Light rain hit off of my windscreen as I drove forty miles an hour down an empty road to the next bar. The only sound in the car was the sound of our breathing, which made me feel more nervous.

I looked at Nick and sighed. He had hickey on the side of his neck which I ignored but noticed some cuts on his head.

"What happened your head?" My southern accent shining through like the sun.

"You want the shortened version or the long version?" Nick spoke with a smirk.

"Shortened."

"My ex wife." Nick laughed as I scratched my head, not wanting to know anymore, she seemed psychotic.

I parked my truck, "Oh shit. Keith needs to find a way home. Hang on." I pulled out my phone when Nick suddenly stopped me.

"No cowboy. He will find a way home." He closed my phone and handed it back to me.

I nervously laughed and a part of me got worried about Keith, but, I knew he could handle himself.

We walked into the bar that I was in often with a few of the mechanics I worked with, nice guys and a quiet bar. It was old style, calm and collected with barely any fights riling up.

"Could I get a gin and vodka? And a beer for southy here."

I couldn't help but laugh.

He turned around and his eyes, so dull and they looked broken. Telling a thousand stories and a million different feelings. It was almost as if the blue appeared a grey.

The bartender handed us our drinks and before we said anything, Nick handed the bartender a stack of cash.

"Keep filling us with these." Nick winked and I stared confusingly at the wad of money that was sitting in front of me. Don't ask, I thought.

The bartender looked confused himself, but took it anyways. Even I don't earn that much running my own mechanic shop.

"Don't ask." Nick held up his hand and ruffled his hair, making me slightly shift.

"Wasn't going to, don't worry." The bartender popped off the cap of my beer and as soon as handed it to me, I took a swig.

I felt let down by Keith. His actions were beyond understanding, and I didn't know what to do. Obviously, it seemed to be his and Nick's fault.

"What's up?" He turned around and looked straight through my soul.

"Keith can be such a dick sometimes. It makes me sick and wonder how I can work with him but at the same time I've known him since I was little one. Y'all ain't even knowing each other for ten minutes and I thought you two were gonna kill each other. I don't think it was all just him though. You treated him like shit over the last few days."

"He was an ass tonight, and so was I. I shouldn't have been, and I will apologise to him for that."

I nodded and smiled.

Nick smiled and nodded back, tapping the table signing for another gin and vodka.

I span around my bottle in my hand, circle after circle. I wasn't bored, but stuck for words.

Nick, well, he seems complicated and easily agitated. At the same time, he seems like such a caring guy, but only for a few people. Open arms to those people and closed hearts to the people he doesn't know.

I didn't realise he was staring at like me like he was studying me carefully. "Tell me more about you."

"I was raised in the south. I love my family, bunch of silly people but loving. Y'all are crazy up here, well that's what I thought really. I knew Keith moved here when he was younger. For years we were in contact. We had plans, to build our own garage together, hell, he was more of a brother than a friend. So we did. I moved here five years ago and I'm still wondering how our shop is running correctly."

Nick stared and curved his lip slightly then smiled.

"I'm in and out of towns really myself. Only for a month or two I stay so we better make that month worth it, won't we?"

I laughed and nodded to his reply. Maybe it would've been fun to let loose for a few weeks.

"So Ellis, what do you want to do first?"

I blushed again and turned around smiling at him and shrugging my shoulders.

"I can think of something, come on." Nick said and snatched the keys hanging out of my dark blue overalls. My bull shifters shirt was tight around my waist.

"Alright." I shrugged my shoulders and on we went.

I followed him out, clear that he was driving. Hell, he wasn't even drunk but I shook slightly at the thought of even letting him drive.

"What's the tattoo mean?" Nick asked.

"Some tribal tattoo. I loved it and still do actually."

"Maybe someday you can show me your garage. I was a dick storming in and telling you to fix my car."

"Yeah, anyways where are we going?"

"Surprise. Also you don't mind if I drive?"

"Do you feel drunk at all? We've been drinking."

"No, I hold my alcohol well but c'mon Ellis, break the rules for once."

I knew what he meant, I mean I do break rules. Sometimes. I crossed my arms. Nick walked over and smiled, "I didn't mean it like that." His fingers traced my tattoo.

My cheeks were burning hkt immediately. I walked away not knowing what to say.

"Where are we going?" I climbed into the passenger seat and Nick followed, closing the drivers door.

"A carnival out of town." He smiled gently, making a warm pit in my heart.

"Are you sure you're able to drive?" I asked shyly.

"Ellis, if I wasn't able, I'd tell you. Plus again, I can hold my alcohol." I smiled at Nick's snare comment and turned to face outside.

I definitely felt like I needed to have a chat with Keith about things and maybe rope Nick into it to to solidify some grounding.

"I really am sorry for the way Keith acted."

"Don't apologise. I'm way too fucking used to it, plus, it was on me too." Nick shrugged as he put the left indiciator on.

"What do you mean?"

"Please, don't ask. Another day, Ellis."

I shrugged it off best I could, but it gave me a weird feeling and vibe off Nick. What was he possibly hiding?