Chapter 5

“What happened to your car?” I blinked. He was talking. Kevin Smith was talking to me and once again I was rendered speechless. His slightly dishevelled look and rosy cheeks turned him from clean cut to edgy, making me swoon momentarily. “Tori are you feeling alright?” Kevin looked concerningly towards me and I melted at his soft features.

I cleared my throat loudly, “I’m fine. I’m just distracted.”

He nodded, “So what’s wrong with your car?”

“I wish I knew!” I laughed bitterly. Kevin turned his attention to my broken car and began to analytically inspect the exposed engine.

“What happened exactly?” He asked.

“I’m not sure. It just jerked once and then sputtered along until it died. It even smoked.” Kevin seemed perplexed at my description and I giggled. “You’re as clueless as me aren’t you?”

His already red cheeks blossomed until his entire face was cherry red. “I admit I’m not the most clued up when it comes to mechanics but I can find someone who is.”

“Who?” I asked.

“A buddy of mine from high school works at a garage nearby, I’m sure he can help us out.” I squealed inwardly at the mention of “us.” Somehow Kevin had turned me into a sixteen year old fangirl. “I’ll give him a call.” Kevin reached for his phone before I was able to utter a reply.

“Dean, I need a favour.” I listened as Kevin explained my situation to his friend Dean. As soon as our location was given, Kevin ended the call. “He’ll be here soon with a tow truck.”

I nodded. “Thank you.” He smiled in return.

“Why don’t we get out of the cold and wait in my car for Dean?” He asked motioning behind me.

“That sounds like a brilliant idea.” We walked the short distance to his car and I quickly climbed in. “Ah, toasty.” I sighed into the cosy car. Kevin made a choking sound beside me and I turned in my seat to find him looking at me with a strangled expression. “Is everything okay?” I asked.

He nodded and then faced the front. We sat in a comfortable silence for a few moments until I heard the loud vibrating of my phone. I glanced at the screen and saw Miriam’s name flash. I turned to Kevin and held my phone up. “Do you mind? It will only take a minute.” I asked apologetically. He nodded and I answered.

“Hey Miriam, is everything alright?”

“Of course. I was just calling to see where you were. You told me you would be home by now and I need to get home myself.” I cringed.

“I know I said I would be home but my car just broke down and I’m still waiting for the tow truck. I’m not sure when I’ll be home. Is there any way you could stay just a little bit longer?” I pleaded.

Miriam sighed heavily through the phone. “I can stay for another hour at the most.”

“That’s all I need. Thank you.” I ended the call and immediately began to chew at my fingernails. I promised an hour but I wasn’t even sure I would be done in an hour.

“Get bad news?” Asked Kevin.

“I guess you could say that.”

“Want to talk about it?” He asked.

“I just need to get home within the next hour.” I answered briefly.

“Is your boyfriend going to cry again?” He asked sounding slightly irritated.

“Who said anything about a crying?”

“Earlier in class you mentioned your boyfriend crying when you left and now you’re saying you need to get home. It isn’t hard to put two and two together.”

“You’re an idiot.” I huffed.

“Excuse me!” He sounded surprised. I hoped I insulted him.

“You heard me. I said you’re a-”

“I heard what you said.” He growled softly, interrupting me. “I can’t figure out why you would call me one in the first place.”

“Because only an idiot would assume. Had I mentioned a boyfriend at all during my conversation you were so eagerly eavesdropping in?” He shook his head. “Then why would you immediately think that I have a bawling boyfriend at home?”

“I’m sorry.” He whispered.

“You should be.” I grumbled.

“So who is at home?” He asked. I thought about ignoring his question but I couldn’t be rude to him. He was the only car to actually stop and offer assistance.

“Tommy.”

“So Tommy isn’t your boyfriend?” He asked hesitantly.

“No he’s...” I actually wasn’t sure what to call him. “He’s my godson.” I replied.

“Oh. How old is he?”

“Almost seven months now.”

“Cool. That actually explains the crying bit.” I laughed.

“See why I called you an idiot.”

He chuckled and rubbed at his neck. I forced my gaze ahead instead of where his muscles contracted. “So where is your boyfriend?” He asked.

