The Fine Line (8 page)

“Don’t worry about Carter,” Logan assured me as we met inside the garage.  “He’s harmless.” 

I shrugged.  “No harm done.”  My gaze shifted from Carter to the other guy, who nodded to me with a friendly smile.  “Isn’t that the bouncer from River Fest?” I pointed.

The man came over, wiping his hands on a rag as he approached.  He looked much less creepy in his mechanic’s clothes.  “I’m Matt.  I’d shake your hand, but you probably wouldn’t like that too much.”  He held up his blackened, greasy hands.  “Bouncing is my side job.”

I giggled. “I’m sorry, I’m picturing you physically bouncing,” I replied.  He laughed.  “I’m Olivia.  And thank you,” I motioned to his oily hands.

Logan pointed individually to each of the men.  “Carter’s the ass-munch.  That’s Casey, James, Jimbo, and Steve.”  Each of them stopped what they were doing to give me a friendly wave as they were introduced.  We walked to the back of the shop, and I dropped my backpack on the metal desk. 

“You can do your homework here,” he pointed to the desk.  “My uncle couldn’t be here today, and the shop is overloaded with work, so I’m helping out.”

“Okay, let me know if I’m in the way.  I can leave anytime,” I said.

He looked at me with a reassuring smile.  “You’re never in the way, Liv.  I like having you around.  I work better, actually.”

I welcomed the clinking noises and zoot-zoot sounds of the power tools accompanied by the hard rock/heavy metal music that was playing in the background.  Any background noise was better than quiet. 

After finishing my homework an hour later, I walked around to watch the men work on the cars.  I quickly found out that Logan was the go-to person for questions.  He went from car to car, motivating the mechanics and giving encouraging instructions, while helping hands-on when and where he needed to.  He managed them well, and they clearly had respect for him, despite most of them being years older.

Carter began to struggle with the car he was working on.  “Dammit!”

I stepped over to take a look.  I had seen that model of car before.  In fact, I had spent a considerable amount of time in my preadolescent years observing the reconstruction of one. 

“Hey, Carter,” I said.

He grunted in response, then appeared to feel bad about it.  “Hey, Liv.” 

“Everything okay?”

“Fuck no.  Shit.  Sorry.  I mean no, it’s not okay.  I’m stumped.  I replaced the starter and the ignition switch and this bastard still won’t fu…it still won’t start.  All the wires to the starter look fine.  The battery is fine.  The radio, lights, everything works when you turn the ignition, just not the starter.”  He looked at me, remembering that I was a girl.  “Sorry.  Just rambling.”

I grabbed the little flashlight that was sitting on Carter’s Craftsman tool chest and looked under the hood, instantly remembering all those times helping Adam.  The familiarity of the engine brought back memories of our talks.  Maybe I could help Carter.  Who knows, maybe something about the actual reconstruction of Adam’s car stuck in my mind.  It wouldn’t hurt to try. 

Carter’s face lit up as he watched me study the machinery under the hood.  Clearly entertained, he chuckled.  “You gonna save the day, princess?”

The power tool noises from the bay next to us stopped, and I noticed heads turn our way out of the corner of my eye. 

I rolled my eyes at him and continued to examine the under-hood.  As I tilted my head to get a better look at the back of the engine, I shined the light way in the back and noticed a white, rusty corroded wire attached to it.  I remembered Adam talking about this same ground wire when he was replacing the engine on his car, and I instantly realized that this was the reason the starter wasn’t working for Carter.

“You’ve got a corroded ground wire here, Carter.” 

His amused expression quickly morphed into a
WTF
expression.  “Huh?”  He came up next to me and looked at the spot where my flashlight was shining.  Reaching down to grab the wire, it broke into pieces from his touch. 

“Well, fuck a duck.  You’ve got to be shitting me.”  A dumbstruck Carter said, shaking his head as it dropped down.  “I can’t believe I didn’t look back there.”

“Oh, now I’ve seen it all!” yelled James, as he walked toward us with a grin from ear to ear.

“Carter just got schooled by a girl!” shouted Casey, erupting in laughter.

Carter stood upright and pointed at Casey.  “Fuck you, shithead!”

On the other side of the shop, Logan stopped wrenching under the hood of one of the cars and walked over to us.  “What’s going on?”

“Your girl knows cars, that’s what’s going on!” Jimbo laughed.  “She just gave Carter a lesson!”

