7. Miles

Chapter 7

Miles

" I want to go to the car wash, Miles. Even Uncle Ben will be there. Why can't I?" Sawyer argued, clearly frustrated.

I hummed in response, barely glancing at him as I straightened my T-shirt in the mirror.

The T-shirt was white with a bold print on the back that read, "Wash to Save the Bookstore."

I tried to act nonchalant, adjusting my hair and the shirt's fit. Sawyer had already been discharged from the hospital, but he still needed to return for physical therapy sessions a few times a week.

"You know you're supposed to be taking it easy," I said with a sigh, even though I knew it was pointless to argue.

Sawyer crossed his arms, a stubborn look on his face. "I'm not useless, you know. I can help out. I can't just let my little brother do everything," he said.

Seeing the determination in his eyes, I finally relented. "Fine, you can come. Just... don't overdo it," I reminded him.

Sawyer's annoyance gave way to a triumphant smile, though I could see a flicker of relief in his eyes.

The car ride was filled with his continuous grumbling about how he wasn't useless and could contribute just as much as anyone else.

"I can't just sit around doing nothing. It's our shop, Miles. I have to be there," he insisted, his voice filled with conviction.

I kept my gaze forward, remaining quiet throughout the drive to the bookstore.

I tried to maintain a neutral expression, trying not to show my excitement. I had seen the setup yesterday—the canopies and the stations where each car would be washed.

My efforts to keep a calm facade seemed to be working, as Sawyer continued to grumble the entire way, oblivious to the small smile that tugged at the corners of my mouth.

I couldn't help but feel a bit amused, almost wanting to pat him on the head like a kid who's sulking because they didn't get picked for a game.

When we arrived at the car wash, it was already in full swing. The place buzzed with activity, a lively mix of shifters and non-shifters working together. Griffin spotted us and waved us over, looking relieved.

"Finally, you guys are here. It's been a crazy morning," he said, his voice carrying over the noise of the busy event. "Sawyer, we need you manning the cashier ASAP."

He handed Sawyer a T-shirt identical to mine. Sawyer looked surprised, his eyes widening in shock.

"Of course, you were going to be here the whole time," I said with a grin, nudging him playfully.

Sawyer took the shirt and started putting it on. "You guys really thought of everything, huh?"

"We wanted it to be perfect," Griffin said with a grin. "Now let's get you set up."

Griffin brought Sawyer to a makeshift cashier table where he would handle the money. He immediately began greeting people, processing payments, and chatting with customers.

As I walked away, I took a moment to survey the scene. More people had shown up than I'd expected.

There were makeshift food booths run by volunteers, and people were taking pictures and videos of the whole event.

Brightly colored banners and signs were strung up everywhere, creating an inviting atmosphere. Volunteers, all wearing matching white T-shirts with our "Wash to Save the Bookstore" logo, were busily washing cars, directing traffic, and assisting customers.

I didn't expect everyone to come and help out like this. The T-shirts, generously donated by Floyd's Printing Shop next door, had been a huge help.

Mr. Floyd, who had run his shop for almost as long as our bookstore had been around, insisted we had to stick together.

"Neighbors need to look out for each other," he had said when he handed over the boxes of T-shirts.

The signs had been made by the kids who attended our bookstore's Story Hour, held once a month on weekends.

As a trade-off, some parents had requested we make it a bi-weekly event during the school holidays, with two sessions every Saturday.

Though I knew some might use it as some kind of free daycare, I didn't mind the extra work.

In fact, I was already considering it as a trial run for expanding our community events.

Of course, none of this would have been possible without Cooper's help. He'd been here since early morning with Noah and Griffin, setting everything up.

I wanted to be here when it started, but I had to keep up the ruse to make sure Sawyer didn't find out beforehand. Seeing the surprised look on his face now made it all worth it.

I took a deep breath, feeling a mix of pride and relief. Everything was coming together perfectly.

As I scanned the area, I quickly found Cooper manning one of the stations.

His hair was wet and slicked back. His white T-shirt was already dirty and clinging to his body, annoyingly accentuating his muscular frame.

When he caught my eye, he flashed a smile. I wanted to walk over and thank him properly, but just as I started, someone grabbed my arm.

"Miles, dear! I'm so happy you're doing this. We'll do anything to help the bookstore. I even got all my friends from the bingo club to come over later," Mrs. Jenkins said, patting my arm. "And look, I brought some sandwiches for you boys. Don't want you getting hungry."

"Thanks, Mrs. Jenkins. You really didn't have to," I replied, touched by her kindness.

Just then, I felt a warm hand on my shoulder. It was Cooper.

"Sorry, ma'am, I need the boss's help with something," he said politely.

Mrs. Jenkins beamed. "Of course, don't let me keep you."

I smiled as Cooper led me away, his hand resting lightly on my waist.

When I glanced down, he quickly removed it, but I felt a pang of disappointment. I kind of liked how his hand felt there.

Cooper cleared his throat and ran a hand through his hair. "Actually, I have a surprise for you. Come on."

He guided me to an empty station and stood in front of something covered with a towel. I tilted my head curiously as he dramatically unveiled it like a magician.

I widened my eyes in surprise. "Is that a…"

Cooper grinned, clearly proud. "This is one of the best pressure washers available. It's top of the line, or so I've heard."

