Page 62 of Real Forever
“Mads? Holy fuck, bud.” Nikki pulled his oily work gloves off and tossed them on a work bench before tackling Madison in a bear hug, lifting her feet off the ground.
Nikki and his older brother Billy had worked for Madison’s dad since they were both in high school. After his death, the brothers got a loan from the local credit union to buy Avery Auto from the girls. It wasn’t worth a lot, but they paid generously and promised to keep it going in his name.
Nikki had also had a short lived fling with Lauren back when they were all in high school. Madison never knew why it had ended, only that Lauren was heartbroken after. She got together with Dave just a week after the breakup.
She laughed and squeezed him back. “It’s good to see you, Nikki.”
“It’s been a minute, eh? How the hell are ya?”
“Oh, you know. Same old, same old.”
“Yeah, me too.” He peered around her to her truck in the parking lot. “What’s up? You need some work done on your beauty out there?”
Madison bit her lip. “Not exactly. I need your help Nik.”
He leaned back against the workbench and crossed his arms. “You know I got your back. Just name it, Mads.”
“I need your help selling the truck.” She braced for his reaction.
“Your truck? Your dad’s truck? You serious?”
“Yeah, I’m serious, Nik.”
He threw his hands up and walked away, shaking his head. “Fuuuuuck no. No, I will not help you sell your truck because there is no way in hell I’m going to let you sell your truck.”
“Nikki, come on. You know I wouldn’t be asking you if I didn’t really need to. My truck means everything to me. It’s breaking my fucking heart to sell it, but I don’t have a goddamn choice here.”
Nikki turned back, softening his expression. “You in trouble, Mads?”
“No. I’m not in trouble, but I can’t explain. I… I just need the money.”
“No.” Nikki’s face turned back to stone. “There has to be another way, Madison. You can’t sell the fuckin’ truck.”
Madison was growing frustrated. “Nikki, I’m selling the truck with or without your help. But I know you can help me find someone that’ll give me a fair price and will take good care of it. Don’t be an asshole, Nik. I really need you on this one.”
He clenched his jaw and looked her in the eye. “Madison, I love you. You know that. But I spent every day of high school coming to this shop after school and watching your dad tinker with that truck. For you. It’s your truck. He wanted it to be yours. Please. There has to be another way for you to get the money you need. You want to come work here part time? Jessica’s been doing our books, and she’s got shit for brains. I’d be happy to fire her and have you do it instead?”
Well, I have a phone full of perfectly good blackmail-worthy photos, but apparently I’ll be making Jake and I the new Bonnie and Clyde of Canada if I use them.Madison sighed. She knew Jake was right about the pictures, but it still frustrated the hell out of her.
I’m a fucking idiot for doing this for some guy that’s going to leave soon anyway. What are you hoping is going to happen here, Mads? He’s going to forget about his business and stay here? We’re going to do long distance with an eleven hour drive between us? It’s ridiculous.
Madison felt her eyes welling with tears. “Nik, it’s for Lauren,” she whispered.
Fire flashed in Nikki’s eyes. “What do you mean, it’s for Lauren? Is Lauren in trouble? Did fucking Dave do something, because I swear to god, I’ve been waiting for a reason to strangle that mother fucker.” He picked up a torque wrench and wrung it in his fist.
Madison stepped forward and put her hand on his chest.
“No, Dave didn’t do anything. It’s not about him. I can’t tell you, okay? Lauren swore me to secrecy. But please believe me when I tell you—she needs my help, and she needs it quickly and I don’t have any other fucking options. So please. Just fucking help me, Nik.”
Nikki threw the wrench on the floor and rubbed his face. “Yeah. Fuck it. I’ll buy it.”
Madison’s eyes sprang open. “What?”
“I’ll buy the truck. I’ll give you thirty thousand for it, but I’ll need a couple of days to get the cash.”
“Thirty thousand? No way, that’s way too much.”
“It’s thirty thousand or I won’t buy it. I’m not fuckin’ arguing with ya. So does she have a couple of days or no?
