Patient

25

Ryanne

The minute I woke up, I felt better than many past days, even better than yesterday. I remembered last night as the sun kept on creeping in through my curtains and a small smile spreads across my face.

I bathed, dressed and finished my normal morning routine sighing contentedly. Just as I start munching on my butter-smacked toast and berries, my phone buzzes.

Kellan: Mornin' Sunshine.

My heart somersaults at those two simple words.

Me: Mornin'

Kellan: You going to work your magic fingers today...on my car that is.

Me: Very funny, and yes. Just let me finish breakfast.

Kellan: Knock, knock.

Me: ?

Just after I send the text, there are two knocks on my door. My smile widens.

Leaning on my door frame is by dear neighbor holding a solitaire light pink camellia. "Hey Beautiful."

Nobody had ever given me flowers. Not for valentines day, not for when I was in high school, not even from a family member. That lone flower creates inside me a warmth that envelopes me whole. "Hello Handsome."

"This is for you."

"Thanks."

I search around the kitchen for the only vase I owe and fill it up with water for my beautiful camellia.

"So, we ready to get dirty?" He asks the second I down my last bite.

"Yes" I chuckle.

Yesterday, I parked by car right beside his so while I work on his car, we'll be tuning to my songs. We go down the stairs together, then he helps me get my tools and creeper from the garage. He looks at my motorcycle longingly, "Don't worry, I'll take you for a ride soon."

His smile is blinding. We move everything outside and placing my iPod on my car dock, I turn my sound system on and Tove Lo's talking body pours out the speakers. Kellan sits on the passenger seat facing his car. He sighs. "It's weird how my female neighbor knows how to fix my car and I don't even know what the hell an alternator does in a car."

"Chauvinist much?" I smirk. "And really? Alternator?"

"I'm kidding, I know what that is but it was the only car part that came to mind."

With the help of a carjack, I lift it up and lie on the creeper to start my job. God, do I love doing this. I check all the damaged parts then start taking off all of them. "How old is this car?"

"About six years, why?"

"Because some of this parts are really, really old and oxidized."

"It was a used car."

About fifteen minutes later I am finished with the first part and can finally continue with the cable and other engine problems on the hood. As I rise, and stretch from the creeper, Kellan has a weird, lusty twinkle in his eye. I narrow my eyes at him. "What?"

"May I say watching your amazingly toned legs creeping out of a car, moving and changing position every three minutes has been one of the sexiest things I've ever seen in my life."

I roll my eyes. "Why, thank you but damn, when will your head be out of the gutter?"

"When your eyes don't go directly to my ass every time I turn round."