I moved closer, my eyes wide with excitement as I took in every detail of the pressure washer.

"It has a 2000 PSI pressure rating, a nozzle that can switch from low to high pressure, and an onboard detergent tank for easy cleaning." I rattled off the features without taking a breath, my eyes never leaving the machine.

Cooper chuckled, looking amused. "I see you know your pressure washers."

"Yeah, well, I did a bit of research," I admitted, feeling a bit sheepish but also excited.

It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. But with Cooper standing next to it, maybe it was the second most beautiful.

Actually, I wasn't sure. It was hard to decide because I really, really wanted to test it out—the pressure washer, I mean. I reached out, fingers trembling with excitement.

"Go ahead," Cooper encouraged.

I nodded eagerly, ready to dive into the tutorial and start spraying the hell out of some dirt and grime.

"But don't get too excited," Cooper added with a grin. "This is only for those who choose the premium package, so there might not be much to clean right away."

We had decided the car wash would offer three options: the Basic, which included a simple scrub and rinse; the Standard, which added waxing and tire cleaning; and the Premium, which included everything from the Standard package plus a thorough power wash.

I didn't care even if only one person chose the premium package. I just couldn't wait to put the pressure washer to use.

"Got it," I said, not taking my eyes off the machine. Cooper chuckled and gestured for Griffin to bring the first car into my station.

"I'm tired," Noah groaned, slumping down on the bench next to me.

I glanced at him briefly before returning to the task at hand, maneuvering the hose as I pressure-washed the front tires.

The rhythmic motion of the spray against the grime was so much more satisfying than I imagined.

Noah sighed again, even more dramatically, draping an arm over his face. Ignoring him, I moved around to the back of the car, continuing to pressure-wash the rear tires.

To my surprise, a lot of people chose the premium package. We only had one pressure washer, but honestly, I couldn't complain. I was having the time of my life, lost in the steady rhythm of cleaning.

Finally, Noah seemed unable to take my silence any longer. "I think I need a rest over there by one of the canopies," he said, pointing to the front of the car wash.

I glanced in that direction. "Why not over there?" I pointed at the canopies at the other end.

Though, seeing where he was pointing at, I didn't really need to ask why.

It was the cashier area where my brother was stationed. Still, I wanted to hear Noah's explanation.

He merely glared at me, not taking the bait. I chuckled. "You know what, maybe you can help by checking how many are waiting for the premium package."

Noah's eyes lit up. He immediately jumped up from his seat, giving me a thumbs-up before heading toward the cashier. Any sign of his supposed tiredness was gone.

It wasn't like I was setting them up. If anything, I knew my how my brother felt about him, and Noah definitely deserved someone better than him.

But Noah was distracting me, and I knew the line for the premium package was getting too long.

As I glanced around at the bustling car wash, I lifted my shirt to wipe my face and noticed grime and splatter all over me.

My shirt looked like it had been through a mud fight, and even my legs and shorts were covered in who knew what.

When I lifted my shirt higher to check my stomach, I found even more dirt. I had no idea how it ended up there.

"You look like you could use a drink," came an unfamiliar voice from behind.

I turned around to see Jake, a fellow shifter. I'd seen him around at a few pack meetings but had never really talked to him before.

In fact, with the number of times he'd come over to my station this morning, I had exchanged more words with him today than in all our previous encounters combined.

I nodded politely and accepted the water bottle he offered. I set it down on the table beside me, along with a few other bottles and snacks that people had handed me throughout the day.

I didn't understand why so many people were suddenly coming over and giving me things. I felt a bit frustrated because I just wanted to focus on pressure washing without any interruptions.

Noticing Jake's gaze lingering on my shirt, I realized it was still slightly lifted, revealing a bit of my stomach. I quickly pulled it down.

"Thanks for the drink," I said, hoping he'd take the hint and let me get back to work.

Jake didn't, and stepped closer instead. He pulled a handkerchief from his back pocket and gently touched it to my forehead.

"You've got some dirt here. May I?" he asked, his voice unusually low.

It was noisy, and if he hadn't been standing so uncomfortably close, I wouldn't have heard him.

I had dirt everywhere on my body. In fact, all the volunteers were covered in grime. Was he planning to wipe off everyone too?

Just then, Cooper strode over, his presence commanding immediate attention. "Is everything alright here?" he growled, his voice low and dangerous.

His eyes locked onto Jake, who visibly shrank under the weight of Cooper's intense golden gaze. Cooper stepped closer, positioning himself protectively between Jake and me, his possessiveness unmistakable.

Jake cleared his throat, looking suddenly uncomfortable. "Uh, yeah, everything's fine. I was just offering Miles some water." He gave a weak smile, clearly sensing the shift in atmosphere. "But I should probably get back to my car."

Cooper's jaw clenched as he watched Jake walk away. The sight sent an unexpected thrill through me.

Caught off guard by my own reaction, I quickly looked away, pretending to focus on the pressure washer in my hands.

Cooper turned his attention back to me, his expression softening. "Actually, I'm on my break. Mind if I stay here for a bit?"

He didn't wait for an answer, just sat down on a nearby bench with a sigh, stretching his long legs out in front of him.

I nodded, trying to keep the smile on my face from showing too much. "Make yourself comfortable," I said.

As I continued working, I heard a faint noise behind me that sounded like a water bottle being crumpled and tossed into a trash bin.