“College was never in my future, I hated school and I’d always loved playing with people’s hair so I started working in a salon. I wish I had a more exciting story than that, but I don’t. I liked hair so I made a career out of it.” There’s so much more to it than that, but I would never tell him where I came from, not that I’m ashamed, I just don’t want anyone to know. “How about you? How’d you get into fixing cars?”
He looks away from me, playing with the label on the beer bottle. “That’s not exciting either, I worked here on weekends when I was in high school. I’m assuming Sammy told you what happened with my mom so I’ll skip over that, but up until that point, fixing cars was only supposed to be my way to save money for college. College was very much in my future, I even had a full football scholarship.” He swallows down some of his beer.
“It’s really admirable that you gave that up to look after your mom,” I say. I’ve never been emotionally connected to anyone apart from Sam, but it just feels like the right thing to say.
He mumbles something to himself about money and gives me a weak smile before moving the conversation onto a lighter subject. He soon has me laughing and I drop my guard slightly with him, I don’t know why, but he’s so easy to be around. He’s a breath of fresh air. I look down at my watch, shit! Sam’s gonna think I’ve ran off on her. “I should be heading back, it’s been a long day.”
I place my empty bottle on the small, wooden table beside me and stand up. He follows me out the office and I stop to look at the Harley one more time on the way out. Damn, I miss being on the back of a bike.
“Maybe I can take you out on it sometime?” He says.
I jump, not realizing I must’ve said that out loud. I look up into his dark gray eyes, they’re not clear like they were just five minutes ago. Now they look like they’re brewing up a storm. He looks down at my lips and I take a step back.
“Yeah, no, maybe?” I stammer.
Did that just come out as a question? Shut up you babbling idiot.
He takes another step toward me and I stick up my hand in his face. “Err, I need to go now. Sorry again about last night. Bye.”
I wave and one side of his mouth lifts.
“Bye Keeley.” I hear as I practically run out of the door.
I shouldn’t have gone to see him. What was that? Was he really looking at my lips?
I shake my head, don’t be stupid, Keeley.
I’m back at the salon and I need Sam to tell me how stupid I was to go over there, I need to hear someone else voice my own opinion. But when I walk in there, she’s curled up on the sofa with red rimmed eyes and my thoughts go out the window. “Sam? What’s wrong?”
She starts to cry as I gather her in my arms, and I hug her as she tells me all about some guy called Connor who’s back in town. I feel my fists tighten, if he’s hurt her, I will find him.
“Connor was my best friend throughout school. We did everything together, and he was like a big brother to… Tommy. He didn’t care that I always had him with me, he was just as excited to spend time with Tommy as he was with me. They even went on days out together.” She pauses. “Connor was the one who pulled Tommy out of the water.”
My hand flies to my mouth. Why hasn’t she told me about this guy before? I know every little thing that reminds Sam of her brother sends her spiraling into the past, so this must be really hard for her.
She tells me the whole story and I sit there dumbfounded, he must be back here to see her. I voice that but she shakes her head. Well there must be some reason he’s back, there must be more to their relationship than she’s telling me? “Were you two ever, you know... together?”
She’s deep in thought for a moment then tells me there was a kiss once, but nothing more. I can tell by her expression she wanted there to be, there’s more to the story though, I can feel it.
Wait. Isn’t Lewis’s friend called Connor? It can’t be, can it?
Just when Lewis seemed so clear cut; he has secrets after all. Or does he? It’s hardly his secret to tell but being a good friend to Sam, he should’ve told her that Connor was back in town.
“Hey, you remember when I said Lewis was sitting with a guy at the BBQ place when I turned up?” She nods at me, probably wondering what I’m going to say. “Well, his name was Connor, and when I went to the garage to apologize tonight, he was walking out as I walked in.”
Her tears turn angry and she immediately goes on the offensive. “Sam, I can see the wheels turning in that head of yours, maybe he didn’t know? Maybe they just bumped into each other?”
I’m trying to think of a reason he’d keep this from her, but I come up empty. She scoffs, “Look, I know you like him, Kee.” I look down at my hands, I’m not sure what I feel about him. “You don’t have to look away, it’s obvious and it’s fine by me, I’m just angry at him right now. How could he not tell me?”
I need to get away from this conversation so I go and make a drink. Is he just being nice to me to get to Sam? That’s who he really wanted there last night after all. I must’ve spoken out loud as Sam comes through to join me.