Be All, End All

The next morning Darynn stopped her car behind the others parked along the house. A car show in the works, and a rainbow. Hers was the seventh tricked out street rod to join the crowd.

The sun wasn’t up yet, but when she looked up at the porch Leon and Vince were standing there.

“You up early, little girl,” Vince called down to her. She saw Leon look between them as if he wasn’t sure there’d be another display like the day before.

“Watch who you’re callin’ little. I’ll start thinkin’ you’re trying to cover up for something,” she called up to him not bothering to crack a smile.

When she hopped on the sidewalk and continued toward the corner and the garage without waiting for them they quickly caught up.

“You in such a hurry to get all worked up and sweaty?” Vince asked.

“Well, a girl’s gotta get something. Five guys and I need power tools. What the fuck?”

They continued to taunt each other all morning. Gregg and Low showed up as they had the day before, staggering in without much fanfare. Dom didn’t show.

She didn’t mention his absence, but gave V several meaningful questioning looks as they worked side by side. If he caught the drift of her looks he ignored it.

Low brought lunch. Subs and sodas. There was a total of six feet of sandwich when they started. Darynn had six inches. The four guys slowly consumed the rest. They were only silent when something was in their mouth, and not always then.

“Come on, Darynn, you can take more than six inches,” Leon teased, having picked up the trail of Vince’s taunts from the day of listening to it.

“Size isn’t important, boys, it’s who’s wielding it.”

She didn’t get the responses she’d expected and when she looked up she saw they were all looking past her. She turned to see that Dom was standing directly behind her. He didn’t look any more pleased than the last time she’d seen him.

“Giving sex tips now?”

Darynn went for innocence, though she was sure she failed miserably. “No, cooking tips. Do you think you could fit six inches in, Dom? I think there’s some left.”

Like the sulking child she was seeing him as, he didn’t comment on her rather witty suggestion. He walked through their midst and into the garage without saying a word. After a few seconds Low hopped up and followed him.

Vince smiled and shook his head at her as he slurped on his Big Gulp. Leon just sat there grinning at her.

“What?”

“You’re gonna get us all in trouble,” Gregg accused. He stood and tossed his cup into the trash bin before heading inside.

They were back inside working for a half an hour or so when Dom’s voice rang out louder than the radio.

“DARYNN!”

She looked around at the others, but after a brief glance they found other things of interest to look at. “Cowards,” she mumbled before tossing the wrench she’d been using and grabbing a rag.

Low had left a few minutes after Dom had arrived so she was surely walking into a trap.

“Close the door,” he said without looking at her when she stepped into the small dark office.

She did and then just stood next to it watching him.

“I shouldn’t have jumped your ass last night. V usually isn’t so forgiving,” he said quietly, finally looking up at her.

“You’re apologizing?” She was actually incredulous. She’d figured it would just be ignored for a day or two and then everyone would happily forget anything happened. The guy had more cojones that she’d thought.

“Explaining,” he corrected.

Darynn rolled her eyes. Call it what you will, he’d *apologized*. “Alright. All’s forgiven.”

He stared at her for a few more seconds and she met his gaze unwaveringly. “But you do need to watch your smart ass.”

“That’s not going to happen. I won’t apologize for saying what I think.”

She expected a battle, or at least a warning, but got nothing. He mumbled something that sounded like ‘fuckin’ women’, but she wasn’t sure.

“Whatever, Darynn. Take Gregg and go get that car you painted at Che’s. Thought you might pick up any’a your shit you got there and say your goodbye’s.”

“So I’m still welcome?”

He huffed and sat back in the chair. It squeaked so loud under his weight that she thought it was going to dump him but he never flinched. “Yeah, sure. I’m not sending you packin’ over yesterday. You’re making short work of that Toyota. Vince hasn’t killed you. Stay.”

She nodded, accepting his assessment. “So what you pay around here? Minimum?”

He frowned, a thoughtful crinkling of his forehead really, “The guys didn’t say anything?”

“Nope. Is it commission or what?”

He sat forward, making the chair scream again. “Sort of. You get paid for what you do, and you get paid when I do.”

“Say again.”

He smiled, “Commission and insurance at once. Total hours to finish a car, figure out your percentage of labor. I get twenty percent and parts, the rest is split between who works on it.”

Darynn just stared at him. “What about the *when* part again?”

“You don’t get paid till customer pays, same as me.”

“What the fuck is that? So I might never get paid!”

He stood and came around the desk. “Now that won’t happen.” Darynn saw the businessman in him, heard it in his tone. This guy could be a player, big time. “You finish a job and owner don’t pay, what you gonna do?”

“Beat his ass,” she answered quickly.

“Or something like that. This garage has a reputation for being good. No one’s going to stiff, but if they do… We have a reputation for being hard too.”

She nodded, actually liking the way it sounded when she understood it completely. “This is how everyone gets paid?”

“Cept Low. I pay him out of my overhead. Plus I get reimbursed for parts. Sound fair?”

“More than,” she conceded. “So since I’m part owner do I get a key? I’ll be here twenty-four-seven with this arrangement.”

That assessing look again. “We’ll see. Where you stayin’, anyway?”

“My trailer. You saw it.”

“You rent a pad somewhere?”

Darynn didn’t see where this was going. “Does it matter? I’m surviving.”

“You just need hookup for water and electric?”

She nodded. She wasn’t proud of the way she lived. To him she must look like white trash. Living in a few SQUARE FEET living space probably seemed shameful, but for her, for where she was in her life right now, it was perfect.

“You got water and electric?” he continued.

“I’ve got electric.”

She saw the shock on his face. “No *water*? How the fuck are you living?”

“I got used to showering at truck stops. It’s no big deal. I’m fine.”

“Well, at least you’re clean.” She wasn’t sure if he was trying to tease her or was serious.

“Maybe you could come park behind the garage.”

If he’d tap danced she wouldn’t have been more surprised. “You want me to live here?”

“Live in your trailer. Park it here. I can charge ya for the utilities.” When she didn’t say anything he added, “You said you were going to be here twenty-four-seven anyway. Save you from driving and us from smelling you.”

“Fuck you.”

He stepped toward her, or the door really. She sidestepped out of his way quickly, trying to still her racing heart from freaking when he’d reached for her. No, the door.

“Well, think about it. Everyone else crashes here too. The invite’s open.”

She nodded and then followed him out of the office.

“Gregg!” Dom called.

“Yeah?”

“Run over to Che’s and get the Nissan.”

Gregg looked at Darynn, “With her?”

Obviously she wasn’t the only one to pick up on the reservation in his voice because Dom glared at him too.
“Darynn’s got business to settle over there. Take her car. I bet Che’ would love to see it.”