Author's Note: Mr. Toretto checks in with Letty
Chapter 20
"Letty and I will finish this up," Mr. Toretto said as he came out from under the lifted car they were both working on. "Why don't you two go grab us some tacos for lunch?" He fished a couple of greasy bills from his coveralls pocket and passed them to Dom.
He and Vince agreed and went outside. It was a Saturday afternoon and they were all putting in overtime so they could close the shop for a few days while Mr. Toretto traveled for a race. Letty was annoyed he wouldn't let her cut school and come along, but she agreed to help out at the garage for the extra money and time with Dom.
She was almost done replacing a leaky shock absorber and was focusing on her work when Mr. Toretto said her name. She looked over.
"We don't get to talk very much," he said, handing her a rag after she got the part fixed in place. "My son treating you right?"
She wiped her hands, giving him a look of surprise. "Yeah. Why, you're worried he won't?"
He shrugged. "I love my son but I've seen the way he's treated other girls… was keeping an eye on things to see if I had to straighten him out. But maybe you did."
She laughed a bit, embarrassed. It felt nice to have the fatherly concern over her. Even if it was strange it was coming from her boyfriend's father.
"I guess maybe I did."
"Don't be afraid to tell me if he doesn't treat you right. He's got his flaws, but he was raised better."
"You raised him right," she agreed, wanting to reassure him. "He treats me good. I'd let him know if he didn't."
"I'm glad you're not too shy to speak up for yourself." He went to the lift to lower the car once she'd moved out of the way.
When the wheels were on the ground they tested the suspension. He gave her a satisfied nod.
"I can't imagine Dom would be interested in a shy girl.." She murmured, going around to pop the hood. "Looks like we just need to replace the filters now and she's good to go."
He went to grab some new ones from the back as she removed the old ones.
"I don't think he was considering their personalities very much, to be honest…" he said. "I don't want him to treat you like that. Honestly I don't want him to treat any girl like that."
"I think the other girls knew they weren't getting a relationship," she said. "Dom doesn't make promises he doesn't intend to keep."
He nodded, seeming a bit relieved. "That's what I told myself but it helps to hear it from you. "
"Don't worry so much," she told him with a smile. "Like you said I won't put up with shit."
"You just let me know if I need to knock some sense into him."
It felt nice to be looked after like this. Her own mother didn't pay her much mind most of the time anymore. Mr. Toretto made her feel like family. She knew, and he knew that she could stand up for herself. She didn't need him to set Dom straight. She could do it herself. But it was nice just to know someone had her back.
Someone was watching out for her.