My Hometown Love

Chapter 50 – What If?

Lexie’s P.O.V

I sat on our new porch swing, as I watched the empty street in front of me. It’s been almost 5 months since I left New York and moved back home. I’m surrounded by my lovely family who I see every day, I have an incredible boyfriend and a successful blog that has been getting positive reviews. What more can I want? But yet, I still hear Amy’s last words to me echoing in my ears.

“Lex, are you ever going to come back to New York?”

I’d been lying if I say that I haven’t thought about it, but frankly, besides my friends, there is nothing there left for me. Plus, Kevin’s home is here.

But what if I didn’t leave home for New York in the first place? What if the incident at my graduation dance never happened? What if Kevin never changed? What if ………

***********

It’s been a week since I graduated in Seattle and here I am back home. None of the job applications I sent out came got back to me. So, instead of meaninglessly waiting, Dad helped me get a job in the local library.

I rolled back the empty trolley back to the front desk, squirming at the sound it created as it rolled over the tiled floor, echoing in the silent library.

“Mrs. Davis, I’m all done. Is there anything else that you need me to do?”, I asked my supervisor.

“That will be all. You can clock out now.”, she replied without peeling her eyes from the computer.

I walked to the staff locker, grabbed my bag, and headed out to the parking lot. I got into my truck and sat there staring at the wall in front of my car, wondering what I was doing.

What are you doing here, Lexie? You had so many hopes and dreams.

I banged my head on the steering wheel frustrated with myself and my situation. I finally stopped, took a deep breath, and started the engine. I pulled out of the parking lot and started my drive home.

I was just passing through town when my engine light started blinking violently. Panicked, I quickly pull over to the side, grabbed my phone from my bag, and dialed a number.

Lexie: “Hello, Dad?”

Dad: “Yes sweetie? What up?”

Lexie: “I was driving the truck and the engine light suddenly started blinking. I don’t know what to do.”

Dad: “Oh boy. Not again.”

Lexie: “What? What’s wrong?”

Dad: “This has happened before. It’s okay. Is the engine still running?”

Lexie: “Yes. Why?”

Dad: “Do you remember where Lawrence’s hardware shop used to be?”

Lexie: “Yeah?”

Dad: “There’s a mechanic shop at the end of that block. Just drive there and see what he says. Call me once he gives a diagnosis.”

Lexie: “Okay dad.”

Dad: “Drive safe.”

I carefully pulled out from the parking space and headed down the road to the mechanic shop. I peered out the window at the shop lots outside, trying to locate the mechanic shop. That’s when I spotted a bunch of cars with their front hoods opened as someone examined inside them with a torchlight. I slowly parked the truck and got down, as I approached the stranger.

“Excuse me?”, I said softly.

“Yes?!”, the husky voice replied bluntly without looking up from his work.

“I am having some problem with my truck. Could you please take a look?”, I replied politely, desperately trying not to piss him off.

“Sure. Give me a minute.”, the stranger replied as he further inserted his hand into the engine.

I stepped back cautiously and walked back to my truck. I leaned on the truck as I watched my old town in front of me. Funny how some things never change.

“Open the hood.”, I hear the same husky voice command.

I immediately open the door and reach inside to pull the lever. I shut the truck door to see the mechanic already face down inside the engine, carefully inspecting every inch of it. I leaned my arm on the truck as I watched him work.

“There. You have an engine oil leak.”, he said as he pointed at the engine.

“Okay, so what now?”, I asked.

The stranger straightens himself up as he wiped his black hands on an old rag, before flipping his head to push back his hair strands that was falling on his face. That’s when I saw him and a flood of memories came overflowing.

It was Kevin freaking Walker!

Yes, the very Kevin I had a one-sided crush on in high school. He was the ultimate bad boy and playboy of the school. I analyzed him from top to bottom, memorizing every detail. He looked more muscular now, especially since he folded his sleeves up to his upper arm. He had a tattoo of some sort on his left arm and another one behind his right ear. His silky black hair was longer now and frequently fell in front of this face. His eyes still had the hint of kindness hidden in the pool of anger and seriousness while he bit on a toothpick, like how Clint Eastwood used to do in the classic movies.

“Hello? Did you hear me?”, Kevin said as he snapped his fingers in front of my face.

“Sorry. Sorry. You were saying?”, I asked.

“I said you need to change the oil filter and refill the oil.”, he replied pointing at my engine.

“Okay sure. Go ahead.”, I said as I pulled out my phone to call Dad.

I turned my back towards him as I talked to Dad, explaining the situation. I hung up the phone to the sound of someone clearing their throat behind me. I turn around to Kevin standing there with his palms extended towards me. I look over to him confusingly, wondering what he wanted.

“The keys? I need them to drive the truck inside.”, he finally said.

I embarrassingly handed my keys to him as I walked into the shop and took a seat on a stool nearby.

“Sorry for the lack of furniture, I don’t usually have an audience for this.”, Kevin said as he rolled under the car.

“It’s okay. I’ll just wait for you to be done and I can drive it back home.”, I reply as I look around at the shop.

“Are you from around here? You look familiar but I haven’t seen you around before.”, Kevin said from under the car.

“I’m Lexie. Lexie Cooper.”, I said, curious to know if he remembered me.

“Wait, Cooper? As in Jake Cooper’s little sister?”, he suddenly replied as he rolled from under the car and stared at me.

“Yeap. That’s me. What’s up, Walker?”, I replied with a little wave.

“Oh s**t. Look at you, all grown up. How’s Jake? I haven’t seen him in a while.”, Kevin asked as he stood up to grab some tools.

“He’s good. Busy with the café. What about you?”, I asked, eager to know what he’s up to.

“Nothing much. Got out of school, didn’t get into any colleges, worked odd jobs, partied like crazy, and now, here I am.”, he said with no emotion.

“So, you own this place?”, I ask as I stand up and walk around.

“This? No way. I just work here as a car doctor. Mr. Miller owns the place.”, he replied as he rolls under the car again.

“I see.”, I reply briefly, not sure how to continue the conversation.

“So, what’s up with you? I haven’t seen you since my high school graduation with Jake.”, he asked.

“I went to study in Seattle and just graduated. I’m working in the library now.”, I reply with frustration.

“No fancy job? That’s disappointing.”, Kevin replied coldly, much to my rage.

I grinded my teeth silently at his statement as I held back myself from unleashing my fury on him.

Looks like he’s still the same old rude jerk.

Thankfully, he finished up on my truck soon enough. I paid him and got back in my truck. I reversed the truck out of the shop and stopped the car since Kevin was making his way to me.

“Listen, if you see any oil spots when you park your truck, bring it back here so I can check on it again.”, he said, with a sly wink as he passes me his business card.

I nodded formally and watched him back away from the window of the truck. I was about to drive away from the car when I heard a voice that irked me up inside.

“Babe, you ready to go?”, she said as she flung his arms around him.

“Yes, baby. Let’s go.”, he replied as he put his arm around his waist, pulling her close to him.

“Liliana.”, I hissed under my breath.

I watched my bully and my ex-crush start to make out in front of me, disgustingly. I crumple Kevin’s card in my palm and throw it to the back seat in frustration, before driving off angrily.

As I said, some things never change.