Page 12 of Scrap Metal & Love Reforged

Skye swept through the door. “Ready to go, sweetheart?” she asked.

“Yep!” Jess replied.

“Good. We’ll probably get drive-thru on the way home. I don’t feel like cooking.”

Skye toyed with our grandmother's old wedding ring on her finger, the only bit of inheritance that grandma had left my sister. She almost never took it off, and twisting it was always a sure sign that something was bothering her.

“How is Seth’s bike?” Skye asked.

I leaned against the counter and raised an eyebrow. “Why do you care? Hoping to pretend to be really into motorcycles to impress him or something?”

After she had Jess, my sister’s boyfriend walked out on her, and you’d think that kind of experience might make a woman more cautious about relationships. But not Skye. For better or worse, she fell in love faster than anyone I'd ever met

“No,” Skye said. “I was just thinking that he seems nice. That’s all. You two have things in common.”

“So?”

“So maybe you and Seth ought to be friends,” my sister said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “When was the last time you went out and actually did something with a friend?”

“High school,” I shot her a glare.

Skye put her hands on her hips and gave me an exasperated glare. “He’s been very nice to you, and you’ve been really rude. Just so you know.”

“I haven’t beenrude.”

Had I?I mean, maybe I'd been curt. A little. I guess. But professional.

“Are you kidding me?” Skye asked. “I’m amazed he came back after the first time. But since he did, maybe give him a call. You’ve got his number, after all.”

“Just because I have his number doesn’t mean I ought to call the guy,” I replied.

But if Ihadbeen rude, maybe it wouldn’t hurt. He had invited me out for drinks, after all, and it might be cool to talk bikes. My gaze drifted to his bike, parked on the curb and outlined in the darkness of night. Skye cared. I knew that. Her intentions were good.

But Godofdiscordalso said I ought to be more outgoing. I sighed. “I’ll think about it.”

I fidgeted with my phone. I rarely followed Skye's advice, but this time, I actually listened. I’d called Seth, and he’d happily agreed to go out and have drinks. So here I was, at a bar waiting for him.

I’d been here a time or two before. Arthur liked to throw work parties, and although I generally avoided going out to bars with people, I usually showed up to those. Staying on Arthur's good side was crucial to keeping my job, and Arthur could be really weird about stuff like that. It was as if he was convinced that work should be the single most important thing in your life, and you should never miss any work-related function unless you were on your deathbed.

What if he doesn’t show?

It might be a relief. Then, I wouldn’t have to be social with him. I could go home and settle down with my beat-up laptop and vent to Godofdiscord, who’d be filled with righteous indignation on my behalf. Might make things awkward when he came back for his bike, though.

But no, Seth entered and looked around, searching for me. I waved him over. He was wearing a form-fitting leather jacket and tight, dark washed denim jeans. I triednotto notice just how attractive he looked dressed like that, but it was indeed difficult. Seth could’ve made a flour sack look good. “Hey, Troy!” he greeted, sliding into the seat beside me. “Great to see you!”

He said it like we were best friends.

“You, too,” I said, with considerably less enthusiasm.

Seth didn’t seem to notice, or if he did, he had the grace not to mention it.

“How was work?” he asked.

“Good,” I replied. “I put your bike behind the shop, so you don’t have to worry about it being stolen or anything.”

“I wasn’t worried about it. I knew you’d take care of her,” Seth said, grinning. Anyway, it’s insured, probably for more than it’s worth.

I nodded and swigged from the beer I’d asked for. His easy confidence made me antsy. If I had bikes as nice as his, I wouldn’t have trusted them out of my sight for more than a few seconds. But then, Seth clearly came from money.