Bend It Like Becker

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Chapter 16 – A SWEATY SHIRT & A SHOWER

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Becker took a deep breath and absently wiped his sweaty brow. He was beginning to think that he should've taken Jess's suggestion about calling a recovery lorry, but he wasn't about to admit defeat just yet.

"Okay, Jess, you ready?" he called out.

"Yes, the gear's in first," she confirmed through the open driver's window. The first few times down the street she'd had the car in neutral, making his efforts worthless, but she was now clear on the concept.

"Okay," Becker mumbled to himself, taking another steeling breath before placing his hands on the boot for what felt like the zillionth time. "Let's try this again."

He started to push the car, his arm and leg muscles straining as they tried to overcome the inertia of the still vehicle. Slowly but surely the tyres started to turn, but he kept at it, trying to get the car up to speed. He was breathing heavily when he finally yelled out, "Okay, Jess, try it."

The car jerked as Jess released the clutch and the engine spontaneously burst into life.

"It worked!" Jess cried excitedly out the window.

"Just bring the car to a halt," he called down the street as he himself stopped and placed his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath.

Becker then watched in stunned horror as the car suddenly jerked and shuddered a few times before the engine sputtered and died.

"Dammit, Jessica!" Becker snapped, jogging up to the car window. "You have to put in the clutch when you stop! Don't you know anything?"

Jess bit her lip, trying not to cry. "I'm sorry. I didn't know. I've never driven a manual before."

Becker gave a frustrated sigh. He hadn't even thought to ask, he'd just assumed she knew how.

He quickly softened his tone, realising he was to blame for her failure by not given her adequate instructions. "It's okay, Jess. I'm sorry." He opened up the door, saying, "Scoot over. Let me give you a quick lesson before we try this again."

Jess awkwardly crawled over the gear shift, self-consciously yanking her short skirt down so as not to flash him, as Becker climbed into the driver's seat. Now in an enclosed space, Becker could smell how sweaty he was from all the exertion and felt bad that he was inflicting his stench on Jess. However, he couldn't think of a quick solution so he tried to ignore the smell as he proceeded to explain how to drive the manual gearbox. He knew she'd only be driving a short distance, but he wanted to make sure that she'd be able to stop the car and leave it ticking over long enough for him to get in and drive, assuming, of course, that they could even get the engine started again.

After going over everything a few times and having her repeat the instructions back to him, he climbed out of the car and, leaning on the open door, told her to move back over and demonstrate that she understood. This of course meant that he was forced to stare at her thighs, making sure her legs were pressing down on the proper pedals, and whilst she'd earlier changed into practical shoes, she was still adorned in a short skirt, which was making it difficult for him to concentrate on the lesson.

"...into neutral before releasing the clutch," Jess was saying as she performed the steps he'd taught her.

She then turned to him, looking for approval, and Becker realised that he hadn't noticed anything besides her legs themselves. However, he didn't want to make her redo it, as he'd no doubt simply be distracted again. Knowing that she was no dummy, and trusting that she'd probably paid attention, he merely nodded, saying, "You'll be fine. You ready to give it one more try?"

Jess nodded and switched the car into neutral as Becker moved around to the bonnet, ready to push it back to the top of the block so they could try again - thank goodness he'd parked on a quiet side street last night! As he put his hands on the bonnet, he caught another whiff of his sweaty t-shirt and decided to take it off so he wouldn't have to smell it. He threw it off to the side of the tarmac before once again placing his hands on the bonnet and starting to push the car backwards. For some reason, Jess was having trouble keeping the wheel straight this time around, and the car weaved unsteadily between lanes before she finally was able to straighten it out.

As they reached the end of the block, she braked, and he once again moved around to the back, hopefully for the last time.

"Make sure it's in first," he reminded.

"And push in the clutch before I brake - I remember," Jess replied.

Becker leaned into the car and started pushing. Perhaps because he hoped this was the last time, perhaps because he'd grown exhausted from the repeated attempts, this time it seemed to take forever to get the car moving. Eventually, though, it was rolling swiftly enough for Becker to call out, "Go!"

Once again, the car jerked as the engine roared to life. Becker issued a silent prayer that she wouldn't blow it again and was thrilled to see Jess bring the car to a stop, the engine purring beautifully. As Becker hurried up, Jess jumped out of the car and threw her arms around his neck excitedly, cheering, "I did it!"

Ordinarily Becker would've been distracted by the feel of Jess's arms about his bare shoulders, her ruffled frock pressed against his sweaty chest, but he was so focussed on the car that the feelings barely registered. He gently pushed her away and quickly climbed into the driver's seat, shutting the door behind him. "Do you mind following me to the garage? I want to get it there quickly before the engine dies."

