Homebound

Chapter Eleven

"How're you feeling?" I ask Hex as I watch him put on steel capped boots "nervous?" I question. Harley had a friend that she knew around town that owned a mechanic shop that was nice enough to take Hex on board. I had feared they'd take one look at his record and reject him but Harley reassured them that Hex is a nice guy with a hard work ethic and they agreed to give him a chance.

"No" he grunts as his foot is shoved in the boot and he ties them before standing up. "As long as they don't piss me off, everything should be fine" he says making me chuckle.

"Play nice, will you" I hit his shoulder before grabbing my bag and heading to the door. I had the day off work today and intented to spend it shopping with mum.

I hand the car keys to Hex. He'd renewed his license a few days ago. He was surprisingly good at driving considering he hadn't driven in fourteen years, it was an added bonus that he made driving look so attractive.

I pause as I gaze at the car while Hex is behind me locking the door. The noticeable new key scratch over the bonnet gains my attention, making me gulp. Hex had asked about the scratches before but I had just told him that I had bought the car like that. I take a seat in the passenger and watch Hex closely, hoping he doesn't notice the new scratch.

He doesn't.

"What's wrong?" Hex asks as he takes a seat behind the wheel. He must've felt my anxiety rising after I saw the new addition to the car.

"Nothing" I shake my head and gulp down the lump "just nervous for you" I make an excuse. Hex continues to gaze at me for a second while I fuss with my seatbelt before he starts the car.

We pull up outside the mechanic shop. I had seen it around town before but never gone inside. It's small and looks like it's being run out of a garage. A guy is under a car in the driveway, he's dressed similar to Hex in navy overalls, the only difference is Hex's sleeves are rolled up. My mind flashes back to Hellbound, I've got to say he looks even better in navy then orange.

We both get out of the car; Hex holds open the drivers side door and waits for me to sit inside before leaning in and giving me a harsh kiss.

"I'll see you later, yeah? Enjoy shopping baby" he says as I say goodbye. He shuts the door and begins to walk towards the guy in the driveway. I watch him until he starts to talk to him and then I pull away from the shop.

My mind runs as I drive, West hadn't done anything for a while and foolishly I had thought he had moved on for good this time but the new scratch on my car this morning had proved he's still lingering.

My eyes constantly move back and forth from the road to my mirrors, making sure nobody's following me as I drive to the shopping centre. I drive around in cirlces, looking for mums car and when I eventually find it, I park next to it.

She's sitting inside and gets out when she see's me park next to her.

"Hi honey" she greets with a kiss on my cheek, I greet her back before we walk inside. The shopping centre is busy, people buzzing around everywhere and little kids crying as their parents drag them along, the noise makes me wince. The Darlings and Platonics that walk around are distinctively different in their body language.

My mind is distracted as we walk in and out of multiple shops as my eyes scan the area. I keep checking the time, hoping that the time Hex finishes comes around faster knowing that I'll feel better once I'm back with him.

"Oh Poppy, look!" I turn to face mum only to be met with baby clothing. The light pink girly dress and bib far too bright.

"Wow" I say disinterested as I pull my gaze away. A light bulb goes off in my head as I turn back to mum and watch as she looks through the baby clothes.