Fire and Ice

Chapter 13

Erik has kept the shop closed for half of the morning since I was cleaning.

    I scrubbed the whole bathroom from top to bottom. It now looked brand-new.

    The toilet didn't smell like shit and piss anymore. And the tiles on the floor didn't have dirt in the creases.

    The cobwebs were dusted up and the floors swept up.

    The shelves were organized more neatly and the spare boxes were in the attic.

    It looked like a whole new shop. Robert would be proud.

    I had found out from dad that Robert had died from cancer. I was in college at the time and he didn't want me to worry about more things when I had other things I was going through.

    Erik knew what I was going through. And I was glad he wasn't mad I didn't call him. I didn't even know until now.

    Speaking of Erik, he walked out of his office and smiled. "Wow! This place looks great!"

    "I know. I'm the one who cleaned it."

    He turned the sign on and let out a sigh. "Get ready for more work, babes."

    I was more than ready. I had cleaned the whole shop and now I was itching to do more.

    A few cars came in for Erik to fix. But there wasn't much else to do. I got a few parts for him but that's it.

    I was so bored now!

    Scrolling through my phone I ignored all the texts from Nash, Lincoln, Jet and Rex. I couldn't talk to them.

    But I could make sure I never had to go back there.

    "Hello?"

    "Hey Dr. Connor. I wanted to see if you could pull me from college?"

    I heard the taping of the keys on the computer. "Yes, I could, but why? I thought everything was fine."

    I chew on my bottom lip. Yes, everything was fine. I was content. But then I saw something I shouldn't have and I was afraid to go back there.

    "I just don't wanna go through college anymore. I don't know what I wanna do anymore and I'm working for a friend."

    More typing.

    "Your working now? How's that going?"

    "I'll tell you after you pull me. I'll wait, Dr. Connor."

    She chuckled and then I was put on hold.

    A few minutes went by and she took me off hold.

    "It's done. But you'll have to turn in your key and pack your stuff from there in three days. They'll give you three days only."

    "Thank you." And I truly meant it. I didn't know how I was going to go through with it, but having a Therapist who could pull strings for you was handy. "Working is fun. I move around alot and I work well with Erik."

    "Erik huh? Is he a new boyfriend?"

    I snort. "He's gay. And he's a really old friend."

    "Well, if you need to talk I'm here. It's actually all I'm really here for." She laughs a little and I smile. "But I know there's something else bothering you. You've been my patient for over two years now."

    "I'll talk to you when it gets too much for me. But I do have to get back to work. Thank you for everything, Dr. Connor."

    After hanging up; I look around and make sure nobody came in. I let out a long sigh. Today was going to be slow.

####
"Oh come on. Cheer up, babes."

    Erik sits down at the table and shuffles the cards. I sip on the Pepsi he gave me.

    "What are we playing?"

    He smiles like a child. "Go fish."

    I just look at him. "Seriously? Go fish?"

    "Yeah! We haven't played in years."

    As he starts giving out cards I give in. If he wanted me to play; I'd play. I haven't played cards in a long time.

    I take my cards and put them in an order. "Do you have a five of hearts?"

    He grumbles and hands it over.

    "Do you have an Ace?"

    I shake my head. "Go fish."

    Erik pouts and takes a card. He glares at me. "Okay, go."

    "Do you have a two of clovers?"

    He flings his cards in the air. "What the fuck!? You're cheating!"

    I try to tell him I'm not, but I can't stop laughing. I wipe the tears from my face and gather the cards up.

    "I haven't laughed that hard in forever. Thanks E; I'm gonna go home now."

    I kiss his cheek and he sulks more. "You find my pain hilarious...I'm gonna go cry myself to sleep."

    "You know I love you." He just looks at me with a bored expression. "What? I do."

    "Then you wouldn't have cheated."

    What the hell..."I didn't cheat!"

    He grabbed my Pepsi can and drank the rest of it. "And I didn't just drink your soda."

    He was such a baby sometimes. And so sensitive.

    I just look at him. It's the only thing I really could do. He was just too amusing.

    "I'm going to return my key tomorrow. Do you wanna come with me? I could use your help with packing."

    He ignores me.

    Wrapping my arms around his shoulders I poke my lip out. "Please? We can get a coffee on the way?"

    He finally looks at me. "Alright. But only because you promised coffee."

    I smile. He might look angry but he wasn't. He was just very competitive and hated losing.

    Erik got over it pretty quickly. But he liked to make it difficult. He was just a difficult person.

    Me and Erik got along so well because he knew what I went through. He saw what she did to me. And he was there through it all.

    But I hated putting all that shit onto him. Telling him what was wrong and what she did that day.

    I didn't have to worry about that anymore. She was long gone.