Gigi’s eyes swing to me as her shoulder drops and her hand moves to her hip. “Oh, really. Someone left that little nugget out of our conversation.”
Oh boy.
I lift my face toward the ceiling, cursing.
“So, Arlo, how did you meet our cousin before?” Tamara asks, moving around the corner toward us.
Arlo looks at me, and I nod. There’s nothing to hide now. The cat’s out of the bag, and it was innocent, just like this time.
“Both were just by chance,” I add before Arlo has a chance to speak.
“It was New Year’s Eve, and some jerk was hassling me.”
“Aww,” Lily coos. “Mello is so sweet.”
“It was no big deal,” I tell them.
Arlo turns to me with a small smile, her eyes and face soft. “But it was a big deal. I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t walked up to us and chased him away.”
“Did you spend the rest of the night together?” Rebel asks, getting way too personal.
“No,” Arlo answers. “I had one drink and he waited with me until I calmed down, and then we went our separate ways.”
“That’s it?” Jo asks. “You both just left?”
I nod. “That’s it, until last night.”
“Did you stay the night?” Gigi asks.
“No, but it’s not any of your business if I did.”
“We don’t really know each other,” Arlo responds.
“Car’s ready,” Mammoth says, walking into the waiting room and coming to a stop to look around. “Jesus. What the hell is happening in here?”
Tamara shrugs. “Just talking, baby.”
“Princess, leave the woman alone. She’s a customer just like everyone else. You guys look like a bunch of crazy people. I’m sure you’re interrogating her.”
“We’re not,” Tamara says.
“They are,” I tell him.
“I’m surprised we’ve never seen you around here before,” Gigi says, fishing for information.
Arlo seems to relax as her posture changes, no longer on the defensive. “I’m new in town. I moved here right at the end of last year, and I don’t go out often.”
“We need to change that,” Rebel says. “You should go out with us sometime.”
“Total girls’ night,” Tamara adds. “We could use some fresh blood.”
“I’m sure Arlo has plenty of friends,” Pike adds, but I know it’s not true from the things she’s said before.
“The few I have are so-so,” Arlo replies, surprising me. I knew the ones she was with on New Year’s Eve ditched her, leaving her vulnerable and alone with the asshole at the bar.
“Well, if you have some free time, we’ll invite you the next time we’re going out.”
“That’s really kind of you.” Arlo smiles, but I keep my mouth shut. She’s an adult, and if she doesn’t want to go with them, she’ll tell them.
“Are you ladies done chitchatting?” Pike asks, standing from his chair. “I want to get to the shop early and get my station set up for the day.”
Gigi frowns. “Fine. We can go,” she tells her husband. “It was so nice meeting you, Arlo.”
“You too,” Arlo says, still smiling.
“Don’t be a stranger,” Lily says, moving toward the door with Jett.
“Call us later, Tam,” Gigi says before heading outside with the others.
“Your family is so sweet,” Arlo says softly to me.
“They can be, but they can also be a pain in the ass. Sorry they ambushed you like that.”
She laughs. “They were fine. It’s nice to see how much they love you and to have so many people care.”
“It has its moments.”
Tamara clears her throat. “This is nice.”
I turn my eyes toward her, narrowing them.
“Anyway, car’s done and ready to go,” Mammoth says, holding back his laughter.
Arlo moves toward the counter, unsnapping her purse. “How much do I owe?”
“No charge. It’s taken care of,” he replies.
“No. I can’t let you do that.”
Mammoth looks at me. “I didn’t. He did.”
Arlo swings her eyes my way. “You can’t pay for my car.”
“It’s done.”
She stalks over to me, getting in my face, but not in an aggressive way. “It’s not done,” she argues.
“It is.”
“Oh boy,” Tamara says, giggling. “This should be fun.”
“I won’t let you pay.”
“Already did.”
Arlo huffs. “Why?”
“I thought you could use a break, and since I know the owner, I got a helluva deal.” I smile.
She gawks at me, her arms down at her sides, blinking away. “That’s crazy.”
“Listen, Arlo. I don’t know if this concept is foreign to you, but sometimes it’s nice to do something good for someone. When it’s your time, pay it forward.”
“I still can’t let you pay for my car.”
“It’s done. End of discussion, babe.”
“That always goes over big,” Tamara says, watching us with her elbow on the counter, chin in her palm. “Nothing like being shut down.”
“I’ll pay you back someday.”
“You got my number. You know where and how to find me,” I tell her.
“Arlo, I need you to fill out some paperwork for our files before you go. Is that okay?”
Arlo nods, giving me another smile before moving toward the front desk and Tamara. “I have to head to work. You two going to be okay?” I ask.
“We’re good. Right, Arlo?” Tamara says, watching us carefully.
“I’ll be fine. You don’t need to stay,” Arlo replies. “You’ve done enough, and the last thing I want is for you to be late too.”
“Call me the next time you need a save, babe,” I call out, walking backward toward the door and knowing I am doing the right thing.
Arlo isn’t the type of girl you sleep with and walk away from, but all I can offer is a night of pleasure, not a lifetime of happiness.
“Maybe,” she says as the door closes and I leave her with Tamara, knowing I’ll never see her again.
5
Six Months Later
“I think I’m ready, Lily.”
She stares at me funny, tilting her head. “Ready for what?”
“To settle down. To find love. The whole thing. This party bachelor life is getting old and tiring.”
Fuck. I have to be crazy. I don’t know who’s more surprised by the words that came out of my mouth, me or Lily.
“Oh my God! Please let me help you,” Lily begs, touching my shoulder. “Please. Please. Please let me help you.”
She has always been the sweetest one in the family. She was the most innocent until she hooked up with Jett, the notorious high school playboy who nailed all the tail.
She also gave me the most shit about my whorish ways and made it her personal mission to help me turn my life around.