Am I Really Enough?

Chapter 2

Now that their team had 3 drivers with the addition of Kim, Jeff had watched Alan grow more and more overwhelmed. Alan was a perfectionist and everyone watched him slowly sink under the weight of overseeing the mechanics and car maintenance, supervising driver practices and continuing to train Charlie, outreach and entertaining of potential sponsors, and handling all the clerical work involved in running the garage. They had all tried to get him to share the work with them, but Alan had refused, replying that they were all doing enough already.

So Jeff was taken aback when one day an unknown face entered the garage and asked if they could direct him to where Alan was. After questioning what someone so cute would want with Alan, North had screamed loudly for Alan, shrugging when everyone rolled their eyes.

"I'm too lazy to go find him, but that will probably bring him running." North turned, leaving the guy standing there, returning to cuddle with Sonic on the sofa.

Jeff knew he should probably help the stranger but hesitated, knowing he'd have to make small talk and risk the guy possibly touching him. He really had no interest in finding anything out about his future, so Jeff leaned back over the car engine, completely distracted until he heard "Kit!" Looking up, Jeff witnessed Alan rush to the stranger's side and envelop him in a hug.

Jeff straightened as Alan turned this Kit person to face the staff who were now far more keenly interested than before. Arm wrapped around Kit's shoulder, Alan patted him several times on the chest while continuing, "Kit is our newest employee. He'll be helping me out in the office from now on." A feeling of unease settled in Jeff's stomach as he watched Kit grab onto Alan's arm while being introduced around the garage. Why hadn't Alan mentioned Kit before? It wasn't like they weren't together constantly, at work and home. Had Alan really hired someone behind his back. Ugh, he doubted Alan did it intentionally. Alan would never do that. Right? He was honest to a fault. But, Jeff couldn't help but wonder why he wouldn't mention something so important to him.

Once they stood to his side, Jeff glared between Alan's face and Kit's arm, trying to silently convey his disapproval. While Alan remained unfazed, Kit clearly noticed, tightening his hand around Alan's bicep while looking back at Jeff with a smirk. Jeff tried his best to appear calm and actively fought to keep his scent from turning sour. He absolutely would not give this Kit any knowledge of the underlying distress he was causing.

"Kit, meet my boyfriend and one of our mechanics, Jeff." Well, at least Alan was letting Kit know who he was from the start.

"Oh, you didn't mention you had a boyfriend before," Kit said, looking up at Jeff with what could only be described as puppy dog eyes. Jeff briefly wanted to grab him by the neck and smash his face into the side of the car hood. Shaking his head slightly to wipe that image from his mind, he looked back at Alan who was clearly sending a silent signal to him to be nice.

He dutifully responded, "Nice to meet you Kit. Welcome to X-Hunter." Ignoring the hand raised towards him, he instead looked towards Alan, "When does he start?" He hoped he had managed to sound neutral with no reflection of the chaos swirling through his brain.

Before Alan could respond, Kit answered, "I start my training today and I'm really looking forward to being part of the team and getting to know everyone." Jeff was pretty sure Kit was sending him a message by looking at Alan when he answered instead of at Jeff who had been the one to ask.

Alan smiled back at Kit, "Well, I, for one, am happy you are here. The office is a wreck and screaming out for help." Kit responded with a giggle. Giggle? Jeff could only describe that as a giggle. A flirtatious giggle. Kit was definitely flirting with Alan and Jeff was confident that Alan had no idea. At least he hoped Alan had no idea. Alan wouldn't hire someone he knew was openly flirting with him. Right? Watching the two walk off towards the office, doubts crept in. Was this a way to tell Jeff he was tired of him? Bored with him? What message might he be sending by bringing someone like this here.