I gaze at myself in the mirror, feeling quite comfortable. What am I going to do with this mop on top of my head? Since I'm just going to the shop, it doesn't need to be perfect. I grab a trucker hat off my dresser, throw my long black hair up through the hat's back into a messy bun. I then grab a flannel and tie it around my waist before heading downstairs.
I'm overly excited to head over to my father's shop. I cannot wait to see what my dad and the guys have been up to. I get my boots from the closet in the entryway that I lived in throughout High School, then I head out the door.
I make my way down the driveway in my car. What better way to pass the time then to jam out to a little Sweet Child of Mine and Welcome to the Jungle. The drive is lovely and peaceful, despite bringing back a flood of memories from when I would drive to my dad's shop every day.
I PULL UP TO THE SHOP, and I notice that nothing much has changed since the last time I saw it back in High School. I've been home a few times since I left but I never came out here. I lost my interest in the whole car scene.
I walk around the back to one of the large garage doors. It's open, and I can see a gorgeous Chevelle parked right in front of it with the hood up. It looks incredible, with the candy apple red paint glistening in the morning sun. The chrome is sparkling from a new wax.
As I walk closer, a shirtless man steps back from the hood. I don't remember any shirtless guys working for my dad the last time I was here. All the guys my dad had working with him were middle-aged like him and never worked shirtless, that much I recall.
His skin is nicely tanned. His muscular arms are beaming with beads of sweat with a couple of tattoos covering his body but not overwhelming. If I knew my dad had guys that looked like this working for him, I might have come home more often.
The shirtless guy catches me off guard when he notices me and asks, "Can I help you?"
He's rather tall; his dark hair is under a backward black cap. He has a nicely chiseled body that I cannot stop staring at.
"Ugh... no, I'm good, thanks," I reply rudely.
However, I am more embarrassed as I walk past, knowing he caught me staring.
"Ahh, hey. You can't just walk in there. It's employees only," he yells.
I keep walking, ignoring his pleas. I can hear his footsteps as he comes up behind me.
"Alicat!" Ernie screams in excitement as he sees me from across the shop.
The shirtless guy comes to a halt. I turn around and look at him.
"What?" I say harshly.
He looks at me with a glare then turns to Ernie.
"Sorry, man, she just walked in here," the shirtless guy says.
I roll my eyes at him. He probably has no clue who I am.
"It's perfectly fine, Luke. She's family," Ernie boasts.
So, finally, shirtless wonder has a name.
"Ali, this is our head mechanic Luke. Luke, this is Rob's daughter Ali."
His demeanor seems to shift a little while grabbing the back of his neck and wiping it with a rag. He extends his hand. I extend my hand to meet his and give him a firm shake.
"Nice to meet you," he says.
I nod and give half a smile. I take my hand away quickly, wiping it on my pants. He smiles at Ernie then turns to walk away while glaring at me. I ignore his side-eye, not wanting to make it look like I am interested in watching his sexy ass walk away. I focus on Ernie to engage in a conversation.
"Did you bring the Mustang with you?" Ernie questions.
Surprised by his question, I say, "Yeah, it's out in front."
His eyes light up, and he smiles.
"Luke, you have to see this thing."
Luke stops at the doorway of the garage as Ernie walks over to him. They both walk out of the shop.
Well, that was awkward. When did my dad hire a hot guy? How long has he been here? When did he become head mechanic? He must have been here a while to attain that title. Why did my dad never mention him to me? And where is his damn shirt?
I make my way over to my car. Both Ernie and the shirtless guy are walking around it. They look like two giddy High School girls. Luke runs his hand down my vehicle from the front to the back, which makes me cringe. I want to open my mouth to yell some rude comment about not touching my car.
Before I can get a word out, Ernie says, "Ali, pop the hood, will ya? I want to show Luke the engine work."
I toss him my keys from my pocket. He pops the hood. Both of their faces light up again as they dive underneath. I've taken great care of my car, and she's clean as a whistle. Ernie was there during the restoration of Eleanor. My father and Ernie gave it that name from the movie Gone in Sixty Seconds, even though my car is not silver like the one in the film. They were so proud of the work and time spent on this car; I'm still surprised that it was given to me.
I break from my thoughts just as I am lifted into the air and swung
