Chapter Nine

Kyler's head felt as if it was in a vice and someone slowly turned the crank, squeezing tighter each time around. He wanted to blame Andrew but knew it was a lack of sleep. He had taken a pain pill, but it hadn't kicked in yet.

It didn't help that Luis was singing around the garage like it was karaoke night at TJs bar. Luis sounded okay. He wasn't radio-worthy or anything, but he was still above average. The problem was it echoed around the garage because the bays were closed. The sound made his head pulse with pain.

"God, would you shut up?" Kyler sat on the front frame of a truck, one of the biggest in existence. The truck hood was up and out of his way. He wrenched on a bolt. The thing wouldn't budge no matter what Kyler did.

"You're just jealous you don't sound as good as me." Luis danced in front of him to some barely recognizable hip hop song that he belted out.

Royce had shut the radio off about an hour ago because Kyler had bitched one too many times, which was why Luis raised his voice in song. The loudness was Luis' way of protesting without pissing Royce off. Luis didn't care about Kyler's current mood.

Luis and quiet didn't like each other sometimes. Usually, Kyler was an equal partner in whatever nonsense he decided he wanted to start, especially if it annoyed Royce. An annoyed Royce was easy to achieve and funny as long as they didn't push him too far. Kyler's head just wasn't in the game, though.

"You sound worse." Kyler wrenched on the bolt one more time. It moved ever so slightly, which gave him hope. A little at a time was progress.

"Let's test out that theory, shall we." Luis leaned against the truck just inches from Kyler's leg.

"I'm not singing for you. Got a headache. Here, hold this." Kyler dropped the bolt into Luis' hand.

Luis pulled a rag out of his pocket, using it to clean the grease off the tines.

"You know we have cleaner for that, right?"

"Sometimes, it's better to do things manually." Luis made an obscene gesture with his hand and mouth like he was sucking a dick. "Sorry. I didn't know you weren't feeling good."

Kyler smiled. "It's fine. Sorry I've been bitchy today."

"Want to go to Rumors tonight?" Luis asked as Royce walked out of his office, crossing the garage to them.

Maybe getting laid would help get Andrew out of his system. That wasn't his usual thing, but having two one night stands might cancel them both out. Like unplugging his heart to reset it. "Rumors sounds good, man."

"Cool." Luis blushed when Royce stood next to him.

"Rumors? That bar in Harbor Shire?" Royce asked.

"Yep. We're going tonight."

"Not with the date rapes getting worse, you're not." Royce didn't have to raise his voice to let them know it was a command.

"Come with us if you're worried." Whatever Kyler could do to help Luis and Royce get together.

Royce shook his head. "And what about the chief. Are you going to invite him too?"

Kyler darted his gaze to Royce, who had a smirk on his face. "Why would I invite him?"

"Because you got a thing and he can keep you safe. I'm not asking, Kyler. Invite him."

"Fine but he just wants in my pants again. Nothing more than that."

"Maybe you're not giving him enough credit."

"And maybe you're giving him too much." Kyler countered.

Kyler started loosening another bolt. It was as tight as the last one and would take just as much patience, which wasn't something he possessed. His pain level used it all.

"What's wrong with you today?" Royce leaned on the truck, looking inside, assessing it.

"Not feeling well."

"Are you sick?"

"No. I didn't sleep well last night." He wouldn't tell Royce about his dream. As much as Royce was like a parent, he wouldn't talk about his feelings. Royce wasn't the type for that, which was why Kyler didn't understand Luis' infatuation but whatever. He was in lust with the very charming and commitment-phobic chief, so what did he know.

"If you're up to it, your favorite customer needs a dig out. He says he fucked up the front axle."

"Fuck." Two days in a row of having to deal with Brett was way too much. "Went for a walk last night, and that fucker chased me through town."

Royce's scowl deepened. "I'll tell him to find someone else."

Kyler shook his head. "You should call the chief and ask him what he wants you to do."

Royce got that look on his face that said he was about to get involved in something that he'd rather stay away from, but he'd do it because it was for the good of the town. "Why?"

"I think Andy suspects him for the rapes." Andy? Shit. He was falling in deep all over again. It was the damn offer of dinner. He knew it was, and that was Andy's fault too.

Royce didn't ask how Kyler knew all this. He didn't even hesitate when he walked to his office

And leave it to Luis to pick up on the one thing Kyler would rather not analyze any further than necessary. "Andy?"

"Shut up."

Luis raised his eyebrows but didn't ask questions. "I'll tell Brad. He'll look out for that fucker."

In Kyler's opinion, Brad had missed his calling. He should have been a cop. He would have been good at that job, but prison had probably put a stop to that.

Royce came back into the garage. "Chief's going to go out there. We'll forget about the tow, and I want you both to steer clear of Brett Lincoln. The guy is trouble."

Kyler nodded and went back to what he was doing. He'd rather forget about everything and just let the mechanics and the physical nature of the work lull him into a false sense of security.

"I barely know who he is." Luis waved his hand at Royce, dismissing the conversation.

"That doesn't mean he doesn't know who you are or that a chance encounter can't happen."

"How can I steer clear if it's a chance encounter?"

Kyler swore those two picked a fight because neither one of them wanted to have a real conversation. Arguing was the only way they talked at all.

"My point is for you to stay away from him. That's all."

"I know your point. I'm just saying. I'd never talk to him on purpose anyway."

Kyler smiled. The argument was one more thing that took him out of his head. It was normal and, in a strange way, that washed away whatever anxiety he'd had left.