Firework of happiness

1

A frustrated groan at the recurring annoying scraping sound. As soon as Julia stepped on the brakes, it was like a hundred small pebbles rubbing together under the car. Maybe a stone was caught somewhere, and perhaps this problem would take care of itself at some point, but still, she wasn't comfortable with it. She remembered the moment the noise first appeared – after changing the tire. There's a good chance they weren't tightened properly, which would've been a lot worse ...

But now, the young woman first wanted to enjoy the Christmas holidays with her family. Full of anticipation, she got out of the small parking lot and slammed the car door behind her.

This whole thing gave her no peace, so she decided to go to the yellow angels on the first day after the public holidays.

As it turned out, after the inspection, the rear brakes were broken.

"Have it repaired as soon as possible; otherwise, you'll continue to ride on the piston at some point," the employee said and handed her the car key back.

For a brief moment, she thought of going to the auto shop in her hometown. But what if nobody had time in the next few days?

In the following days, several long distances had to be made, and Julia feared that her car could break down on the road, or worse – she could have an accident or cause an accident with other road users.

Problems shouldn't be postponed; that was the first time she really missed her ex-boyfriend. Up until over a year ago, he'd always taken good care of her car and saved her a lot of money. So what else could she do? She had to drive to the repair shop here.

"Good morning, you lazybones, the holidays are over! Let's go to work!"

With a sleepy grunt, Gabriel opened one eye and mumbled something unintelligible as his brother simply pulled the blanket away.

Wide awake the next moment, he tossed his warm pillow in his direction, which until a few minutes ago had given him a good night's sleep.

"You dumbass!"

"Close but no banana," Cas laughed and jumped to the side.

"Easy for you to say. Apparently, as a never-ending student, you always have free time!"

Don't misunderstand ... Gabriel loved his job as a mechanic, and therefore it would never have occurred to him to switch places with his younger brother. But there would've been nothing wrong with a little more free time.

A look at the alarm clock revealed that he really was a bit late, so he got up in a hurry, adjusted his boxer shorts, and wanted to go to the bathroom.

...

"What the hell ... get outta the bathroom!"

The dark-haired man then explained that he had an appointment with his girlfriend.

"Something solid would suit you too, not just roaming around," he added with a grin, hopping aside as his older brother shoved him roughly.

"And it would suit you well if you finally moved outta my apartment, you parasite!"

As much as he liked his younger brother, sometimes he was a pain in the neck.

With a sigh, Gabe turned on the water in the shower because Cas wasn't entirely wrong. The dark blond man was almost forty and had only one real relationship. But it lasted a little over seven years. Then there were just acquaintances, average sex, little to no feelings – he was somehow jaded.

It was nine in the morning when he looked up from the papers, intrigued by the voice outside.

"Novak. Customers!"