William’s POV
I excused myself from Anna's vicinity, seeking my trusted mechanic, Joe. His friendly smile was a welcome respite from the awkwardness I'd just endured. "Hey, Joe! My engine's been making some weird noises," I said, trying to sound casual despite my underlying curiosity about Anna's presence.
Joe nodded sympathetically and called over one of his team members, a skilled young mechanic named Alex. "Hey, Alex, take a look at William's car, would ya? Sounds like it's trying to tell us something."
As Alex got to work, I leaned in closer to Joe, my voice barely above a whisper. "Hey, what's with the...ah… she doing around here?" I nodded discreetly towards Anna, who was now observing us from a distance, her expression a mix of impatience and frustration.
Joe pointed to a rugge
