Kay hated how good she felt after her supposed date with Jimmy. Even if it hadn't really been a date, talking to someone new about her problems felt liberating. The prospect of help also managed to lift her spirits, even if it would be another few months before she would receive it. She really hoped Tom did his damn best to get into college.

"Tom's very smart," Angie said with a nod. "He really helps me with my homework. And he's worked on all these really complicated projects."

Kay had to admit she was really impressed. Jimmy studying quantum mechanics, Tom keeping up with school even if he had a job...

"It just sucks," she mumbled.

Angie frowned. "What sucks?"

"How hard life can be for good people."

"Yeah." Angie sighed. "Life is hard for all of us, Kay. I'd honestly rather have... Well, I can only guess how you're feeling. But the date seems to have cheered you up."

It had, as much as Kay tried to deny it. A burning curiosity caught hold of her. "Did... Um, did Tom say anything about it?"

The question didn't fool Angie who smirked like a minx. "You mean if Jimmy mentioned you?"

Kay just nodded, not bothering to explain that she just hoped he'd managed to get a respite as well.

"You like him."

"Okay, let's cut to the part where I admit that you were right and he's a really good guy."

"And hot."

"And hot."

"Hotter than Kyle?"

Kay winced. She knew that Angie meant well, that she only wanted to help her get over her heartache, but it still hurt whenever she tries to minimize her relationship, pretend that Kyle wasn't the greatest guy walking this earth. Because he was.

"Not exactly." Because even if there was something certainly similar about them, she couldn't compared them. They were both amazing in their own way.

Angie pouted. "I really need to see this Kyle."

"Me too."

The look on Angie's face morphed from teasing to sad. "I really wish you didn't have to get over him. But as long as you do..."

"I don't. But that doesn't mean I didn't have a good time with Jimmy."

Angie gave her a sad smile. "That's the spirit. Baby steps. Do you want to see him again?"

"Does he want to?" Because even if she did, she could appreciate how busy he was.

"I'll ask around. Maybe I can give you an answer."

Kay just nodded, actually looking forward to one. Because holy hell, was she sick of her parents. The time she didn't spend in boring business school she tried to fill with as many classes as possible, but she came to realize that those were eating out of her savings because her parents really didn't want to have anything to do with any potential growth. As far as they were concerned, they waited for the life to seep out of her so that she'd finally give up and marry Donnie. Who, by the way, hadn't even proposed. After Kay kicked him in the nuts as hard as she could, she doubted he ever would.

Fortunately, as she finished her afternoon shift at the diner, Angie appeared with news, a great big grin on her face.

"Surprise, surprise. Jimmy does want to see you again. He apparently likes you."

The news, though positive, had Kay's insides squirming. Yes, she'd mentioned she was in love with Kyle and he'd offered to help her find him, but what if he didn't actually get the message? She did want him to like her, but as a friend, not as a potential love interest.

"Here you go." Angie passed her a piece of paper.

Kay took it and opened. It wasn't a message, but the address of a car service. It intrigued her, because it didn't really tie in with quantum mechanics. It could very well be one of his three jobs and it implied a field she was fascinated by.

"Is it a love note?" Angie asked, craning her neck to look.

Kay stuffed it in her pocket, appreciating that Angie hadn't at least looked before. "It says that she won't go out with me again unless we all go on a double date."

Angie deflated immediately. "That's so not fair, because Tom and I aren't dating. Plus, you two need privacy."

"Oh, you mean you and Tom need privacy?"

The blush appeared once again on Angie's cheeks. "When will you stop pushing about this?"

"When you'll stop pushing me to date as well."

Angie's eyes flashed in a way which reminded Kay of their childhood and how she'd suddenly decide to take on the most dangerous dares. "Deal," she said. "If we go on a double date, you will come and it will be a date."

"For everyone involved," Kay pointed out.

Angie groaned, but didn't protest, heading for the back to put on her uniform. Kay took advantage of the fact that her own shift was over to head out to the address Jimmy had provided her with. Not like she had anything better to do. There was no way she was going home.

The place was was surprisingly big and looked fairly high tech. There wasn't much space to maneuver as all the slots were taken up by various cars and a few even waited outside.

"Sorry, miss," a man with an impressive moustache, wearing blue overalls, said, heading for her. "We don't have any openings today. But if you have troubles with your car, we could always make an appointment."

"Oh, no, my car is fine," she said, a little taken aback by the amount of activity. "I was just looking for Jimmy."

The man grinned as he wiped his hands on a dirty rag. "Why am I not surprised? He's with his nose deep in that Porsche." He pointed with his thumb over his shoulder to a black Porsche Panamera.

