blame. The doctors had talked about the mood swings. The short-temperedness. The short-term memory loss that could all result from the TBI. That’s why I knew it wasn’t the right time. That I had to get out of there as fast as possible before I fucked things up even further. I had gone up the stairs to say goodnight. But when I saw her cradling that baby, I snapped.
“As if I could ever forget you.”
Her words to me from our fateful night in my truck echo in my head. So much for waiting. It was selfish of me to even suggest it at the time. I would be even more of a dick to be upset over the fact that she didn’t when I ignored all her attempts at contact while I was gone. I shouldn’t be surprised that she moved on, and I’m not. But I’m an asshole, so it doesn’t change that fact that I’m pissed off about it.
Satisfaction spreads over me at the thought of just how pissed off she’s going to be when she finds out about my new address.
“Your mom is going to put me in an early grave, God love her.” Dad closes the hood of the car we’re doing a tune-up on and leans against it. “What’s it to her if I get a motorcycle? I’m old, not dead.”
I lean against the car and take a swig from the water bottle he holds up. “I completely agree with you, old man. I’ve always said she’s crazy, but no one seems to believe me.”
“If she hadn’t spent the last week yammering on about the number of deaths caused by motorcycles each year, I would kick your ass for talking about your mother like that.”
“Just give her time. You know she likes to spout off when she’s pissed about something. She’ll cool off.”
“Yeah. Yeah, you’re probably right.” He nudges my shoulder and ambles out of the shop.
I wipe my face with one of the greased up rags lying around and toss it back onto the countertop. There’s only an hour or so before closing time and it’s been slow as hell, so I rest against the counter, my head hanging on my hands. The headaches are less frequent these days, but if I push it, I get fatigued easily and dizzy. The seizures have slackened off too, and hell if I want a repeat of those.
A tap on my shoulder sends my responses into overdrive. I spin around, heart racing with a combination of fear and automatic shame.
The guy trying to get my attention throws up his hands, keys jangling, and says, “Whoa, there guy. Didn’t mean to freak you out. I called your name a couple times and you didn’t hear me.” His eyes flicker to my hearing aid and back at me.
“It’s fine. Can I help you?” I make sure to keep my good ear facing him.
“Yeah, uh, I need the oil changed in my SUV, if you can. Do you know about how long it will take?”
I rub a hand over my neck. “About a half hour. We’ve got a waiting room around front.”
“Alright, thanks man.”
He turns to leave and a woman steps into the garage doorway. I have to squint my eyes for a second because at first I think I’m seeing things. The bump on the head can cause visual disturbances, not that I’ve had the pleasure of those…yet. Blinking doesn’t erase her presence, though. I knew it would only be a matter of time before we would run into each other. I just thought I’d have more time to get the fuck over her before I did.
“Hello, Olivia.”
The guy stops and looks between the two of us with a stupid look on his face. “I gotta take a piss. I’ll see you in the waiting room, yeah, babe?”
“I’ll meet you there, Chad,” she tells him.
I wonder if this chump is the kid’s dad. Fuck if I can picture her with a dumb shit like this guy, but what the hell do I know?
Chad leaves and I turn back to find Livvie glaring at me.
“Please tell me that you didn’t do what I think you did.”
I grab the keys Chad left on the counter and head out to pull the car up. Livvie follows close behind. “Hey,” she says. “Hey!”
“What do you need, Liv?” I ask, pausing by the SUV.
“Tell me that you didn’t put an offer in on my dad’s house. Please, for the love of all that’s holy,