Chapter Two

Steven

Present Day

The rhythmic hum of the air compressor fills the garage as I lean under the hood of a '72 Chevy. My hands are dirty, the smell of oil and metal familiar, comforting even. I've always loved the way engines come together—the pattern even in their complexity. They make sense. Unlike people.

I'm tightening a bolt when my phone buzzes on the workbench. Glancing over, I wipe my hands on a rag before picking it up. It's Theo. I can't help but smile a little. He's probably calling from some fancy vineyard in France, still basking in the glow of his engagement to Erica.

I wouldn't have expected Theo to get married again, especially not to someone nearly half his age. But there's no judgement there. When you know, you know. And Erica and him are a perfect match if I ever saw one. I swipe to answer.

"Theo, man, shouldn't you be too busy drinking wine to be calling me?"

Theo's voice comes through, but it's not the relaxed, joking tone I was expecting. "Hey, Steven. I hate to bother you, but I've got a favor to ask."

I straighten up, already feeling a knot form in my gut. Theo doesn't usually ask for help unless it's serious. "What's up?"

"It's Joy. She was in a car accident."

His words hit me like a punch to the chest and I grip the edge of the workbench, my knuckles turning white. "Is she okay?"

"She's fine," Theo rushes to assure me. "Well, mostly fine. She's at the hospital getting checked out, but from what she told me, it's nothing too serious. Her car is totaled though."

I exhale slowly, forcing myself to breathe. Okay. She's fine. I can handle that. "Alright. What do you need me to do?"

"I'm in France, man. I'd come back in a heartbeat, but Joy said she's okay. Still, she sounded pretty shaken up to me and I need you to go pick her up, make sure she's alright.

"Of course, man," I say without hesitation, even though there's a familiar weight settling in my chest. "I'll take care of her."

"I know you will. But, call me if I need to come back. I can be on a flight tomorrow."

"No, I know Joy would want you and Erica to enjoy your vacation. I've got her."

"Thanks, man. I owe you one. I feel better knowing you'll be with her."

We exchange a few more words before hanging up, and as soon as the call ends, the quiet of the garage feels suffocating. I stare at the phone in my hand, my heart racing, my mind running a mile a minute.

Well. Fuck.

It's been two years since that night. Two years since I picked her up from that damn restaurant, broken-hearted and crying. Theo had only been my friend for a year by then and I'd always thought his daughter was something special. She's always been beautiful. Smart. Strong. But also she was only nineteen then. Too young. Too innocent.

Far too young for a guy like me.

But, that night when I saw her crying, something inside me shifted anyway. There was this possessiveness I couldn't control, this need to protect her, to keep her safe from the world and all the assholes in it. I wanted to strangle the boy who'd hurt her and, at the same time, I wanted to pull her close and never let her go.

I've managed to avoid being alone with her since. We've seen each other plenty—Cherrywood isn't big enough to avoid that completely. But, I've kept my distance, always making sure I'm not too close. Always making sure I'm not looking at her for too long.

And I've spent these two years trying to convince myself that I'm still not thinking about her. That I don't still feel that pull. That my heart doesn't ache for her and my body doesn't warm when I think about her.

I shake my thoughts away roughly. I can't go down that road. I can't let myself ruin everything for some crush. I don't have many people and Theo has become more than my best friend. He's like a brother to me. I couldn't do that to him.

It doesn't take me long to get the shop closed up and my body in my truck. As I drive, I give myself a mental pep talk. I've dealt with worse situations than this, right? I've seen combat, for crying out loud. I've handled high-pressure situations. But none of those situations involved Joy. None of them involved seeing her, being near her, feeling everything I've tried so damn hard to forget.

And all without Theo as a barrier.

The hospital is about a fifteen-minute drive from here, but it feels like an eternity. I finally pull into the hospital parking lot, my heart doing karate flips in my chest. This is fine. She's fine. I can do this. Just go in, pick her up, take her home, and don't do anything stupid.

