Finding Home in Redemption

Chapter Fourteen

I made my way around Cooper's to let everyone know what was happening at lunch almost as soon as we arrived. I changed the answering machine to reflect the lunch hour as well. Come noon; we'd all be making our way to Bucking Bandits. I couldn't wait to see the look on Sylvia's face when she realizes she'll be waiting on that many people. Aaron and I seemed to be their only customers, and I was curious as to how they could afford to keep the diner open for so long.

The men were excited to shut down for an hour and a half, and since it wasn't something Pop was likely to do again, they were repeatedly thanking him when he walked by. I think he was getting annoyed by it though. It wasn't long before I was proven correct in my theory because when Jimmy walked over to thank him, he finally flipped out.

"If I hear another one of you thank me, I'm going to cancel today! Get back to work and quit sucking up. It looks bad on all of you." He stormed off and once his office door slammed everyone that was in hearing distance started laughing.

"Stop laughing and get to work!" Pop yelled through the door. I couldn't stop the laughter from bubbling out all the way to the shop. I walked in to find Aaron and Sam bent over a car looking at something.

"Hey guys," I said. They both looked up and smiled.

"What's up?" Sam asked.

"Nothing, Pop just freaked out because people won't stop thanking him. It was awesome."

"I thought I saw a vein in his forehead starting to grow a little," she laughed.

"So, what are you guys working on?" I asked. They both looked down into the engine.

"There was a sensor that went out, and we're replacing it, but we dropped a bolt. We're trying to find it," Aaron said.

"We have one to replace it, but we were trying to prevent that," Sam added.

"Alright, let me know if you need something."

"Will do, Boss," Sam said giving me a thumbs up.

"Have I told you how beautiful you are today?" Aaron asked, shocking both Sam and me into silence.

"Yes," I said blushing. "You told me already."

"Ah, right. I did, didn't I? Well, maybe you should hear it again, because you look very beautiful, as usual."

"Dang, I need to get me one of those," Sam said under her breath, even her cheeks tinged with pink.

"Thank you," I said, he only smiled in response.

"What is it about this week?" Sam asked laughing. "First the waiter and now Aaron."

"The waiter?" Aaron asked. I cringed.

"Yeah, this young boy asked Bee here for her number this weekend." Sam shook her head like she couldn't believe it. Honestly, I couldn't either. Sure, I had been on a few dates in high school, and a couple of guys had randomly asked me out, but I wasn't in high demand. I'd never been interested enough in anyone to go on more than a couple of dates. No one until Aaron, and we weren't even dating.

I was too nervous to look at Aaron's reaction at first, and when I finally did, I saw his huge grin, which was surprising.

"Of course someone asked for her number, look at her," he laughed. "I'm surprised someone didn't ask for yours too, Sam."

"Oh, shut up," she said, getting flustered.

"I'm serious. You know you're a beautiful girl, don't you?" he asked.

"Aaron, if you say one more word, I will take this wrench and whack you upside the head with it." Her face resembled a tomato by that point. I couldn't hold in my laughter.