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Nodding, I walk over and drop into one of the metal chairs that line the shop. “And what’s the time frame on this? The school is all the way across town.”

Which is going to be an issue, considering I have to be at work in the next twenty-four hours. I’m the art teacher for Maple Lane Falls High, and despite what some adults may say, I love my job. High school students are some of the most creative people you’ll ever meet, but also some of the ones who have the least amount of support. That’s where I come in.

Miles closes the hood and turns toward me, crossing his arms over his chest. He continues to stare for a long moment before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a set of keys. “Take my truck. It’s old, but it’ll get you there until I get Betsy fixed.”

I wave my hand, “Oh no, I couldn’t. That would just be putting you out. I can carpool with one of the other teachers.” I would try to rent one, but the nearest rental place is two towns over. One of the pitfalls of living in such a small town.

Miles walks over and grabs my free hand, placing his keys in it before closing my fingers around them with his fist. “Use it, Sonnet. I live two blocks over, and it’s nothing for me to walk home.”

“Miles…” I begin to shake my head, but once again, he stops me.

“Sonnet. Just…” He reaches up and runs his fingers through his hair, messing up the strands. “Just take the truck, please. I know we haven’t spoken in years, but I haven’t forgotten about you, Sonnet. You’re still my best friend.”

He swallows as if the words physically pained him to say, and maybe they did, but they pained me more to hear.

“How can you say something like that after what you did? I trusted you, Miles. You were my best friend, too.” I hear the tears clogging my voice, but I don’t care. I’ve never been one to shy away from my emotions, and he knows it.

“Sonnet, I tried to tell you that you didn’t understand what happened. I would never -”

This time, I cut him off. I don’t want to be reminded of the heartache I felt all those years ago. I don’t want to think about how hard I cried for months after I left Maple Lane Falls, going through college alone when I thought he would be there for me. I don’t want to think about how much I’ve missed him every single day for the last seven years.

“Don’t, Miles. Please, just don’t. We’re adults now, and it doesn’t matter what happened back in high school.” I squeeze his keys in my hand and stand up. “Thank you for lending me your truck, and for fixing mine, but it doesn’t repair what you broke. It doesn’t even come close. Do whatever needs to be done and let me know when it’s finished.”

I begin to walk out but turn before I open the door leading back into the shop. “I don’t hate you, Miles, but it would be simpler if I did.”

It’s been three days, and I still can’t shake the way he looked at me as I walked out that door.

I didn’t mean to say what I did, but it was the truth. I haven’t been mad at Miles in a long time, and I never hated him, but that doesn’t mean it still doesn’t hurt. He is still my best friend. The amount of self-restraint it took to not seek him out after I came back from college deserves a medal. I have always and will always want Miles Cole in my life.

I just can’t be convinced he ever felt the same way.

“Miss Levine! Just the woman I was looking for.” Mr. Jackson comes barreling toward me down the hallway, a clipboard clenched tightly in his hand as his eyes dart around to the kids milling around in the halls. “To class, people! You’ve got two minutes!”

Students scuttle by him, hoping they don’t get noticed and singled out by the principal. Mr. Jackson has been the principal ever since I was in school, and although he’s an amazing person, he can be a little intense – which is an accomplishment in itself considering he’s two inches shorter than me.

“Mr. Jackson, what can I do for you?”

He comes to a stop in front of me as the last of my students pass by, keeping their heads down as they enter my classroom. “Well, you know how we spoke at the last meeting about needing an additional elective class for the upcoming semester?”

I nod. Maple Lane Falls High does things a little differently than some schools, allowing students to take a single semester of an elective before deciding to take the full immersive class. The idea is that it allows the students to figure out their real interests before committing themselves to the full year.

“Yes, well, I have decided we will be opening an automotive class, focusing on auto body and mechanics. We do have someone in mind to teach the class.” Oh, God, love of everything that is holy, please do not let who I think it is come out of this man’s mouth. “Miles Cole, I assume you remember him from your time here, as you two were so close. We’ve already contacted Maple Auto, but we haven’t heard anything back. Do you think you could speak to him for us?”

I’m immediately shaking my head, “Oh no, we’re really not that close, Mr. Jackson. Perhaps someone else from the office should stop by and -”

Mr. Jackson reaches down and grabs a packet off his clipboard before handing it to me. “Nonsense. Otto told me yesterday at the market that your car is there. Drop this off for me and tell me what he says.”

He doesn’t wait for a response before he turns on his heel and makes his way back down the hall, waving a finger at a few students still lingering near the lockers.

Well, shit.

Gripping the packet tightly in my hand, I turn back to my class and shut the door. “Good morning, everyone! Final projects for this semester are due on Friday, so please make sure to get any last minute edits in before it’s too late. Also, if you decide you want to take the full course, come up and sign your name so I can get it turned into the office.”

A few students come up and sign their names, lingering for a moment to ask questions about their final projects. It looks like I’ll have a full class next semester, and perhaps a new co-worker that I’ve never been able to shake.

CHAPTER 3

I’m up to my elbows in grease and motor oil when the door to the shop jingles. I’m the only one here, as Otto likes to take a few days off during the week, so that means I’m running both the front of house and the back. “Just a minute!”