Grasp Heart

Chapter 28: Haint' none of ur business

"Hey Scott," I called through his foyer as I started unzipping my rain jacket by the darkened front door, "Sorry I'm late!"

It smelled like pine-forest in here, pleasant and fresh.

"Keep that on," called a younger tenor than I was expecting.

"Caleb?" I wondered, leaning to look around the corner.

He appeared, tall and dark in the cramped hall. When his eyes found me, a hint of a smile twitched at the corners of his lips. His thumbs snagged on his jeans' belt loops. Scott poked his head around the younger man's broad shoulders, standing a whole head shorter.

"Hey, Sara," Scott greeted, "Cal came by to drop off the salmon."

"As promised," Caleb confirmed with a dip of his chin, "And I also brought the necessary materials for an oil change. We cleared out the garage to get your car out of the rain, so all you've got to do is drive her in."

"Wow, thank you," I breathed, re-opening the front door and heading back out.

When I pulled into the garage, the last remnants of the rainwater tracked from the top of my car down the windshield. Through the rippling visage, I saw Caleb already standing at the ready in the yellow light. I slipped off my rain jacket tenderly, wincing at the sting of my shoulders. They were slow to heal given my empty stomach.

"I'll take your jacket," Scott offered.

I gratefully handed it over after a shake or two. The garage door swung shut and I turned to contemplate Caleb. He was staring at me with narrowed eyes and flared nostrils.

"What?"

"Something smells... burned."

I internally cursed, but clenched my jaw to stay my frustration at his attention to detail. He stepped close, suddenly, and I could nearly feel the heat of his body as he reached out an experimental hand. Quickly, I stepped out of range, eying him suspiciously.

"Sorry," he said, shaking his head, "It just smelled like..."

"Like what?" I prompted.

"Like burned skin."

"Oh, you know what that smells like?" I tried to joke.

"One of my asshat coworkers had an accident," he joked, then raised an eyebrow, "Or did he?"

"Be careful where you admit guilt," I countered, "You're on the Chief's turf."

"He ain't my Chief, but I see your point," Caleb grinned, playfully elbowing my shoulder.

A little, pained yelp escaped my mouth and Caleb's lips formed a thin line.

"You did that on purpose."

"You're hiding a pretty serious injury by the smell of it," he shrugged, but his eyes were tight with worry, "What happened?"

"Sunburn."

"Alrighty, Cal," Scott called as he came through the door, rubbing his hands together. Caleb gave me a pointed glare, but dragged himself away from the conversation to address my car. "Let's get started. Sara, sit back and relax."

He gestured excitedly to a little overturned crate that he'd draped an old towel over. I chuckled, but straightened my skirt, took the seat, and crossed my legs to watch the pair work.

"So the Romeros had a scare?" he prompted as Caleb began jacking the car up off the ground.

The jack creaked squeakily in protest at the weight.

"Yes, their grandmother had a really nasty fall down the stairs. But she's alright, she's stable now."

"The whole family's staying at the hospital?"