Jess nodded. As she started for her car, she picked up his sweaty shirt lying on the road and tossed it to him, teasing, "You might need this when we get there."

As Becker caught it, he felt embarrassed that she'd had to touch his damp, smelly shirt. He pulled it on over his head, waiting for her to drive around. Once she arrived, he started to lead the way to a nearby garage, grateful that they hadn't had to call a recovery lorry after all.

...

Becker was still in the shower when Abby and Connor got home.

"I take it you two had a good day," Abby said, a broad grin on her face.

"None of that!" Jess scolded, wagging her finger at her flatmates. "Like I said in my text this morning, there's to be no more of your teasing and pressuring and innuendoes. Do you understand? Becker simply won't take it anymore…and neither will I."

Abby nodded, looking chagrinned. "We'll be good," she promised.

"We just want to see you two happy," Connor said.

"I know, and that's sweet, but you can't force that kind of thing. Okay? If it's going to happen, it will, but it won't if you're constantly there elbowing each other and making knowing comments. So please - behave. For me?"

Abby nodded. "So, am I at least allowed to ask why he's in our shower?"

"The water at his place was out," Jess answered simply.

Connor looked confused. "So? Who takes a shower in the late afternoon? Couldn't he wait till tomorrow?"

Jess shook her head. "He was pretty hot and sweaty."

"Oh yes?" Abby couldn't help but crack a smile.

Jess shook her finger at her friends. "You promised!"

Connor held up his hands in surrender. "I didn't say a thing!"

Abby put on a stony expression as she asked, "So why exactly was he hot and sweaty?"

"He was pushing his car, trying to get it started. He needed to pop the clutch, because there was something wrong with the starter's bendix solenoid or something, so he kept having to push it down the street over and over." Jess smiled at the memory. "He got so hot from the exertion that he eventually took his shirt off."

"Mmm, hot and sweaty indeed." Abby smiled at the image.

"Oi! Fiance in the room!" Connor protested.

"Oh, whatever, Connor - like you never notice Jess's skirts," Abby shot back before teasing Jess, "Must've been hard to steer with that image in your rear view."

Jess blushed and confessed, "A bit, yeah. So anyway, we finally got the engine started and his car to the garage, and I drove him home. But when we got there, it turned out they were doing pipe work and had shut down the water for his entire block, so I offered to bring him back here for a shower and then dinner."

"A shower and THEN dinner? Isn't that doing things a bit backwards?" Connor teased.

"Connor!" This time it was Abby doing the scolding.

"What? It's not like he can hear me."

As if in response, the water suddenly turned off. Connor mumbled, "Fine, I'll be good now," as he slunk off towards his bedroom.

Once he was gone, Abby whispered, "So are things okay between you two? You sounded upset in your text."

Jess nodded. "Yeah, they're better now." While she'd wanted to warn off her flatmates about the teasing, she hadn't bothered to mention the flat key to them. And while Jess desperately wanted to talk about her confusing day with someone, clearly Abby was not to be trusted with such information.

As Jess heard the door to the bathroom open upstairs, she called out, "Abby and Connor are home," just so Becker wouldn't be caught unawares.

"Would you like to have dinner with us?" Abby offered as Becker came down, his hair still wet. "I was thinking of making spaghetti for all of us, and we'd love for you to stay and join in."

Becker gave Jess an inquisitive look, as if waiting to see if this was what she wanted.

Jess nodded. "Becker and I could pop round to the store to get a baguette for garlic bread if you'd like."

"And pick up some ale," Connor hollered from his room before popping his head down the stairs to add, "Please?"

"Anything else you need?" Jess asked as Abby walked into the kitchen and opened up the fridge.

"Maybe stuff for a salad?"

"Will do," Jess said. She then turned to Becker, saying, "C'mon, let's go."

Becker looked horrified. "I can't go out like this."

"Like what?"

Becker gestured frantically to his wet hair.

Jess laughed. "It's just the off-license down the street - it's not like there's a dress code."

Abby nodded. "I see old ladies in their hair curlers in there all the time. No one will care."

But Becker still didn't look convinced. Turning to Jess, he asked, "You sure you don't mind being seen with me...like this?"

"Of course not. Don't be silly. C'mon."

As the two of them headed down the stairs, Connor called after them, "Have fun storming the off-license."

Jess rolled her eyes, realising that Connor had promised to be good, he hadn't promised to stop being Connor!

...

to be continued