Tethered (Book Two of The Invisible String Series)

Forever

The drive into town is pretty short, since the farm is located just a few minutes outside of it, and I pull the truck into the nearest parking spot at one end of the stretch of main street before looking over at Lizzie. "Okay, so obviously, this is Main Street. It's where most everything is located."

I watch as the brunette leans to look out her window, curiously staring around at our surroundings. "I know you said it was a small town, but this is even smaller than I was expecting."

Sliding out of the truck, I quickly pocket the keys before moving to open Lizzie's door for her, offering my hand and smiling when she takes it. I continue holding onto it as we start to make our way down the sidewalk, pointing out various things as we go. "...and that garage up there is where my Dad used to work. It's also where he and I spent several summers working on cars and bikes together."

Lizzie, who's spent this entire time raptly listening to everything I have to say and observing everything I've pointed out to her, gives me a small smile as her eyes roam over the old building. The sign has more rust than I remember, but it still looks like the same place I'd spent a very large portion of my childhood in, and it warms my heart to be standing here again.

Just as I'm about to move on with the tour, the garage's office door swings open, the small bell above the doorway letting out a loud ding. Hidden underneath a deep layer of oil and grime is a face I'd know anywhere and automatically smile when the older man's lights up. "Y/N Y/L/N, as I live 'n breathe."

I drop Lizzie's hand to step forward and hug the man, not at all caring if some of the oil on his hands rubs off on my shirt as I laugh. "If I'd known you were here today I would have stopped in. I thought Mom said you only had the boys doing the dirty work from now on?"

"Yeah, well, I was thinkin' 'bout your daddy this morning and wanted to stop in 'n get my hands dirty for old times sake, 'n I'll be damned if I didn't look up and see you standin' outside after."

Stepping out of the hug, I automatically usher out towards my girlfriend, giving the brunette a small smile. "Luke, this is my girlfriend Lizzie. Lizzie, this is Luke. He owns the garage and was my dad's best friend."

Luke gives Lizzie a warm smile, making sure to wipe off his hand with an old oil-stained rag before holding it out towards her. "It's a pleasure to finally put such a pretty face to the name. Y/N's Mama's been talkin' about you almost non-stop since the last time she visited y'all out in California."

Lizzie just smiles, taking the man's hand. "Thank you. It's nice to meet you."

The older man looks between the two of us before smiling and tossing his rag over his shoulder. "So are y'all going to Joel's party tonight?"

I nod, stepping back over to Lizzie's side, wrapping my arm around her waist. "We were planning on it. Why?"

"Sophie's gonna be there. I'm sure she'd be real happy to see you again, Y/N," Luke turns his attention back to Lizzie while fishing something out of his back pocket, and much to my amusement he pulls a wrinkled and faded photo out of his wallet of a very young me standing next to another girl, our arms slung over the other's shoulders. "They used to be real close until this once went and made a name for herself. She'd be real happy to meet you, too, I'm sure."

Lizzie stares down at the picture, a small smile on her face. "We'll make sure we say hello. Won't we, Y/N?"

Nodding, I gently tug on Lizzie's arm, knowing that if I don't pull her away now there's a very good chance that Luke will end up telling some highly embarrassing stories from my childhood that my girlfriend does not need to hear. "We will, but we'd better get going. It was good seeing you again, Luke. Make sure Mom has you all over for dinner sometime soon, I worry about her being alone."