The List: A Campbell Small-Town Romance by JL Bowman

Author:JL Bowman [Bowman, JL]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bowman Books
Published: 2023-06-05T16:00:00+00:00

SIXTEEN

Ever

The next morning, I dropped off Westie with Lucas Rosales at his auto shop. He was going to do the final check to make sure she was ready to roll on my long trip. Lucas bought the shop from Mr. Counts, who retired a few years ago before I came back from college. Lucas ran a good shop, and I was always pestering him to help me learn how to change a tire and make sure my oil is at the correct level. He was patient with me maybe because he and my brother used to work here before Anthony became a full-time lifeguard. Mr. Counts let Anthony work on Westie while we were teenagers. Lucas just kept up the practice with me. He did most of the work and somehow he didn’t charge me as much as he should have. He said that he owed my brother some unpaid dept and wouldn’t talk about it after that.

“Morning Lucas. Beautiful day, right?” I asked.

He wiped his hands on a greasy towel. “Hey Ever.” He took the keys from me. “Westie will be ready by five and I close at five thirty.”

“Aye, aye Sergeant.” I waved at him.

He ignored my wave and gave me a half smile. “You good with that?”

“Yes, thank you Lucas.” I was more than good with it. Westie was going to be ready for my camping trip, and Xavier was going with me.

“I made you a list of things I want you to check off each month. I remember your brother saying you did well with lists.” He stared at Westie, looking at her tires and the seals he put on the windows last month. Everything was holding up because Lucas Rosales was an excellent mechanic. He was the best and after Anthony died, he took care of the van and, by extension, me. Like a big brother might.

“Yup.” I eyed him, wondering if that look of desire for my Westie should make me nervous. “You okay Lucas?”

“Yeah, just remembering working on this old girl with your brother. She’s a good van. You’re going to have a blast with her.”

“All because of you.”

“And you. This is your trip. I just fixed the tool you’re using to take the trip.” He nodded at Westie as if they had a conversation or something. Then he turned back to me. “I’ll see you at five?”

“I will fly on the backs of dragons to get here on time, sir.”

Lucas shook his head, smiling. “Ever, you’re a strange bird.”

“So are you, so are you.” I attack hugged him, leaving him helpless in my arms laughing. “Thank you, Lucas.”

“Yeah, yeah.” He patted at my arms, trying to gently be released from my hug.

I strapped my messenger bag over my shoulder and began the walk up the hill to the library. It was about a twenty-minute walk to get up the hill, but a fifteen-minute walk to get back. I’d be done before five, so maybe I’d meander to the tourist shops on my way back to Lucas’ place.

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