“What do you want to do?”
Billy blushed, not usually one to share. “I want to cook,” he confessed quietly.
“Like a chef?”
“Yes. I wanted to go to culinary school, but my father…well, let’s just say that wasn’t going to happen.” Billy shrugged, unable to lift his gaze from his shoes.
“Have you ever tried? Cooking, I mean?”
Billy grinned. “Oh, for years! I used to work for my Aunt Maxine every summer. She owns Max’s Diner over on Main Street.”
“I go there all the time.”
“Everybody does. Maxine makes amazing food. And of course her malts are perfection.”
“The best in the state,” Gene agreed. “I’m going to miss that place.”
Billy’s eyebrows rose. “You going somewhere?”
“Yeah, selling the garage and moving out west. California, probably. I want…something I can’t have here,” he said, his eyes distant for a moment before turning his gaze back to Billy. “Why doesn’t your father want you to be a cook?”
Billy blushed and looked down again. “Let’s just say he has harsh words for men who would rather be in the kitchen, where a woman should be.” He held his hands up in protest. “His words, not mine.”
“Your father sounds like an ass,” Gene hissed before he could stop himself.
Billy froze for a moment before laughing out loud. “Oh, my God! You haven’t even met him and you already know the truth!”
“I’m sorry. I should keep my opinions to myself. I didn’t have any right—”
Billy cut him off with another laugh. “No, Gene, don’t apologize. I wish I had the guts to say it. Maybe I would be cooking with Aunt Maxine by now, instead of…” His voice faded and his face fell. “Max’s! I’m supposed to be meeting Carolyn there. She’s going to be worried.”
Gene’s smile faltered. “Carolyn?”
“Yeah, she’s probably waiting for me right now. I was on the way there when I had my accident. Do you mind if I use the phone?”
“Sure, it’s over there, behind the counter.”
“Thanks.”
“I’m going to go get the truck started. We can tow the car back here and then, if you want, I can drop you off at the diner.”
Billy’s face broke into a grin. “You wouldn’t mind? That’s great! Thanks.”
A few minutes later, they were back on the road, in Gene’s old Chevy. The engine was loud and they didn’t speak most of the ride. Billy wasn’t sure what had happened, but their easy banter had abruptly stopped after he called the diner. Luckily, he had been able to talk to his aunt and she said Carolyn was still there and she would pass along the message. She also promised not to tell his father about the car. He had always liked Maxine.
He cleared his throat, looking at Gene out of the corner of his eyes. Hmm, eyes on the road. Jaw clenched. Had he done something? Said something wrong?
“Um, I really appreciate this. I know this wasn’t how you had your night planned,” he offered.
“No problem.”
Huh…his voice sounds stiff. Billy groaned inwardly, his stomach sick with fear.
Had he inadvertently outed himself to Gene? Now he probably just wanted to get as far away from Billy as possible. Damn. Why had he opened up to him? He usually kept to himself. Had his eyes lingered too long, giving his attraction away?
They pulled up to the side of the road and Gene maneuvered the truck until he was directly behind the carand jumped out to hook it up.
“Can I help?”
“No,” he barked. “Stay in the car. This will only take a minute.”
It ended up taking a little longer than that, but Billy was still impressed at how quickly he worked. He had trouble tearing his eyes away from Gene’s body, muscles flexing and bulging as he worked, but he looked away when Gene slid back into the truck.
They were soon heading back to the garage, his car in tow, and he was desperately trying to think of something to say.
“Um, so, what happens now?” Billy glanced at Gene. “With the car, I mean.”
“I’ll park it in one of my bays and take a look at it tomorrow morning. I can give you a call and let you know the damage and the cost.” His eyes flicked over to Billy. “I promise it will be a fair estimate.”
“I trust you.”
Gene’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t even know me.”
Billy stiffened in his seat. Gene was distancing himself from him. Making it clear they were not friends. Which they weren’t, he reminded himself. They had only just met an hour ago.