6. Beau
Chapter 6
Beau
"Don't forget to rate me five stars on the app," the driver of the car service says as I get out. I place the bag of Korean barbeque that we stopped to pick up on the seat and gave him a sound of affirmation before getting out as quickly as I could.
I watch as FoodzDriverIan speeds off with a happy wave. I really feel for whoever ordered food from him.
Hopefully, Garrett Jackson has a second-hand car that will fit my very limited needs. A car to take me around Flora Vista and occasionally up to Oregan to visit my mom. Lou had suggested I buy a new car with the inheritance money, but that was an easy and quick no. I am cursed when it comes to vehicles. New, old, rented, doesn't matter, I will ruin it somehow. I'm not going to waste money on a new car when it will inevitably last as long as a used one.
I walk into the garage, heading to the reception area as soon as I spot it.
"Can I help you?" Comes from a voice behind me. I turn and see an attractive guy about my age wiping greasy hands on a rag.
"Hi, yeah, I messaged someone over the weekend about a car you have for sale."
He smiles. "That was me. I'm Owen, and I'd shake your hands, but I'll get you all dirty."
Two guys come into the garage, from what I'm guessing is the backyard. One was younger than the other by a fair few years, but they definitely look related.
"Talking about getting another man dirty? I honestly didn't need to know that you and my uncle are taking on a third." The younger guy says.
The older guy, Garrett I'm guessing, slaps him upside his head making Owen chuckle.
"You deserved that, Ryder. Your uncle is all I need," Owen says with a wink before he turns back to me. "Excuse him. Let me show you the car."
"You're all good."
I up nod Garrett and Ryder and follow Owen to the forecourt. I let him do his obviously practiced sales spiel, smiling when it's all done.
"Any questions for me?"
"Just a couple. Is there a warranty and how much is it?" They are the only things that really matter to me.
"It's twenty-three hundred for the car, and I'll ask Garrett about the warranty. He's the owner of this fine business."
"There's a twelve month warranty, but it's void if you drive like a dick," Garrett says coming out of the garage, Ryder trailing behind him.
"I don't drive like a dick," I chuckle. "I just have the worst fucking luck with cars. This is just going to be a grocery run car with the occasionally trip to the beach and to see my mom in Oregon."
"Yeah, this car will see you through that. Give Owen your number and we'll send you a text when you're due an oil change and that kind of shit." Garrett says. He looks me up and down and turns to Owen. "Maybe take him out for a drink. He's new in town."
Garrett then heads back in to the garage.
"I don't want to have sex with you," I blurt out.
Ryder and Owen burst out laughing.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"
"Dude, you're fine." Owen snorts. "Garrett wasn't trying anything sexy. My bestie lives on the east coast and I think he wants to make sure I have friends outside of him."
"Hey," Ryder says. "What am I? Chopped liver?"
"I love you Ryder, but I'm not going to talk about my boyfriend with you," Own says.
"I talk about my boyfriend with you."
"Yes, but your boyfriend is a cute cheerleader who is not related to me."
That piques my interest.
"Cheerleader?"
Ryder gets a dreamy smile on his face. "Yeah, we go to Flora Vista University together."
There are a bunch of cheerleaders on the squad. I saw at least five at the house over the weekend. Ryder's boyfriend could be any one of those guys.
"I should really buy Perry and a fruit basket or something."
That little kernel of hope that had been building inside me drops like lead in my stomach.
Perry has a boyfriend.
A cool, hot, leather wearing mechanic who is his own age.
"Yeah, what Perry did for you and Lexi was awesome," Owen says.
"My boyfriend had a crush on me for years, which I was clueless about, so basically Perry took a photo of Lexi and another guy at a party and tagged me in it. Lit a fire under my jealous ass and I went to the frat house and claimed my man."
"So Perry isn't your boyfriend? Lexi is?"
"Yeah." Ryder looks at me with knitted eyebrows. "Do you know Perry?"
"Um, yeah. Kind of." I scratch the back of my neck. "I just moved into a house next door to the cheerleader squad. He, I mean they, all seem really cool."
I turn to Owen. "I'll take you up on that drink and the car."
"Sounds good, man. Let's get you on the road."
Forty minutes later and my car is safely parked in the drive while I'm reading through the to do list Perry gave me.
I probably should take the thing for a drive to get used to it. Might make the likelihood of me breaking it somehow a little less.
Meh, I'd rather look up the stuff Perry wrote down. He said he'd bake me more cookies. That man knows how to incentivize people.
I open my laptop and look at the only bullet point written in Perry's loopy handwriting.
* Pick a name for your business (bee puns are fine, but GOOGLE them. They might be rude, taken, or offensive.)
I swear he wrote a list as long as my arm at the weekend.
Shrugging, I get to work.
After what feels like hours, I finally have my name.
Beetastic.
Or should it be Bee-Tastic? Hmm, maybe I'll ask Perry.
Like he could hear my thoughts, my phone buzzes and it's a message from the man himself.
Periwinkle Cyan Hawthorn
Are you free this evening? We got off practice early and I was wondering if you wanted to go through some of my research.
Me
That sounds great! Want to get food first?
Periwinkle Cyan Hawthorn
Yeah, what do you want to order?
Me
No ordering!!!!
Periwinkle Cyan Hawthorn
Hahahahahaaha, did you happen to get a ride with FoodzDriverIan?
Me
Yup. I'm in the mood for food that won't look like a Pinterest fail.
Perriwinkle Cyan Hawthorn
Dude, I just snorted water out my nose.
Me
Haha, oops?
Come over, will work our way through some of your research and then go get food. I bought a new to me car today. I should probably take it for a drive to get used to it.
Periwinkle Cyan Hawthorn
Sounds good. See you soon.
I put my phone down quickly, realizing my cheeks are aching from smiling o much. I read back over what we said, and it's not flirty at all.
This is bad. So very bad.
He is in college; I am starting a business. We are at different points in our lives. He is younger than me. We're working together.
There is absolutely no way I am allowed to act on this stupid crush.
So why is my fucking heart screaming at me to make him mine?