Page 16 of Derecho

She hadn’t had deliveries to do today. But still, she came out to the ranch. And yeah, it was pathetic of me to read into that, because she was engaged to another guy. A guy who I wanted to throttle for treating her like shit.

This moment felt really domestic, when I looked at it past all the anxiety. Christ, I didn’t want to think about the fact that I was about to go under her car.

Everything was as safe as it could be; I’d checked probably a hundred times. But now that my ass was on the ground and I’d pushed my tools under the car, I was starting to feel that familiar prickle of dizziness take hold in my mind.

“I’m good,” I said, holding my gloved hand up to wave at her. “Just needed a sec to…” I didn’t know what the fuck to say. To man up and get the job done? I wasn’t doing this for me. I was helping my friend out. She needed me to do this for her, and I would. Because then I’d know the car was a little more reliable for her and the baby. And that would help with the goddamn worry I found myself spiraling into when I thought about her long after she’d driven away.

I closed my eyes, leaned back, and pushed myself under the car.

For a second, I couldn’t open my eyes. Because I knew where my mind would take me back to. I knew as soon as they were open, I wouldn’t be on the ranch any more. I’d be back in my shop. Trapped. Jessie’s wide eyes, filled with panic and fear, would be staring back at me.

Pressure landed on my right leg—light to begin with, then more grounding. I didn’t know what it was at first, but when her fingers wiggled a bit in their hold, I knew it was Lainey.

Opening my eyes, I turned my head. Sure enough, knees in the dirt, her big belly greeted me.

“You’re good, Florence. I’m here. You’re going to fix my car up, and we’re going to celebrate this win, okay? How fast can you do an oil change? Want to try and beat your record?”

Her chatter brought me right back into the moment. “You shouldn’t be over here, Trouble.”

“Yeah, well, you need me to be. And I know you’ll be quick cause you want me to go sit back on the porch, don’t ya?”

She was right. I’d already started moving my ass to get the old oil out of her damn car. As soon as the first bit of oil hit the drain pan, I tapped Lainey’s hand on my leg and started scooting back out into the sunshine.

Lainey sat back, stretching her legs out in front of her as I cleared the last bit of the car and sat up.

“You’re gonna get your dress all dirty,” I said, wiping the sweat off my face. “And you’re looking red. Why don’t you go back and sit on the porch?”

“I don’t mind sitting here. I can’t remember the last time I just got to sit with my face in the sun. And this dress isn’t anything fancy. I think I got it for a dollar or two at a garage sale.”

“Well, it looks pretty on you. Like it was made for you,” I said, watching for her reaction. She smiled, but her face stayed tipped towards the sun.

“Thanks, Lach. That oil all over your arm suits you the same.”

We sat in the sun for another minute, oil still draining out into the pan before I saw her wipe some sweat off her face. I grabbed my cane off the ground and got myself up, reaching out for her hand.

“Let’s go. Shade time for you. I have half a mind to tell you to go inside before I get this all done.”

“I wouldn’t go. This is the first day off I’ve had in a long time, and I’m enjoying spending it with good company.”

I nodded, dropping her hand as soon as she was back on her feet. We made our way to the porch, Lainey choosing to sit back on the step she started on. I passed her the glass of lemonade, and grabbed my water from the table before I sat down next to her.

“Thanks for sitting with me,” I said.

“It was nothing. I knew you’d get through it. But sometimes it just helps to have someone see you, and be there, without you having to say a word.”

“Yeah.” I lifted my glass to my lips, swallowing down the cold water as I let her words bounce around my mind.

Lainey laughed, loud and bright and like she didn’t have a care in the world. I’d finished her oil change and had finally fought my way through swapping out a burnt fuse so her dashboard would clear the final alarm it had on it. The last thing I wanted to check was the connection on her battery terminals…

“I really forgot how nice it is,” she said.

“How nice what is?” I asked back, over my shoulder.

“To have a friend.” I turned, watching as her hand came up to brush away something on her cheek.

“Yeah, I’d forgotten how nice it is, too,” I admitted. “Thanks for reminding me, Trouble.”

“Sure thing, Florence.” That nickname was weirdly growing on me. What the hell was happening?