Jace regretted stopping the mont he looked under the hood. He was smart, just not with cars.
He glanced at the woman, who was now watching him expectantly.
"Let see what’s wrong," he said, trying to sound confident.
He leaned in and stared at the ss of wires and parts. He didn’t even know what half of it did. Why would he? He didn’t even own a car.
"You see anything?" she asked.
"Uh... yeah. Try starting it."
As soon as the words left his mouth, his breath hitched. What the hell am I doing? Was he really this desperate to impress her?
Still, he was already in it. Might as well commit to the act.
He subtly pulled out his phone, pretending to check sothing while trying to spot anything disconnected or out of place.
"I can try and call a chanic," she offered.
"No–no," he said quickly. "I got this."
Jace turned on his phone flashlight and shoved his head deeper into the engine compartnt.
His eyes lit up when he spotted a loose pipe hanging awkwardly off to the side. He reached in and tried fitting it back where it seed to belong.
Click.
"Yes!" he whispered, almost shouting in triumph.
"You say sothing?" the woman asked behind him.
He straightened up quickly. "Nah, just, ltry starting it again."
She slid into the driver’s seat and turned the key.
The engine ca to life instantly.
Jace looked up at the sky with a quiet nod, like the universe had just given him a win.
The woman stepped out with a relieved smile. "Thank you so much. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you."
"Hah... it’s nothing. No worries," he said, brushing off the praise, though his chest felt a little puffed with pride.
Then ca the awkward pause. Jace stood there, unsure of the next move. Ask for her number? That might be weird. Push it too far, and he’d ruin a perfectly decent mont.
He rembered sothing one of those relationship gurus said: Never show too much interest. Let them chase you.
With that in mind, he casually turned toward his bike, pretending to leave. But deep down, he was hoping, praying, for sothing to stop him.
Then ca her voice.
"Hey... how about I give you a lift? You can put your bike on the back. I’ve got a holder."
Jace kept his back to her, smirking wide. "It worked."
"What?"
"Nothing, I said thank you. Let try and attach it," he covered quickly.
She laughed. "Let do it. You helped with the car, I should at least be so use."
Together, they fastened the bike to the back. A few adjustnts later, they climbed into the car.
She started the engine. The ride was about to begin.
They pulled onto the road and drove in silence for a few minutes, the hum of the engine filling the gap between them.
Then she glanced over. "Oh, I’m Eva, by the way."
"Jace."
She smiled. "So, Jace... any idea what was wrong? I want to sound like I know what I’m talking about when I go yell at the dealership."
Jace froze for a second, then ca up with sothing on the spot. "Yeah, uh... the petroleum carburetor pipe was loose."
Eva blinked. "Oh? Didn’t know you were into cars."
He chuckled, playing it off. "Ah, well... I think most guys know a thing or two. Kind of cos with the territory."
"Well," Eva said, glancing over at him, "I hope I’m not invading your space, but I was actually heading to a bar. Longest day ever, I was planning to grab a drink and unwind."
Jace blinked, caught off guard. Won didn’t usually throw themselves at him, not like this. And yet, here she was, practically inviting him along.
He nodded, trying to keep it cool. "Sure, I could use a drink too. Been one of those days."
Soon enough, they arrived at the bar. To Jace’s surprise, it was quiet, low lighting, soft music, and only a few scattered patrons nursing drinks.
It wasn’t what he expected. Then again, he wasn’t a party guy. Not into clubs, not much of a drinker. Truth be told, this was his first ti stepping into a bar that wasn’t part of soone’s birthday or work function.
They found a booth near the corner. Eva slid in casually, clearly comfortable. Jace sat across from her, still taking it all in.
She leaned back, resting her arm along the back of the seat, then gave him a playful look.
She smiled, tilting her head slightly. "So, Jace... you look like a guy who..."
She let the sentence hang, waiting for him to ask or finish it.
Jace hesitated. Was she expecting him to finish the sentence?
He took a slow breath, trying to play it cool. "A guy who... helps beautiful won?"
Eva laughed softly. "Do you?"
Jace smirked, then imdiately fumbled the delivery. "I an, not like all the ti. I don’t, uh... I don’t look for it or anything. Just, y’know, if soone needs help, and they happen to be... beautiful, or not. Either way. I just help."
Eva laughed at his awkward fumbling. It wasn’t the mocking kind either, more like she actually found it cute, which threw Jace off completely.
He wasn’t so corny guy who stuttered all the ti. At least, he liked to believe he wasn’t. But his track record with won said otherwise.
Yet Eva didn’t seem like she was humoring him out of pity or politeness. She didn’t give off that fake energy. Maybe, just maybe, she was genuinely interested.
That small possibility made sothing light up inside him.
Eva leaned in slightly, eyes playful. "So you’re like a superhero... but just for beautiful won?" She smiled. "Lucky , I guess."
The drinks arrived, and the conversation flowed just as easily.
Jace slowly let go of his nerves, relaxing more with each passing minute. He found himself talking more, laughing more, and forgetting to overthink every word.
It wasn’t clear if it was the alcohol loosening him up... or if it was just Eva. Either way, he was starting to enjoy himself.
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