

He grins and holds it up. “Mama, I help!”

She steps forward a bit hesitantly. “We should probably head home, Theo, and leave Camden to work on my car.”

“I help!” he proclaims, holding up the spark plug.

She turns worried eyes my way. “I don’t want to be in the way.”

I shrug and set Theo on the floor. “It’s fine. If I can deal with Cade all up in my business and thinking he’s helping, I can handle a three-year-old.”