A bit uncertain, she got out of the car and headed that way. As she reached the slot, she realized that the guy working on the engine was indeed Jimmy. He looked a little odd in the overalls, but still strangely hot. He had headphones one which was probably why he hadn't reacted to her approaching. She hesitated, really not wanting to bother him, but he'd been the one who gave her the address.

"Um, Jimmy?"

He didn't react so she touched his shoulder. He jumped and jerked away. The slight annoyance on his face was replaced by a surprised smile.

"Kay, hi," he said a little too loudly. Then he took his headphones off. "Sorry, I thought it was Daryl coming for the headphones. I still had five minutes left." He raised his hand to signal to one of the other boys.

"That's okay," she mumbled watching another burly guy heading for them.

"Oh, you're done early," he said watching Kay. "Who is this? She's hot."

"Take the headphones and walk, Daryl," Jimmy said, shoving the headphones in his hand and giving him a very obvious wave.

"You're no fun," Daryl mumbled, but walked away.

"I think it's safe to assume Angie gave you the note," he said, picking up his wrench again.

"I lied to her though," she said, stepping closer. That engine looked so complicated. She'd never seen one without the plastic protection. It looked amazing.

"I trust it was justified," he said returning to the engine.

"What are you doing?"

"Trying to figure out what's wrong with the engine. I think it could be the throttle. It's throwing up either gas or oil and it shouldn't be doing either."

"You are allowed to work on the engine of a Porsche?"

He turned to her with a grin. "I'm the only one allowed to work on the engine of a Porsche."

"Stop showing off," one of the other mechanics yelled.

It only made Kay laugh. "Seriously?"

"Yeah. See that Ferrari? I've got it lined up after I finish this one up."

She didn't want to look because if it was just like Kyle's car, she would lose it, so she focused on what Jimmy was doing. She missed her truck and working on its own engine. But they'd left it behind in Texas together with her heart and everything that made her happy.

"Can you walk me through what you're doing?"

Jimmy looked a little surprised, but he obliged, explaining the components of the engine and how each of them helped the car run smoothly. Kay loved to listen, both because the field fascinated her and because his voice was really nice. Smooth, clear, peaceful. For a moment, she wondered if he could sing as well. He'd probably sound amazing.

Her stomach clenched with guilt at the thought. "So this is where you work?"

"One of the jobs. In the evenings, I'm a bouncer. I also work with an event agency, but there I mostly move equipment around. They keep me on because if something breaks, I can fix it."

That really was impressive. "Is there anything you can't fix?"

He let out a laugh. "Myself, apparently. Which is what Tom and Angie are trying to do, so you could maybe cut them some slack."

"I actually told them that the only way we're going out again would be on a double date with them."

Jimmy raised his eyes from the engine. The dark brown was a really beautiful color, like melting chocolate. "Huh. Smart. Heaven knows Tom needs it. He's been trying so hard to avoid it, which means it's probably good for him."

Kay giggled. "Why do we always do our best not to be with who's obviously good for us?"

"I wouldn't know about that." He slammed the hood of the car a little too hard. "I'm the opposite. I jump into it without thinking. And it doesn't end up well."

"It will, at some point. Or maybe you should join us on the oblivious side of the track."

The look he gave her made a shiver go down her spine. Holy shit, had she flirted with him? Could he have taken it that way? There was no way in hell she wanted to hurt him or lead him on.

"You seem really interested in mechanics," he said instead.

She swallowed heavily and nodded. "I actually fixed an old truck back home and used it to get around. And I did it by myself. It was one of the few things I could do that Kyle was clueless about."

"It's good to do things for yourself," Jimmy said with a nod. "But, if you'd like, you could come over from time to time and I could let you experiment a bit."

That sounded oh-so-inviting. "But wouldn't you get in trouble?"

"Nah. Jack loves me. I bring fancy cars to the shop. And if you manage to screw something up that I can't fix, I deserve to be fired."

She bumped her fist against his shoulder. "Hey, who said I'd screw things up?"

He laughed. "Just saying you don't have to worry. So you're free to take my offer or not."

"I think I will." It was nice to know where to find him when she wanted to talk. And she had missed working on cars. It was much safer than seeing him on pretend dates. Speaking of which... "So you agree about the date thing?"

"Of course. Whatever to make Tom uncomfortable."

Kay nodded. Angie deserved this as well. Being pushed into a romance that could be the best thing ever. Just like Joey and Kelly had ended up pushing her and Kyle together, even if for their own selfish reasons. She missed them so much too, but right now, she'd take whatever she could to make herself feel better.

Right now, she'd take Jimmy. So it was perfectly reasonable to spend the next couple of hours with him, staring at the engines of fancy cars.

🌗🌗🌗

Will the plan work? Will Kay make Angie cut the denial and get into a relationship. And where exactly am I going with this? I think it's about time to bring our new couples a bit closer together, don't you think?

Let's move this along then! I knew you'd agree.