able to rescue you last night. He’s always been kind to strangers. It’s awful to be broken down in this heat, and no one, especially not someone as pretty as you, should be left out there for long.”
“We weren’t technically strangers,” Arlo says, and I immediately grimace. “We met before but only for a few minutes.”
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.