Chapter 30: Saying Sorry, Twice in One Day

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July got onto the highway and pushed down harder on the gas pedal. She zoomed in and out of traffic. When she finally realized how fast she was going she slowed down and took her first exit. It wasn't 'til she turned to go back did she notice the car following her. She did a second glance when they flashed their light at her. She looked closer and it dawned on her that it was Letty's car. She pulled up to the next place on the street, which happened to be a little diner. Letty parked next to her and got into July's car.

"So what was that all about?" Letty asked staring at July.

July briefly explained everything that happened and why she had left.

"You'll have to excuse V, he likes to make an ass on himself on a daily basis."

"Yeah, I noticed," July replied, letting out a big sigh.

"It's just V being protective, being who life has taught him to be. He's impulsive. He doesn't always think before he does something or says something. Sometimes it the thing we love most about him and other times the thing we hate about him, but we still love him anyway."

"So what did you follow me for?" July asked after a moment of silence.

"I knew you were going to need someone to talk to and Mia wasn't going to be able to leave, none of the boys were going to do it, and I had a feeling your friend Mike wouldn't be able to either."

"Mike! Oh my god! I just left him there with a bunch of strangers. I am so stupid, how could I leave him there," July started to rant, hitting her fists against her forehead.

"Hey, can I get a word in here? You didn't mean to leave him so don't worry. If he's your boy like you said, then he'll understand, if not, then it's his problem."

"Mike's pretty good about being understanding. He's one of the best guys I have ever met."

Letty didn't have anything to say to that, but it got her thinking about Dom.

"Hey, Let, what's up? You look far away from here," July asked waving a hand across her face.

Letty playfully slapped it away and now realized she had a dilemma. Should she tell July or not? What if July liked Dom and she ruined it for them but telling her that she still loved him? No, she needed to talk to Mia.

"Nothing, just thinking we should probably get back," she lied.

"Yeah, that would be good," July said and started her car.

"So why aren't we moving?" Letty asked after July sat there looking at her.

"Uh, 'cause your butt isn't out of the car yet. Or are you going to leave your precious car here?"

"Sorry, I forgot," she grumbled, opening the door but July's hand on her arm stopped her from getting out.

"Let, I know we don't know each other completely but are you sure they isn't something you want to talk about? You look like there is something bugging you."

"No, I'm good, promise." She got out of the car. "Do you know your way back?" Letty asked crouching in the open door. July looked up sheepishly at her.

"No," she admitted, biting her lip, Letty laughing at her.

"All right, just follow me, if you can."

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The drive home was a cat and mouse game. Letty diving between any open space she could find and July following after her. Luckily they didn't get caught and they arrived at the store in better moods.

Mia looked up and smiled at the two of them as they walked in.

"So where's Mike?" July asked looking around.

"You really didn't expect him to still be here, did you? He left with Leon up to the garage. We've been piling up at the garage, and when Mike said he was a mechanic, Leon suggested that he go up and work with them 'til you got back."

"And of course Mike jumped at the opportunity to be around cars," July said with a little smirk.

"So now we got to head to the garage," Letty said.

"Thanks Mia. I'll see you later," July called back as she got into her car.

Letty waved at Mia and then got into her car. They left with Letty leading the way again. They arrived at the garage and getting out, they could hear the guys laughing. As soon as they walked in the garage though, the laughter died down.

"See I told you, we must have some special power that makes every room we walk into go into silence," July side whispered to Letty. Letty gave a shrug and then headed over to the car she had been working on before lunch.

"Hey JJ!" Mike said coming over and giving her a hug.

"Hey Mike, I'm so sorry I left you. I can't believe I even did that. You must hate me now," July muttered, tears forming in her eyes. She tucked her head down into Mike's chest not wanting everyone to see she was crying. Almost everyone else turned away knowing this was a private moment between the two. The only person left watching was Vince.

"Hey, you know I couldn't hate you," Mike reassured her, raising her head to look in her eyes and wipe away the stray tear that had fallen.

"I didn't mean to leave you."

"I know, you just meant to do it purposely on accident," Mike teased with a raised eyebrow and it was enough to get a small chuckle out of July.

"Okay, so maybe I did," she replied with a small smile.

"Oh I know you did!"

"You know I didn't, right?" July asked, her face serious again.

"Yeah I know," Mike answered, wrapping an arm around her and hugging her tight.

"So you forgive me?"

"Yes, but you have to make it up to me."

"Fat chance if you think that is going to happen," July shot at him, letting him go.

"Excuse me, but aren't you suppose to be kissing my butt to make up for what you did?"

"Fine, what do I have to do?" she asked with a sigh.

"Hmm, what could I make you do?" Mike wondered, rubbing his chin with his thumb and index finger. After a second he got a big grin on his face.

"Mike, that look isn't good," July said and Mike let out an evil cackle.

"You have to do my laundry, clean and wash my car, make me food, and anything else I decide you have to do."

"And why can't you do this yourself?"

"Because I'm lazy," Mike answered with a wink and turning to go back to the car he had been working on.

"I'll give you lazy, you little..." July started to mumble.

"Did you say something?" Mike asked turning back to her.

"Nope," she replied with her best innocent smile, fluttering her eyelashes at him.

Mike gave her a grin, letting her know he had heard and then started to work on the car.

"JJ, you want to help me with this car over here?" Jesse asked.

"Sure thing," July said giving a glare at Vince and then heading over.

Vince was still standing in the same spot thinking. Now he realized what the relationship between July and Mike was. He realized it was the same thing he saw with Dom and Mia, brother and sister. Now he really felt like an ass. He then went to work on the car, thinking about a way to apologize.

