Two months have passed, and I make trips only three days a week to the garage, pretending to actually care about learning the ins and outs of working in accounting and management when all I really want to do is see Simon. It’s not like I don’t enjoy it, but it’s not the most exciting thing to do after a long day of school.
Every day, I watch as Simon puts in so much effort to physically return to normal. His muscles struggle, and fatigue kicks in faster than he wants to admit. It starts later in the day, and then he drops his tools. That’s when he lets out a string of curses. One of the men has to get him to stop. They all know thathe’s one of the future bosses, but in order to be in charge, he’ll need to fully recover.
I make sure to stay away when it happens because I don’t want him to be uncomfortable. He always looks toward the office, as if he’s afraid I’ll see him falter. What he doesn’t know is that I’d do anything to help him.
“How is it going, Vivian?” Mrs. West asks me as she rubs her baby bump that’s growing larger every single day.
“Great, great,” I answer way too quickly to be telling the truth.
“Come on, Viv. Please don’t lie to me. Your mother used to hide behind that façade, and all it did was make things worse.”
I nod knowingly. My mother reminds me often. “Yeah, she told me.”
She pats my cheek. “So don’t repeat it.”
“Well, I can’t just go moping around.”
“Have you even spoken to Simon?”
“No. I want to give him the space he needs.”
“What he needs is some attention and support. Why don’t you bring him this lunch I brought for both of you and something to drink? Have a talk about nothing and catch up. It’s not like you can’t talk.”
I dip my head, feeling too embarrassed. “I…”
“Do you still believe that girl…she already confessed that she lied…” That isn’t the issue. I hate that girl, but her bullshit lies were far from my mind. Not her trying to fuck him in his room, though. I wanted to rip her hair out for that.
“I know that. She’s a shifty bitch who is just like most women who try to get their clutches into Simon.”
“Then what’s wrong? Are you no longer sure about your feelings?”
I nervously dig my toe into the flooring, as if it will help open up a hole to swallow me.
“Talk to me. I promise it will help, sweetie.”
“That’s not it…I’m the reason he left.”
“But you’re not the reason he was hit, so stop it. We can’t change what happened to him. If I hadn’t demanded he go on this vacation, he wouldn’t have been in the position to get hit either, so there is that. As his mother, I assure you that has been on my mind more times than you can count, so please stop. Go have lunch with my son before the food gets cold.” She pats my cheek and sends me from the room.
I’ve never been more afraid of her than I am at this moment. Mrs. West isn’t the kind to be calm when angry, so when her words come out soft and so gentle, I know that I better do as I’m told or there will be hell to pay. Who knew that in a matter of minutes, our worlds will just change all over again.
Chapter Ten
Simon
It’s been two months since Vivian started working at the auto body shop with us. We’ve been tiptoeing around each other after our last conversation. It’s more like she’s been avoiding me. I’m not sure where we stand, but I’m doing my best to give her the space she needs. Still, I’m feeling more like myself, even though I don’t remember the accident at all. I can’t remember the weekend and all the drama that led to Vivian hating me.
If Vivian knew how I was fucking obsessed with her but hid it, we wouldn’t have been through all this. Maybe I’m paying for holding back my feelings. I should have confessed it a long time ago, but then I would be suffering. Every fucking smile she gives to someone else tears at my heart because I want them tossed my way. It’s unacceptable that she can leave here and hang out with her friends, as if she’s not torturing me all day long.
“Son, I’m going back home for a little while. I’ll be back to check on payroll,” she says, kissing my cheek.
“What was that?”
“Lunch.” Her smirk makes me wonder what she’s playing at by bringing only Vivian lunch. I love my mother, but sometimes she’s a mystery that only my father understands.
My mother leaves out the back exit after coming from upstairs, having dropped off something that smells fantastic. My stomach growls, and I’m a little annoyed that she brought Vivian food and not any for me. I love my mother’s cooking, and I onlypacked a shitty sandwich for lunch. My stomach rumbles, but I focus on my work project.
I’m in the middle of filming an assignment for my professor, but Vivian makes me so damn distracted, I forget myself. The semester is almost over. One more month, and I’ll be done. I have to remind myself of that every time I get so wound up.
