Fighting for Flight by JB Salsbury (best books for students to read .txt) 📗

I jog to Guy who’s standing with Leo and Cane, two other mechanics in the shop. “Hey, guys. What’s up?”

Their eyes travel from my neck to my toes and back again. They don’t look happy about what they see.

“Where’re you going dressed like that, Ray?” Guy motions to my halter dress bathing suit cover up.

“I’m going to a barbeque pool party thing.” I hook the string of my bikini top with my thumb and hold it out. I mean, isn’t it obvious. And why are they looking at me like I’m wearing raw meat?

“There gonna be dudes at this party?” Leo’s protective tone isn’t the least bit surprising. He’s got three daughters and five granddaughters.

“Yes. There will be guys there.”

Cane, the newest mechanic at the shop, laughs hard, making his big belly shake. Guy and Leo aren’t laughing.

“Whose party is it? And please, don’t tell me it’s at one of them titty pools all the casinos are opening,” Leo says, sending Cane into another fit of laughter.

“You guys, it’s fine. I’m going to Jonah’s.”

No one is laughing. Not only are they not laughing but they’re frozen. Completely still. Oh no, this can’t be good.

Guy breaks the silence. “Ray, don’t be a dumb shit.”

“I’m not.” Falling for a guy who will most likely break my heart? Maybe I am. “Er . . . I’ll try not to be a dumb . . . um . . . what you said.”

The man, who has been like a father to me, must read my face. “You’re wearing a dress.” He makes a tsking sound and shakes his head. “Known you since you were fourteen. Ain’t never seen you in a dress.” Guy’s probably right about that.

He was my shop teacher in high school, and I never wore dresses to school.

Oh, wait.

“What about graduation?” I put my hands on my hips to force some attitude into my declaration. “I wore a dress to graduation.”

“That was a graduation gown.”

Darn, that’s right.

“Whatever. This isn’t a dress anyway, it’s a cover up.” I smooth the soft fabric over my stomach. “It’s new. Now, if you guys will excuse me—”

“You seriously gonna let her go?” Leo’s question is directed at Guy.

“She’s a grown woman.”

“And he’s nailed more women in Vegas than Barry Manilow.”

“Ray’s a smart girl. I trust her not to fuck up.” Guy’s eyes swing to mine. “Right, Ray?” His question reeks of warning.

I nod.

“You call us if you need anything. Don’t drink booze. Say no to drugs. And whatever you do, do not take a drink from a stranger or leave your drink unattended. You gotta piss, you take your cup in the john with you.” Leo’s instructions are given with a firm point to my face with each one.

“Got it. Can I go now?”

They shake their heads and turn back into the garage grumbling. I practically skip back to the car with a cheek-cramping smile plastered across my face.

~*~

Jonah

I’m antsy as hell. I hit the gym, went for a run, worked on the Impala, and nothing seemed to help. Needing to hear her voice, I finally broke down and called her. She seemed nervous on the phone, which was something I haven’t seen from her in a while. In the garage, she works with the cool confidence of a seasoned mechanic, but outside of the garage, she’s shy and nervous. And both are hot as hell.

Raven is nothing like the girls I’m used to. She’s not arrogant or overly aggressive. She doesn’t try to mind-fuck you into submission. With her, you get what you see. No twisted facades or acts of desperation. She doesn’t expect anything from me. It’s refreshing. And because of that, I’m completely at ease around her.

I’ve known her for a week, and I’m spilling my guts about my dad like a pigtailed girl at a sleepover. The words I’d been holding in for years just poured out, and rather than making me feel weak for my admission, she gave right back.

I miss her when she’s not around. I never miss women. Hell, I go months without seeing my mom and sister. Never bothers me. Raven’s been away from me for twenty-four hours, and I’m going nuts, as if something valuable were missing.

When she was here yesterday, I was shocked at how quickly I gave in to the urge to touch her. We stood so close at one point our eyes locked in a lusty stare down. I was ready to explode. Then she had to go and lick her lips. I would have kissed her if I thought I’d be able to stop there. The way I was feeling, I would have taken her on the hood of the car. Mental images assault my brain, eliciting a groan from deep in my chest. She’ll be here soon, and here I’m mentally fucking her on my car.

The doorbell rings, shaking me from my fantasy. She’s here. I adjust my board shorts before I throw open the door to the object of my obsession. My smile falls.

Owen pushes past me with bags of what I assume is food. “Good to see you too.”

“Hey, Nik.” I kiss Owen’s wife on the cheek.

“Jonah, how are you?” She gives me a quick hug. “Owen baby, just throw that stuff in the kitchen.”

Nikki is the resident chef at all our barbeques. She knows her way around my kitchen, so I leave her to it.

Owen drops the bags then walks straight to the backyard bar. He angles his barstool to face the sixty-inch flat screen and turns on Sportscenter.

I join him outside, grab a beer, and settle in. Halfway through my first beer, Caleb and Rex show up. The guys argue whether the San Diego Padres will go to the World Series. Owen says it’ll be the A’s. I’m sure it’ll be the Yankees, but I stay out of the conversation. Nikki’s voice, along with a couple other female voices, cuts through the conversation.

“Jonah, your guests are here,” she calls from the sliding