Country Living

Petty (Rose)

Stay calm. Stay calm. There’s no reason to get upset. But does he think that I’m going to run off with his precious tool or steal his money. However, I do think it's time to call Jeff.

I don’t care how good looking you are around here we take care of each other. I glance over at him and his black long-sleeve shirt is skin tight showing off his muscles and abs very nicely. His hair is a little shaggy, but on him it looks really good. His jeans show off a very sculptured butt and thighs. How he gets any actually wrenching done is surprising to me. He has dark blue eyes that are very hypnotizing it’s very hard to look away

We get to the shop. He unloads my car and I see one of my students hanging out by her car near the shop. Was this his “project”? At least she is eighteen, but I wonder what his reaction will be once he finds out she’s still in high school. “Jessie, what happened to your dad’s car?” I call out to her. Her face starts to turn bright red. Even Mr. Sexy Voice is confused and starting to turn red.

“Um Dad was wanting to get it in for an oil change so I was dropping it off for him.”

“Really I thought your dad had you do all of the oil changes on it so that you could be more responsible.” Busted. She looks at her phone and acts like she’s answering a call, I know it's an act because her ringer is always on.

“I need to get home my Dad called and told me that the oil change isn’t due yet so bye.” She says as she gets into the car.

“Ok. Don’t forget that paper for your government class is due in the morning.” I glanced at the owner who is completely speechless as Jessie pulls out of the lot.

It takes him a couple of minutes before he stutters “Is shhhhe eighteen?”

I waited a whole minute and acted like I’m thinking before I told him barely. I don’t think that I’ve seen relief wash over someone’s face so slowly as it did his it was so comical.

I head into the office. To my surprise the door is locked. I look at the owner, “Hey are we going to go in?”.

“Um yeah.”, he says as he digs the keys out of his pocket. I turn back to the door to keep from staring at his tight jeans. Maybe, mom is right I do need a life, but it would definitely not be around here. I know everybody and everybody knows me. If and or when I decide to get a life, I need to go to the next state over.

We head inside and I immediately notice the change. It’s clean. There aren’t any of Jeff’s notes taped to the walls. The smell of grease and brake clean is missing. There’s a couch with a t.v. in front of it and a Kurg to the side of it. I see a diploma hung on the wall with the name of Brandon Kit, Bachelor’s degree in automotive management. Huh, I don’t think that degree helped him today at all.

I go head into the office to get the key that Jeff always had for me just in case my insurance didn’t come through when Brandon calls out, “Hey, where do you think you’re going?”

“I’m going to get my key. I doubt that insurance is going to pay to fix my car, so I’m going to need to work on it and fix it.”

             He pushes past me and stands in the doorway. “There’s not a key for you and anything that needs to be fixed I will do it.”

             Now I’m starting to get a little irritated. “And face another four years of my brothers nagging on me that I can’t take care of my own s**t, I think not. I’m not going to take anything and I already have a parts car at home. So, what’s the big deal?”

             He takes a definitive stance like he’s going to tell me what I can and cannot do. He should probably talk to my brothers on how I don’t like to be told what to do. “The reason that you cannot be in the shop is because it’s a liability and a potential lawsuit if you break a nail or get hurt.”

             I look up at him and say “Well it’s a good thing that Jeff had me sign a waiver eight years ago.” I go over to the filing cabinet, thank goodness he hasn’t gone through this yet, I pull out the waiver that I signed making sure that it was still good for another two years and shoved it in his chest. I grabbed my key that was taped under the top drawer of the desk while he’s analyzing the contract. I head towards the door.

             “Rose, this isn’t valid. The shop has changed owners. Now give me the key.”

             I might be a little immature. I put the key in my bra as a dare. I looked at him and said “The contract says that I cannot sue Jeff’s Automotive if I get hurt. This is still Jeff’s Automotive right?” I turn around, grab my bags and head out the door. I don’t hear him following me so I head down to the police station to get a ride home from my brother.