Ride With Me

CHAPTER 4

The drive back from the Iron Vipers’ clubhouse gave me far too much time to think. Emma’s words kept replaying in my head.

Sometimes people are simply kind.

It sounded nice and it almost sounded impossible. People always wanted something. That was how my world had worked for as long as I could remember. My parents expected perfection. Charlotte expected attention and Tyler expected me to become someone I wasn’t.

Even gifts from my parents had never really been gifts. They were rewards for behaving exactly how they wanted.

The only person who had ever given me something without expecting anything in return had been Uncle Will.

He never cared what I wore, who I spent time with or whether I embarrassed the Lawson family name. He only cared whether I was happy and whether I remembered to tighten every bolt before starting an engine.

I smiled despite myself. He would’ve laughed at me for driving across town just to return a bag of groceries.

“You’ve always been stubborn, kiddo.” I could almost hear him saying.

“I learned from the best.” I replied.

The smile disappeared as Lawson Customs came into view.

A sleek black Mercedes sat parking outside the workshop and my stomach sank. I knew that car.

Charlotte.

I pulled into my usual parking space and climbed out of the truck.

Charlotte stood near the office door with her designer handbags hanging from one shoulder. Her perfectly styled burnette hair didn’t seem bothered by the breeze and her expensive cream blouse looked completely outside of place against the stained ground and toolboxes. But she smiled the moment she saw me.

“There you are.” She said as I got out and locked my truck before I looked at her.

“You’ve got five seconds to explain why you’re here.” I said and she placed a hand dramatically over her chest.

“Is that any way to greet your sister?” She asked.

“I wasn’t aware we were greeting each other now.” I said.

She ignored the comment and slowly loomked around the workshop.

“It’s…charming.” She said.

That one word told me everything. Charlotte had never complimented anything in her life unless she could twist it into an insult.

“It’s a workshop. It isn’t supposed to look like a luxury hotel.” I replied.

“I know. I’ve just never seen someone quite so…rustic.” She said stepping further inside and I laughed quietly.

“I think the word you were looking for is run-down.” I said and she smiled sweetly.

“I would never say that.” She said.

“You wouldn’t have to.” I said.

She walked around the workshop, lighting running her fingertips across one of the benches before immediately wiping them clean with a tissue.

“I still don’t understand why you’d choose this.” She said.

“I didn’t choose it. It was left to me.” I said.

“You could have sold it.” She said.

“I could’ve.” I said.

“You still can.” She said and I folded my arms.

“I’m not going to.” I said.

Charlotte sighed as though I were making life difficult for her personality.

“You’ve always been sentimental.” She said.

“I learned that from Uncle Will.” I said.

“You also inherited his stubbornness.” She said.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.” I said.

She stopped beside Uncle Will’s old workbench and his favorite wrench still hung exactly where he’d always kept it.

My chest tightened for a moment before Charlotte noticed where I was looking.

“He really did love this place.” She said.

“He did.” I said.

“It’s a shame.” She saidf.

“What is?” I frowned.

“That it isn’t worth much.” She said and I almost laughed.

“There is it.” I said.

“There what is?” She asked.

“The real reason you’re here.” I said and she smiled innocently.

“I was actually hoping to help.” She said.

“Help?” I asked and she nodded.

“I’ve been thinking.” She said.

“Dangerous hobby.” I said.

“I could buy the garage from you.” She said and I raised my eyebrows.

“You?” I asked.

“Why not?” She asked.

“Because you’ve nevere changed your own tyre.” I said.

“I wouldn’t need to. I’d hire someone.” She said smiling again and I couldn’t stop myself from laughing.

“You think that’s funny?” She asked.

“I think it’s f*****g hilarious.” I said and her expression hardened slightly.

“I’m making you a serious offer.” She said.

“So am I. I’m not selling.” I said making her frown.

“You haven’t even heard my price.” She said.

“I don’t need to.” I said.

“You could move back to the city.” She said.

“I’m happy here.” I said.

“You could have a proper apartment.” She said.

“I already do.” I said.

You could stop worrying about money.” She said.

I looked around the workshop, old tool cabinets, shelves full of spare parts, the faded Lawson Customs design visible through the open roller door and every memory I had of Uncle Will lived inside these walls. No amound of money could replace that.

“This garage isn’t for sale.” I said and Charlotte’s smile became noticeably tighter.

“You’ve always been emotional.” She said.

“No. I’ve just got a memory.” I said and she slowly crossed her arms.

“You really think Dad is going to let this go?” She asked which caused my attention to sharpen.

“What do you mean?” I asked and she looked almost amused.

“He wasn’t exactly thrilled when Uncle Will left everything to you.”

“I know.” I said.

“He believes the estate should’ve stayed in the family.” She said.

“It did stay in the family.” I said.

“You know what I mean.” She said.

“I really don’t.” I said and Charlotte took another slow step towards me.

“I’d think veery carefully before spending too much money on this place.” She said and a knot formed in my stomach.

“Why?” I asked.

“Oh…Dad had been talking to lawyers.” She shrugged casually and I held her gaze without blinking.

“And?” I asked.

“I’d hate to see you pour everything into a garage you might not get to keep.” She said tilting her head.

I refused to give her the reaction she was clearly hoping for.

“If Dad had something to say, he knows where to find me.” I said.

Charlotte studied me for several seconds, almost disappointed that I hadn’t panicked.

Then another smile spread across her face and a smile like that never meant anything good.

“I’ll let him know you said that.” She said.