Page 13 of My Three Hometown Alphas

I found a car online that a lady in town named Maggie was selling. Today’s my last day before I start working tomorrow, so I figured this would be my best chance to get it.

I might not be staying in Aspen Springs beyond this summer, but I want a car of my own. I sold my dad’s before making the journey here, so this will be my first car that’s just mine.

A fresh start.

I can use it now and then bring it with me to California at the end of the summer for the internship I have lined up after finishing my master’s degree.

I could have asked one of the guys to drive me, but I wasn’t going to bother them over something I could easily manage on my own. All their cars were parked in front of the house, so I slipped out like a teenager breaking curfew.

I sigh in relief seeing the street sign showing me I’m in the right place.

The house in question is older but well kept with a gorgeous front porch that looks fairly new. Bypassing the ramp, I walk up the stairs and knock on the door.

A woman who appears to be in her mid-fifties opens the door. Her slightly graying brown hair is pulled back with a claw clip.

The edges of her mouth curve into a smile. “You must be Avery.”

“That’s me,” I say, returning her smile.

“I’ll grab the keys, and we can go look at the car,” she says.

I turn to look at the older SUV parked along the sidewalk in front of the house. I follow behind her when she returns with the keys. There’s a slight limp in her gait, but she makes it to the car.

“I loved this car, but my kids insisted I get something that would be easier for me to get in and out of. Grayson was especially persistent about it.”

I laugh as she hands me the keys. “At least they love you enough to bug you about that kind of stuff. It could be worse.”

“Could it?” she asks. Her voice drips with sarcasm.

I laugh even more.I like this lady.She’s feisty as shit despite facing some obvious obstacles in her life.

She waves her hand toward the car. “Go take it for a spin. See what you think.”

My eyebrows draw up toward my hairline. “Just like that? You don’t even know me.”

“Are you a serial killer or something?”

“Well, if I was, I’m pretty sure me stealing your car would be the least of your worries.”

“Touché. Go drive the damn car.”

Just as I’m about the close the car door, she hollers at me, “Don’t go murdering anyone out there with my car. At least wait until it’s yours to cause any damage.”

Holy crap.

I don’t know how I actually manage to drive the car around a few blocks with how hard I’m laughing. I don’t know the last time I actually laughed like this.

Too long.

I find her sitting on the front porch when I return. “It’s great. I’ll take it.”

“Glory be,” she says, nodding emphatically. “Glad you found your new murder machine.”

“What would your kids say if they heard you talking like that?”

“Grayson would try to tell me to stop. Hadley would just sigh but secretly be laughing.” She tilts her head to the side, thinking. “You and Hadley would actually be two peas in a pod, if I had to venture a guess.”

I hand her the check I just wrote out to her.