“I don’t have one.” I whispered. I was hoping he would tell me he was single too and that we should go on a date. Instead he drummed his fingers on the steering wheel and replied, “cool.”

We sat in silence for another ten minutes, each seeming lost in our own thoughts. I let out a soft scream of frustration and turned to Kevin. “I need to get home. The sitter can only stay another hour.”

“Hang on.” I sat quietly while Kevin played on his phone and then brought it to his ear. “Look Dean we need to get going for another appointment. Could you just fetch the car and keep it in your garage until tomorrow when we come by?” He remained silent and listened to Dean’s reply. “Great. I owe you one. Thanks.” He ended the call and grinned in my direction. “All settled. Dean will fetch the car and keep it over night for you and tomorrow we can go sort it out and see what the damage is.”

My head began to throb at the speed of the days’ events. “What am I supposed to do in the mean time? I don’t have a car I can use to get to his garage or home for that matter.”

Kevin laughed and I glared. “What is so funny about my distress Mr. Smith?”

Once Kevin had his laughter under control he smiled and replied, “It’s funny because you actually think I’m going to leave you stranded. I’ll take you home and to the garage tomorrow.”

“I couldn’t ask you to do that.”

“Nonsense,” he scoffed. “I couldn’t very well leave a beautiful girl alone now could I?”

I blushed. “It’s too much.” I reasoned.

“Too much would be buying you a car. I’m just offering you a lift considering we go to the same campus.”

“I really appreciate it. Thank you.” I replied sincerely.

“You’re welcome. Now why don’t we get all your valuables from your car so we can get you home in time?”

I nodded and exited the car. Once I had my school bag and handbag, Kevin and I were turning back into the road. Our trip was silent except for the hum of the radio and the few directions I pointed out. We had made it to my house on time and no sooner had I arrived, had Miriam left promising to see me the next day. Kevin followed me inside my house where I quickly went in search for Tommy.

I found him playing in his cot. He held a grey bunny rabbit in his hand with his mouth covering the one ear. He shrieked in joy when his eyes found me and I laughed in return. “Hey there baby boy.” Tommy stretched his arms out asking for me to carry him and I relented. His weight rested on my right hip while his head lay on my shoulder with the bunny hanging idly in the air.

“Kevin!” I called out.

“In the lounge.” He answered. I walked with Tommy in my arms towards the sound of Kevin’s voice. Once I reached the lounge I found him with his back faced towards me and his face in the direction of all our family photos. Tommy squirmed in my arms and made a tiny gurgling sound drawing Kevin’s attention away. “You were a cute kid.”

I shrugged. “This is Tommy.” I said motioning to the baby in my arms.

Kevin smiled and reached for Tommy who willingly fell out of my arms and into Kevin’s. “Hey there big man. Aren’t you just the cutest little guy I’ve ever seen?” I watched amused and surprised as Kevin made crazy faces at Tommy, earning happy giggles.

“You’re a natural.” I told Kevin. He grinned.

“I have a nephew who is about two years old now.” I smiled. I was about to offer him a drink when his cell phone rang. Kevin handed me Tommy and reached for his phone. “I need to take this.” I nodded and Kevin immediately walked outside the house to answer the call. I thought about following and eavesdropping but had decided against the childish and needy behaviour.

I had placed Tommy on the floor where we could play when Kevin walked in with a grim and apologetic face. “I should be going.”

I smiled stiffly and rose from the floor with Tommy. “I’ll walk you out.” We walked in silence until we reached his car on the pavement.

“I’ll see you tomorrow. I should take you number so that we can decide what time to meet.” I nodded and recited my number for him to type into his phone. “I’ll call you.”

“Thanks again for all your help.” I replied with a genuine smile.

“Anytime.” He winked and leaned in. I had a second to panic before his lips hit my cheek. His quick touch was electric and warm. I was shocked by his behaviour and once I caught sight of Kevin before he climbed in his car, I was disturbed to see him unaffected by our contact.

Obviously his kiss meant nothing. I was stupid to think it did. I mentally scolded myself for getting my hopes up and instead spent the remainder of my evening focusing on Tommy and not the dark haired man who had me all up in knots.