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As everyone resumed their spots around the garage, Letty headed over to the office to talk to Dom.

"Knock, knock?" Letty said peeking her head into the sunlit office.

"What?" Dom questioned without putting the papers in his hand down.

"I need to talk to you about July," Letty said standing in front of the desk.

"Did you find her?" Dom asked, finally putting the papers down.

"Yeah, I found her. She's out there right now." Letty watched as Dom got up and looked through the blinds.

"Good," Dom said letting out a breath and sitting back down in his chair.

"I think the girl has some natural skill," Letty commented.

"And what made you think that?"

"She tailed me all the way back here."

"She tailed you?" Dom asked amazed. Letty could be a crazy, reckless driver, and being patient wasn't one of her strong suits. So the fact that July kept up with her was something.

"Yup."

"Well, that just means we have something to start with."

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"So what do you think is up?" Brian asked Leon as they leaned on the side of the car they'd been working on. Leon's focus was on the office and the door that Letty had disappeared behind. He wasn't stupid; he knew that something was up with Letty, he just didn't know what.

"I don't know," he mumbled.

"She's probably talking about me," July supplied from her spot on the next car over with Jesse.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I think Letty was testing my driving skills on the way here. She kept making outrageous turns and stops."

Leon and Jesse shared a look, knowing that Letty had tested July. It made Leon feel better knowing that Letty was in there talking about July and not something else.

A couple minutes later, Letty came out of the office and motioned for July.

"Yeah, what's up?" July asked as she came over.

"Dom wants to talk to you," Letty simply said and then walked away to work on a car.

July turned back to the office and opened the door, walking in.

"Hey," Dom said as she entered.

"Hi," July replied taking a seat.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"So what did you run off for?" Dom asked leaning forward on the desk.

"V just said some stupid stuff, I got mad and left," July explained.

"Oh. So, Letty tells me you tailed her."

"Yeah, what's the big deal?" July asked nonchalantly.

"Just proves you have some skill. I have an idea," he said after a moment, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms.

"What?"

"We've been overloaded a bit and could use an extra set of hands. You willing to take the job?"

July hesitated a moment, not sure if the offer was genuine or not. When he continued to look at her for her answer, she was sure that it was. "Sure, that would be perfect. When do you want me to start?"

"Finish up the Soarer first. Then we'll work you down here."

July smiled and nodding, getting up from the chair. She paused at the door before going out. "Thanks Dom."

Dom gave her a nod and the barest of smiles before July finished walking out and over to check up on Mike.

"Okay, done," Mike said tightening the last hose into place.

"Good, let's get going," she suggested, grabbing onto his arm. "We'll see you guys later," she called out to everyone.

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"So what did Dom want to talk to you about?" Mike asked as soon as they got to July's house.

"He offered me a job," July said as she opened the garage.

"Did you take it?"

"No, I told him no because being offered a job as a mechanic isn't my dream job," she offered with a straight face, her voice heavy with sarcasm.

"Liar," Mike deadpanned.

"Well duh. Of course I told him yes! What else could I have said?"

Mike rolled his eyes at her and the two began to work on the Soarer again.

It was late into the afternoon when the heard everyone arrive home next door. Jesse and Leon soon popped their heads into the garage, neither one being able to resist the new car.

"Hey," Jesse said standing next to the car. Leon was right behind him.

"Hey Jesse, Leon. What's up?" July asked, pushing back the few strands of hair that had fallen into her face.

"Just came to check out the car," Leon said stepping up.

"Sure. Jesse, I think we might be ready for your help with the engine now."

"Sweet. Let's see what we got." Jesse became lost in the engine. July followed every step he took and listened closely as he explained. They had only finished a little part when Dom showed up.

"We were looking for you two," he said.

"We were just helping with the engine," Leon explained.

"Well dinner's ready. Mia's not going to save you any food if you don't come over soon."

Jesse and Leon exchanged a look but their rumbling stomachs made the decision for them. They both left with the promise of coming back over tomorrow.

"We'll I'm going to go up and take a shower," Mike said.

"Yeah, you stink," July teased, shooing him away. She turned back to find that Dom was still in the garage.

"So how's it coming?" he asked coming over to stand next to her.

"We should be done soon. But I want to do a paint job on it and Jesse has some cool mod ideas."

"You can use the garage to paint it. We have a booth in the back."

"Thanks," she said looking over at Dom and he began to laugh at her. "What's funny?" she asked confused.

"You have a big smear of grease on you face."

"Where?" she asked wiping at her face. "Did I get it?"

"No. Here." Dom grabbed the rag from her hand. Taking her chin in his hand, he dabbed at her face gently until the grease was gone. "There," he said in a bare whisper. His face was close to hers and she could feel his breath on her cheek.

"Thanks," she said in a raspy breath. She didn't know what was happening or what she should do. Part of her said to kiss him and the other half said not to. As Dom lowered his face, Jesse reappeared in the garage.

"Dom, Mia says to come now or there isn't going to be any food. She said she can't protect it much longer from Vince," Jesse said oblivious to what was going on.

"All right, I'm coming," Dom answered releasing July's face and taking a step back. Jesse left, leaving the two of them alone again. July ducked her head in embarrassment over what almost happened.

"I'm sorry Dom, but I can't be like that with you. At least not yet. I'm sorry. I'm going to tell you the same thing I told Vince, I can't be with anyone right now. I just can't. I'm sorry," she said and left the garage. Dom stood there not knowing what to do. The fact that July rejected him made her more puzzling to him and he wanted her that much more. He left, closing the garage after him. July was a mystery to him, and one he intended to find out.

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tbc…