As I walk through the automatic doors of the hospital, I remind myself again why this is a bad idea. I've made it two years without crossing any lines. I can make it through tonight.

The waiting room is quiet, the sterile smell of disinfectant filling the air. I approach the front desk and the blonde nurse looks up. I almost curse but force a neutral expression to my face.

"Oh my gosh, Steven," Debra greets with excitement.

"Hey, Debra," I respond politely. "How're you doing?"

"Just fine. Same old, same old." She waves the conversation away. "You know, Jessica was just asking about you. You two still talk?"

I repress a groan. A few months ago, in a mistaken attempt at finding some of the happiness Theo seems to have found with Erica, I finally caved to the matchmaking Debra has been trying to play with me and her eldest daughter. Jessica is a nice enough woman, but she just isn't for me. I thought I made that clear—politely, of course—but it seems that the message wasn't conveyed to her mom.

"Oh, you know, we check in every now and again." I rush to change the subject. "Joy Marcer just got checked in. I'm here to pick her up."

"Theo's daughter? Yep, she came in a little beaten up after a crash." She chatters away as she clicks through the computer. I hum politely, but finally, she finds the information I need. "Aha, here it is. She's in room 203, just down the hall."

"Thanks, Debra." I give her a kind smile. "I'll see you around."

"Yes you will. I'll tell Jessica I saw you!" she calls after me as I make my way down the hall.

My stomach tightens with every step. This is it. Just act normal, Steve. Be there for her like you're supposed to be. Don't make it weird.

When I reach her room, I knock gently on the door. "Joy?"

Her voice comes from the other side immediately. "Come in."

I push the door open and there she is, sitting on the hospital bed, her dark hair falling in loose waves over her shoulders. She looks tired, her eyes a little red, probably from crying. Like every time I see her, I'm hit in the chest with the desire to hold her to me. But, I ignore it.

"Hey," I say, stepping inside and closing the door behind me. I keep my tone light, casual. "Your dad called me. You okay?"

She gives me a small smile, though it doesn't quite reach her eyes. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just shaken up, I guess. The doctors said I'm good to go. Just a few bruises."

I nod, feeling some of the tension ease out of my shoulders. She's okay. That's all that matters. "Your dad told me to come get you. He's ready to fly back if you need him, but I told him I'd take care of it."

Her smile falters for a second and she looks down at her hands. "I didn't want to bother him. I know he's having a good time with Erica."

"He'll come back if you need him," I say, crossing the room and sitting down in the chair next to her bed. "But you've got me, so you're in pretty good hands."

She flashes me a small smile, her eyes soft and tired. "Yeah, I'm sure I am. Thank you, Steven."

"You don't need to thank me, Joy. I'll always be here if you need me." I mean it. Even if it's complicated, even if it messes with my head, I'll always come for her.

"They said I'm free to go." She winces as she rubs at her head. "I have a slight concussion so I guess it's not the worst thing that my car is totaled because I'm not allowed to drive it anyway for a little bit."

"Don't worry about your car. I can give you a ride wherever you need to go until your insurance replaces the car." I didn't mean to offer it. I wouldn't have for anyone else, but for her, I'd fix the world and offer it up on a silver platter.

"Oh, you don't have to do that. I don't want to put you out. I can figure out a loaner or something with my insurance."

"I know I didn't have to. I wanted to." My tone leaves no room for arguing. "Now, come on. Let's get you out of here. Hospitals give me the creeps."

She chuckles slightly and swings her legs over the side of the bed. She stands but wavers and I reach out without thinking, catching her balance for her. Immediately the warmth from her skin on mine heats up my whole body. Our eyes lock and instinctually I pull her closer until we're chest to chest.

"You okay?" I whisper, drowning in those gorgeous green eyes.

She swallows thickly. "Yeah. A little dizzy."

"I've got you." I shift her until my arm is hooked around her waist and all of her softness is leaning into my side, using me for stability.

We walk out of the hospital together, side by side, and I can feel the tension in the air between us.

Fuck.

This is going to be harder than I thought.