A Simple Life: Chapter 140 (Patreon)

Tinny country music plays from a little one speaker radio in the corner of the garage. I find Winona under one of the vans which was hoisted high up on a lift. Her hands were dirty and somehow she had a smudge of grease streaked across her right cheek. I smile. Somehow that blotch of dark grease made her look as hot or hotter as lipstick and eyeshadow.

“Watch where ya step, Sprout.” She says without looking down from one of the van’s exposed wheel hubs.

With me still wearing the moccasins that her Unci made for her I understood her concern. Not only did the snug leather slippers provide zero foot protection from bumps or drops they were also far too nice and precious to be stained by nasty car fluids. I take extra care where I step as I enter the work space proper. Pulling one of the heavy duty hand wipes that they kept beside the sink I walk over to her and when she turns to look at me I start to wipe the smudge from her skin.

“Hm?” When I show her the dark blotch she grins. “Oh, thanks. How’d it go in there?”

“Amazing!” I say, keeping my voice low so it wouldn’t carry back to the office. “They r-really liked my ideas. I think they’re r-really gonna go with the d-design I have in mind.” Lowering my voice even more I whisper. “Th-They didn’t realize I’ n-not really a marketing guy.”

She chuckles. “Well you’re our marketing guy, according to Pops anyway, so you kinda are.”

“It’s so c-cool. I think I know h-how it’s gonna look b-but I need to actually see it.” I say, buzzing with eager energy. “I think I’m g-gonna go home and start looking into s-some software for making pamphlets and see what I can w-work up for them. I’ve got so much to learn and I’ve g-gotta do it quick.”

“Hey.” She goes to touch my face but holds back when she notices how dirty her hands were. Instead she bumps my chest with her elbow. “Don’t kill yourself on this, baby. You’re workin for free here. Don’t let Dad take advantage of you.”

“Mmm.” I shake my head. “No, I want to d-do it! I want to learn.” With a giggle I add. “And it’s not for free. He bought me a tea.”

“A tea? That’s one hell of a bargain.”

“F-F-Family discount.” I grin brightly.

She grins too. “Sucker’s discount more like.”

“Well…I do s-suck pretty good.”

“PFFF!” She laughs and elbows my arm. Leaning in she kisses my cheek. “From what I understand these are a rush job. We’ll probably be at it all day and night, unfortunately. Might be late before I’m done.”

“Oh.”

Glancing back up at the van she says. “Feels good to be working again though.”

“I bet.” I look her up and down. “I’ve n-never seen you at work before.” Giving her cheek another swipe I say. “Very sexy.”

“Sexy as an apron?”

“Sexier!”

“Ha!”

“I’ve g-got stuff to d-do anyway. I wanna learn this stuff.” I say. “And I’ve g-gotta meet with Joshua after work. Maybe I c-can drum us up some more business.”

“Us?” Her smile grows.

“And I thought I m-might spend some time with Grandpa tonight.”

“I think that’s an awesome idea.” She says. “Send my love?”

“Of c-course.”

Stepping in close to me she gazes down into my eyes, the morning light reflecting in from the open bay door making her tan skin glow. “I’ll miss you, baby.”

“I’ll m-miss you too.” I say softly. “I’m g-glad I have something to r-remember you by though.”

“Remember me by?”

Wiggling my happy bum I rise to my tip toes and whisper into her ear. “I can still feel you.”

When I lower back down Winona was looking at me with such an intense fiery stare I thought she might just throw me on the hard concrete floor to have me right there. I gaze back and bat my eyes not so innocently, daring her to do it. “You are such a tease!”

“He he he!”

“GAH!”

“Problem?” Amos calls from the office.

“Nah.” She says back. “My boyfriend’s being too sexy again.”

“TMI!” Amos bellows.

There is a burst of laughs from the others as I grin and blush.

“I’ll be shuttling the gals back to town soon then picking up some parts if you want a lift.” Winona says.

“I’d l-like to go now if, um…you don’t mind me borrowing these.” I look down at her shirt and moccasins that I wore.

“Course not.” She says. “Just look after’em.”

“I will! I will!”

“Kiss me.”

I kiss her.

“Who loves ya?”

“You?” I say, tears instantly blurring my eyes.

“Say it with conviction.”

“You.” I say more confidently. “Y-You love me!”

“Don’t you ever forget it.” She kisses me again. “I had an amazing time last night.”

“Yeah. Me too.”

“You’ll call?”

“Mmm.” I nod vigorously. “I p-promise.”

“And if you happen to see that trouble-making little hussy Briar…” Her eyes narrow.

“Uh oh.”

“You hold her hand if you want, but you tell her that your Dommy would like to have a little word with her at her earliest convenience.”

“Oh! He he he. Oh no!”

Her pretend serious expression melts into a chuckle and she shoots me a wink. “Don’t be a stranger, Sprout.”

“Okay.” I say, bouncing on my toes as I back away from her. “I’ll miss you! I-I love you!”

“Love you too.” She says back loud and proud with the most heart melting look in her eyes.

On wings I flutter back into the office where the four look at me then glance between themselves with little smiles. They’d heard our ‘I love yous’ and were brightened by hearing our young love. I write down some info from Sandra and Amos then take one of the old brochures as a reference.

“I’ll t-try to mock something up f-for you by the weekend.” I say. “J-Just to give you a sense of things.”

“Sounds good to me.” Says Sandra.

“W-We can m-maybe schedule in a photo shoot n-next week?” I say. “W-Weather permitting.”

“Photo shoot!” Hoots Emily. “Sounds like a great excuse for a trip to the salon.” Then with a hopeful uptick in inflection she adds. “On the company dime?”

Sandra rolls her eyes.

“Hey! It’s a business expense. You want us looking our best, don’t you?”

“I’ll think about it.” Sandra grumbles, though it was plain as the sun outside that the answer was already a yes.

“I’ll get those blurbs written up when I get the chance and get them to you, Avery.” Camille says. “Shouldn’t take too long.” I jot down Camille’s email and give her mine.

I could feel the minutes ticking away and so, at the earliest chance I got, I steal away. Working quickly I head back into the suite to grab my phone and keys, pop outside to feed Mama and the kittens as well as share my exciting news with my old friend, then I am on my bike and on my way.

The morning wind was still cool but the sun was warm as I zip back to town. Just twelve hours ago I was roaring through wind and frigid spray gripped by fear and panic. Half a day later and I am soaring back home again not just with a joy in my heart but a purpose in my belly and a bit between my teeth. Being in love was a ride like no other. One I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world.

Chapter 141