Billy scanned the diner, searching for Carolyn and finally finding her perched on a stool at the far endof the pink and teal laminate counter. Boys surrounded her, of course. He paused a moment, really looking. These weren’t boys. These were men. Grown men. College men. Talking to his sister.
He moved toward her, Gene close behind.
“Billy!” she cried out and hopped down so she could lean in for a hug.
“Carolyn.” Billy smiled as the men backed off, making room. He pulled back so he could introduce his friend. “Carolyn, this is Gene, my savior tonight. Gene, this is my baby sister.”
She elbowed Billy playfully. “My brother forgets I’m eighteen,” she said, flashing a smile at Gene. Billy bit back the jealousy when Gene grinned back.
He sighed, knowing there wasn’t anything he could do about it. It was inevitable, really. Carolyn had always been beautiful. Delicate, pale skin, baby blue eyes and blonde hair she currently wore in a ponytail. His gaze dropped to the poodle on her grey skirt and he chuckled. She had sewn sequins on the poodle’s collar. She always did have her own flair for fashion.
“I have a booth saved. Come on,” she waved toward the back and they followed her.
Billy slid into the booth and Carolyn took the seat across from him. He expected Gene to slide in next toher because guys always wanted to be close to Carolyn, but instead he slid into the seat next to Billy. He moved a little closer to the wall to give Gene more room, but he only shifted nearer to Billy.
Carolyn watched both of them, her eyes twinkling. “So, you saved my brother?”
Gene smiled. “I guess you could say that. He had a small accident and I happened to see him drive into the ditch.”
“What happened, Billy?”
Billy blushed. “Well, something darted in front of the car and I swerved to miss it and…well, I ended up swerving too far.”
“What was it?”
“What was what?”
“What did you swerve to miss?”
He blushed. How could he explain it was a small animal that caused him to wreck?
“It was an opossum,” Gene interjected, laughing.
She giggled. “Really?”
“Don’t be so quick to tease, Carolyn,” Gene said, his voice solemn. “Haven’t you heard of the recent outbreak of opossum gangs targeting drivers?”
Carolyn laughed again. “You’re making that up!”
“Oh, yeah, cities are riddled with them. They only come out at night to rumble with the raccoons. Billywas really lucky. He could have landed in the middle of a gang war between them.” He gave an exaggerated shudder. “Imagine the horrible things that could have happened to him if more than one of those crazy marsupials had been there!”
Billy stared at him, slack-jawed. Was he teasing him? Making fun of him?
Gene elbowed him gently, smiling softly at him. Billy’s breath caught in his throat when his deep brown eyes landed on his. They flashed with something he couldn’t define. Still, he felt a shiver run down his spine and he chewed his bottom lip, unable to tear his gaze away.
“What can I get you?” A waitress wearing a pink dress and spotless white apron took their orders. Three chocolate malts.
“Nice leather jacket, Gene.” Carolyn nodded at him. “You in a gang?”
“Carolyn!” Billy couldn’t believe she had asked that.
“It’s okay. No, not everyone who drives a motorcycle and wears leather is in a gang.”
Carolyn smiled. “You’re right. I shouldn’t have judged you,” she replied, properly contrite. “What do you do?”
“I own Milgram’s Auto Shop at the edge of town.” He smiled at Billy. “It’s lucky that I just fixed my tow truck, or I might have had to call someone else for the job.
“Thank goodness you were there,” Carolyn said. “We’re so grateful.” She reached across the table and patted Billy’s hand.
“Glad I was there, too.” He cleared his throat and turned to Billy. “I’m going to go check the jukebox,” Gene said, sliding out of the booth. “Be right back.”
Billy watched him walk away, trying not to admire how nice his ass looked in those Levi’s.
“Earth to Billy!”
Reluctantly, he turned his gaze back to Carolyn. “Sorry.”
“He’s really nice. Sexy, too.”
“Yeah,” Billy sighed. “He is.” He realized what he said and blushed. “Oh, are you interested? Wantme to leave?” Please say no, he prayed.
“Seriously? Billy, get on the stick!”
“What?”
“God, you are hopeless. You know he’s not interested in me, right?”
Billy couldn’t help the smile that played at his lips. “He’s not?”
She rolled her eyes. “You are such a goof!” She leaned across the table as much as she could and whispered, “Gene is like you, Billy.”
Billy’s eyes widened. Carolyn was the only one who knew the truth about him. Surely, she was mistaken about Gene, though.