Logan studied me attentively as a smile crept onto his face.  “Really?”

I shrugged.  “No, not really.  It’s no big deal.”

“My ass it’s no big deal!” Casey interrupted.  “Carter was all ‘oh what to do? What to do?’ then Liv strolled over and dominated his ass
in zero point two seconds
!  She’s all ‘it’s the ground wire, dumbass!’”  He used a feminine voice to portray Carter, and deep, manly voice for me.

The others all laughed hysterically at his remarks.  Logan grinned and his eyes were slightly squinted as he watched me like he was processing information.

“It literally took her less than 30 seconds to figure that shit out, dude.” Casey continued between laughs. 

I shook my head.  “As much as I love that interpretation, Casey, it was just a corroded wire, anyone could’ve missed it.  It’s no big deal!”

Casey’s laughter filtered down to chuckles.  “If you say so sweetheart.” 

After several more stabs at Carter, the commotion eventually died down, and the men went back to their work.  Logan stayed by me.  “Damn, a pool shark and you know cars?  Any other surprises I should know about?”

“Nope, that’s it,” I replied.  “And I don’t know that much about cars!” 

Defeated, Carter looked over at me, then Logan.  “That was pretty fucking cool.  For a girl.”  He patted Logan on the back.  “She’s a keeper.”  Then he excused himself to go have a cigarette out in the parking lot.

“We’re just friends.”  Logan and I called after him in unison.  Carter turned around and chuckled, then kept walking.

“Care to explain?” Logan asked.

I rolled my eyes.  “There’s nothing to explain!” 

“It’s not everyday someone like you”—he looked me up and down—“can school an experienced mechanic on auto repair techniques.”

I sighed.  “It was just a corroded wire,” I said for the hundredth time.  “Carter would’ve seen it eventually.” 

He remained silent, waiting for me to continue.

I looked down at the floor.  “Someone my mom dated for a few years considered it a good bonding experience to have me watch him work on his car.  It happens to be the same model as that one.”  I pointed to the car Carter was working on.  Logan waited for me to continue.  I shrugged.  “Let’s just say he ended up leaving us for a newer model.” 

His eyes narrowed.  “What an ass.”

“It is what it is.  Nothing’s forever.”

Studying me, he leaned against the tool chest, crossing his arms and nodding slightly.  “Yeah.  I guess you’re right.  That’s why it’s important to live in the moment.” 

I smiled.  “Life is for living, right?  No regrets.”

“No regrets,” he repeated.

We were silent for the next moment.  I looked over at the grey canvas-covered Nova.  “Hey, Logan?”

“Yeah?”

“You know you have a pretty awesome car under there right?”  I said, pointing to the canvas cover. 

“Yeah, I guess it is.”  He looked at the covered car, then at me with a hint of anxiety behind those beautiful hazel eyes.

“What if today is the day you take the cover off and start fixing her up?”

He took his eyes off me to look at the Nova and stared at it intently for a moment.  “I don’t know, Liv.”

“Come on,” I said, taking his greasy hand, walking him over to the car.  “A car like this is not meant to sit under a cover.  Listen, she’s calling to you!  ‘Logan, fix me.  Drive me.  Fix me, please!’  How can you say no to that?”

He chuckled.  “I can’t tonight, I’ve got to help the guys…”

“We’re good, man!” called James.  “Just finishing up.”

“Yeah, we’ve got it covered, Logan,” Jimbo chimed in.

They must’ve overheard our conversation.  I sat down in the swivel chair and twirled myself around.  When I stopped, I was facing the John Wayne movie poster.  Logan sat beside me on top of the desk.  He looked at the poster, then at the car.  His eyes stayed glued on the covered car for several moments. 

I leaned over and placed my hand on top of his.  “There’s no better time than now,” I said, giving him an encouraging smile.

With apprehension mixed with warmth in his eyes, he looked at me. Forcing the corners of his mouth up, he shook his head and took a breath in.  He slid off the desk and stepped to the car then began removing the cover.  After it was completely off, he placed it on the floor next to the desk, leaned against the desktop, and crossed his arms, staring at the Nova.

With a peaceful grin, he eyed me with an expression that was as though an enormous weight had been lifted off his shoulders.  “I’m going to have to start ordering parts.”  His smiled widened.  “You know what that means, right?”

It meant he would need money for parts…which meant…“More racing?”

“More racing.”

“Logan…”
Oh crap, what have I done?
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?  Isn’t there a better way?” 

