"Sure thing." I tapped my cheek. "Got something there." He grabbed the rag in his back pocket—the one with more grease on it—and wiped his cheek. It only added more. I let out a sigh, reached for the baby wipes I kept in my desk drawer. "Left cheek, boyfriend," I said. He rubbed his eyes and leaned on the counter, turning his cheek to me. I wiped it off. "Am I handsome yet?" He looked tired. Really tired and, "Heartbreakingly handsome. How's the tree?" "Stronger than me. You still going to Tala's tonight?" "Uh-huh." My dad usually lingered when he was chewing on something in his mind and wanted to discuss with me. "What's up?" He took his time. He went to the water cooler and grabbed a cone paper cup. "Getting colder now. It'll be winter soon." "Dad, spit it out." He just gave me a smile, his eyes patient. And worried. "It's one of our busiest season. People wanting to get their vehicles ready for winter." "I'm sure they all don't want to ride their dog sleds to work." "Smartass." He winked at me and took a sip of his drink. "Want some?" I shook my head. He finished his drink, pitched it into the wastebasket before he walked back to the counter. "Your uncle thinks we need to let go of Ekon." "What? Why? We need Ekon!" My words came out in a rush, angry and hot. "A lot of our customers come for oil change, brake checks, inspection. Dyl and Ekon are our only maintenance guys. And you and Vlad do the heavy work orders. What's going to happen if we get bombarded with customers wanting an oil change? Turn them away?" "I already—" I was so furious and frustrated I made a fist and slammed it on the counter. "Just because Andrew comes here twice a week to help, he thinks he can fire people who are more useful and hardworking than he could ever be?" Andrew's face was very clear in my head, and so was my fist as it connected with it. "He doesn't even stay a full day, Dad. He leaves whenever he pleases. Always complaining about his bunions. Charity said he doesn't even have them! "He thinks he can act like King Kong, king of the jungle, ho ho ho, raise your hands up in the air! King of the jungle!" I snorted derisively. "More like joke of the jungle." My dad snorted out a laugh at that. But I wasn't done. I was so fired up. "Dylan won't be able to do all of it if you let Ekon go and you or Vlad are going to have to help him. You know both of you are more than busy enough. I'm going to have to give that guy an epiphany and talk to him. He's dumb as a doorknob, Dad." His dumbness was oozing out of every orifice and I was going to plug every one of them so that he wouldn't be able to infect us. "Don't worry, Kar," my dad said placidly. "I already told him I don't agree with him. I just wanted to tell you, so you know what's happening if he brings it up." "Ekon has been working for us for years." I heard the whine in my voice now. "He's going to school. He needs this job." "I know, sweetheart. He's not going anywhere." I let out a sigh. I could always count on my dad. He had built a good reputation in the community, both in business and personal. Business was good, but we were only breaking even. Since the shop was owned by my dad and Andrew, the profits were split fifty-fifty. But instead of putting back the profits back in the business, like my dad did, Andrew insisted on getting his share. A huge chunk of the savings in my bank account was to buy the leech out, and that money I refused to touch until it was ready. I wouldn't even use it to pay for my tuition. It was going to buy Andrew's share of the shop. He'd already told me his price. "Sorry, Dad. Rant over. I don't like your brother." I took out my parka in the closet, shrugged it on, and grabbed my purse. "Time for my shift at the coffee shop. I'll see you tomorrow morning." "Are you sleeping over at Tala's?" "No, but I'll come in late. Don't wait up for me." "I always wait up for you." The couch in our living room was my dad's bed. There were only two bedrooms in our tiny house, and he refused to sleep in the same room with Dylan. My brother snored like a freight train. "Don't forget to turn off the tv. Don't you dare wash the dishes. It's Dylan's turn. Flo is coming by to pick up the couch I refurbished. She owes me two fifty for that. Make sure you count, Dad. I've been working on that for two months during my spare time." "I'll write it on my body so I don't forget. Anything else, ma'am? I think I still have room on my back to write on." I laughed. "Don't forget to call Mrs. Chung." "Will do. Have fun tonight. Love you, sweetheart." "Love you, dad." * T: Wanna Netflix and chill? I laughed as I read Tala's text. K: As long as you keep your hands to yourself we won't have a problem. T: Why? You do know I only want you for your body, right? K: Yeah, but you never pay tho. This shit's not for free yo K: P.S. I'm a block away. Get the milkshakes ready! T: You're such a gold digger. See you soon xoxo I tucked away my phone in my jacket, pushed the door, and stepped out of the coffee shop. I just finished my four-hour shift and was seriously thinking of walking it to her house instead of driving there to save on gas money. It was three blocks away. I dislike any form of exercise that didn't involve earning money by the hour. Well, there were always exceptions. Although I wish I could get paid for breathing.