Ride Home To Me

Chapter 28

I rush into the shop, tripping over cables and buckets near the doorway in my hurry.

"Hey guys, I'm so sorry I'm late I totally overslept," I say, going over to put my coveralls on.

"Don't worry. We're gonna need your help, though. We got three more in today," Vince grins.

"For real?" I smile, pleasantly surprised. It's been a while since we had more than four cars in the garage. I button up the coveralls until my waist then decide to just tie it up there since it's pretty warm out today.

"Tell you what," I say, clapping Leon's shoulder. "It's late and I know you guys have been out here for a while already, why don't you get some lunch? I'll hold down the fort."

"You sure?" Leon asks.

"Yeah definitely. Letty should be on her way, too, we'll be fine," I say.

The boys head out and I head over to one of the cars we're almost finished with. I put the radio on and start working. I don't realize that anyone's come into the shop until someone clears their throat behind me. I jump and turn to see Letty standing there.

"Hey," I say awkwardly.

"Hey. The boys out for lunch?"

I nod. "Yeah."

She stays there for a moment before saying, "I, uh, I'm just gonna go change then I'll come help you out."

I turn back to the car, sighing. The past week has been agonizingly awkward between me and Letty. The morning after the party I woke up to find Letty gone, later seeing her in the kitchen and being highly confused when she practically ran out of the room. Every day since then we've just avoided each other.

"Gabi can I talk to you?"

I cringe internally, knowing the conversation was coming but dreading it nonetheless.

"Are you okay?" she asks. I blink, surprised for a moment, but my surprise is soon taken over by annoyance. I just wanna stop beating around the bush at this point and get to the damn elephant in the room.

"Letty do you regret it?"

She stares at me for a moment.

"Regret what?"

"Don't bullshit me. I thought we were both past that. Do you regret sleeping with me?" I huff.

"I don't know," she snaps. Then she sighs and mutters, "Selfish part of me doesn't. Doesn't regret it one bit. But if it means we're gonna be awkward like this then yeah I regret it." She looks down and fiddles with her hands. "I miss my best friend."

I sigh in relief and before I know it I've walked over to her and wrapped her up in my arms. Letty squeezes me tight and we just stay there for a moment, letting ourselves be comforted by the embrace.

"I missed you too. I have to ask a favor though," I mutter, burying my face in her neck. I take a deep breath, knowing what I'm about to say could either make things okay, or get us right back to where we were five minutes ago. "Um, for my sake, could you hold off on coming onto me again? I just... "

I trail off. Don't chicken out Gabi, don't chicken out.

Letty looks guilty. "Did I make you uncomfortable?"

"No, no, um, in fact kind of the opposite," I say. "Look, here's the thing. I meant it when I said I wouldn't just casually hook up with one of my best friends. I... I like you Let. Like actually really like you. I have for a long time. And I know you don't really feel the same, which is okay, I promise. I don't want that to ruin our friendship. But, uh, if you try kissing me or something, it ain't gonna be just that to me, and I don't know if I can really handle that."

I look down and silently cuss at the stupid tear rolling down my cheek. When she doesn't say anything for a second I half expect her to walk right out the door. But instead I feel a soft hand wiping away the tear on my cheek and tilting my chin up so I'm looking her in the eyes. And suddenly my heart drops into my stomach when she leans forward and gives me the softest, most gentle kiss I've ever received. I pull back, now ignoring the tears falling from my eyes.

"Let, what did I just say? It's not just a kiss to me," I say.

Letty's eyes shine with unshed tears. "Yeah," she whispers. "Me neither." She sighs, covering her face with her hands. "I like girls Gabi. And I like you. For real."

My eyes widen and my jaw drops, but then I remember something. "You told me. On New Years. When we were going to sleep. And that's why you hooked up with me? It wasn't just because we were tipsy?"

She nods her head, still hiding her face. "I think I also remember saying you were sexy and that I couldn't focus or sleep because of it."

I clap a hand over my mouth to muffle my giggling. Letty slaps me, an embarrassed smile on her face. I brush the hair out her face, smiling.

"So?" I ask. "When'd you figure it out?"

Letty grins sheepishly. "You remember that night we took you to your first street race? On your birthday? I think... I think it really hit me then."

My jaw drops and I slap her arm. "Letty! That was like a year and a half ago!" Suddenly a wave of emotion hits me and I pull her back into an embrace. "Let... I'm so sorry I didn't make it feel like you could just tell me. I know how that is. It's... it's so..."

I pause, looking for the right word, when Letty finishes the sentence for me.

"Lonely."

I sigh. "Yeah. Lonely." I stroke her hair.

"I was so confused, too. Because the thing is... I like boys. I know that. But then what does that make me?"

"You heard of bisexuality?" I ask taking her hands into mine. Letty shakes her head. "You can like both, and everything in between. You don't have to pick one, you just pick a person. And either way, it's okay."

A tear rolls down her cheek and I smile, squeezing her hand. But then she wipes it away and looks me up and down.

"You uh," she clears her throat nervously. "You wanna be my person? Just give it a shot?"

I smirk, surprised. "Leticia Ortiz you tryna tie me down?"

She bites her lip. "Maybe."

I laugh and bring her lips to mine. "How about you and I go for a drive once we get off of work?" I say.

She smiles and nods. "Okay."