“Other ways?  Yes.  A better way?  Not really.”  He was amused now. 

I hated the thought of him putting himself at risk.  “Just be careful, okay?”

He grabbed the arm of the chair and swiveled me to face him.  “I’m always careful, Liv.”  Then, with a gleam in his eye, he grabbed both arms of the chair, rolled me closer and quickly kissed my forehead.  A chuckle escaped him as he let go of my chair, took a few steps to the Nova, and lifted the hood.

Chapter Ten

Women lusted after Logan wherever he went, and although he toned it down a bit when I was nearby, he was a natural-born flirt.  I had accompanied him and Gavin to several more races and although Logan always insisted I be the flag girl, he had no problems mingling with his admirers before and after the races.

As he flirted with a group of three women, I stood near Gavin while he spoke with another man about the next race.  Usually Logan raced at least three or four times in a night. 

An attractive man with an athletic build, sky blue eyes framed by dark lashes, and medium-length caramel hair approached me. 

“Are you having fun yet?” he asked.

I must’ve had a bored look on my face while I waited for Gavin to finish his negotiation.  “I was having fun before…this is the boring part,” I replied.

“I’ve seen you around a few times.  Aren’t you Logan’s girl?”

Apparently, everyone knew who Logan was.  An unsettling feeling overcame me at the thought of a rumor going around that Logan and I were involved in any way other than friendship.  I looked over to Logan who had his arm around one girl as he flirted with the other two, wearing a charming grin. 

He glanced up at me, then his gaze moved to the man who was with me, and his smile faded.  I gave him a reassuring look to let him know I was fine, then I turned my face back to the man.  “Now what would that say about me if I was?”

He laughed and held his hand out.  “I’m Evan.”

That sparked my interest.  I took his hand.  “Hi Evan.  I’m Olivia Evans.”

He smiled, not letting go of my hand.  “Now if that’s not fate, I don’t know what is…”

“Are you racing today, Evan?”  Tickled with the coincidence, I wanted to say his name again.

“Nah, I don’t race, just here with friends.  I ride that.”  He let go of my hand and pointed to a motorcycle that was parked at the curb across the street.  “It doesn’t really qualify in a car race.”

There was a short pause.  Then he continued, “You live around here?”

“Yeah.  You?”

“I’m from here, but I’ve been living in Denver for the last two years.  I came back to help with…with family stuff.”

I felt an arm hook the back of my neck.  “Hey, man.”  Logan extended his hand to Evan.  The hand which was not attached to the arm on my neck.  “Logan Tanner.  You race?”

Evan looked at him then me with a confused expression, then the shook Logan’s hand.  “Evan Phoenix.  And no.”

“Evan Phoenix?  Dude, that’s fucking awesome!  It sounds like a porn star’s name.”  Logan laughed.  Whether intentional or not, his tone came across as derisive.

“Well, I can assure you, I’m not a porn star.”  Trying to make friendly conversation, Evan continued, “I’ve seen you race a few times.  You’re good, man.  What’s your trick?”

“No tricks.  When you’ve got it, you’ve just got it.”  He pulled me closer.

WTF? 

Evan backed off after that.  From the way Logan was holding onto me, he must’ve thought we were an item.  “Alright,” Evan said. “Well, it was nice meeting you, Olivia.”

“You can call me, Liv,” I interrupted.

“Ok, Liv,” he said with a warm smile.  Then he looked at Logan, his grin tapering off some.  “Later.”  He turned around and walked towards his bike.

Once he was out of earshot, I grabbed Logan’s hand and pulled his arm off of me and turned to face him.  “What the hell was that, Logan?!  He was nice!”

He looked confused.  “I was just making sure you were okay.  You don’t know that guy, Liv.  He could try shit with you.  You should be careful.”

“Are you serious?!  We were just talking!”  I was completely dumbfounded.

Gavin approached.  “The next race is on, man.  You ready?”

“Yeah, c’mon, Liv.  Let’s go,” Logan replied, trying to take my hand.

I moved my hand out of his reach.  “I don’t think so.” 

His expression became angry.  “What are you talking about?  You need to start the race.”

“I don’t
need
to do anything, Logan.  Ask one of your girls.”  I pointed to the three girls that were staring intently at our dispute.  I was angry too.  I didn’t like being told what to do.  I turned my head to see if Evan was still around.  I spotted him on his bike, talking to another guy.