Daily Grind
Jason and Luke started the Monday morning in Allan's office again, their week about to be disrupted by another training course.
"This advanced diagnostics is going to be really important, you guys," Allan said, handing them over an envelope each with their hotel and course information, "they'll also be previewing some new tech, we'd like you to try it out and let us know if you think it'll be a worthwhile investment for the shop."
Jason flexed his fingers and bit the inside of his cheek, his mind wobbling like a see-saw. On one hand, he was always excited to learn new things, but on the other, he hated being away from home. Away from Kelsi. They stood and left the office, heading to the locker room to get ready for the day. He swung his locker open with a huff, the metal banging against the locker beside his. "Training in Dallas again… fuck," he muttered, frustration etched on his face.
"Remember when they used to ask us if we were available?" Luke asked, a hint of bitterness in his voice. "Now they jus' tell us when and where." The memory of their first training trip flashed in their minds. Back then, they'd been excited, eager to learn and grow. But now, the sudden, unexpected announcements were starting to wear on them. It felt like their lives were on hold, constantly adapting to their boss's plans.
Jason chuckled wryly. "Yeah, good times."
The reality of the situation sunk in. Kelsi and Alisha, their loving girlfriends, were going to be disappointed once again. Kelsi had been eagerly anticipating going with Jason to a summer concert, while Alisha, with her heart of gold, had volunteered herself and Luke to spend some time at the local animal shelter.
"Kels is gonna be so upset," Jason lamented. "She was really looking forward to that concert. I'm happy to be learning this new stuff, but how this just drops out of nowhere now… it sucks."
Luke nodded in agreement. "I hear ya. I'll be dealin' with the hellfire of a pissed off southern belle, don't know who's boots I'd rather be in; mine or yours." It wasn't the first time a training course had interfered with their personal plans. The shop's expansion had put a strain on everyone, and as two of the top mechanics, they were expected to shoulder the extra burden. They carried on the work day anyways, doing what they loved even if this expansion felt like a mountain to climb.
As Jason pulled into his driveway that evening, a wave of guilt washed over him. He knew Kelsi would be disappointed, maybe even angry. He opened the door and stepped inside, the familiar feelings of the space filling his senses. The scent of something cooking in the oven, the warm glow of a candle burning on the coffee table, and the sound of the water running upstairs all welcomed him back to the place he and Kelsi called home. He guessed that she was in the shower and drifted up the stairs, his mind heavy with how to tell her, how to face her. He gently knocked and opened the door, ducking his head into the steamy bathroom. "Hey, baby, I'm home."
She poked her head around the curtain with a smile. "Hey, J, wanna join me?"
Her beautiful and seductive grin managed to push away the weight on his mind and he stripped off his work clothes to join her under the hot spray. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, longing desperately to hold her after another gruelling day.
Kelsi sighed and melted into his embrace, the water running over their entangled limbs. "You okay, hun?" she asked, sensing the heaviness in his shoulders. "Rough day?"
"Yeah, you could say that," Jason admitted, releasing her to start washing away the daily grime. "I'll tell you about it after, right now I just want to get clean and love on you a little."
A smile broke across Kelsi's lips as he ran his hands gently over her body, aided by the silky lather of their body wash. "Mmm, I like the sound of that," she whispered in his ear and stood on her toes to meet his lips in a gentle kiss. Before she knew it, she was pinned against the cool tile, his lips landing on hers over and over again in passionate kisses.
"Oh Kels, you make everything better, baby," Jason whispered as he kissed her neck, "I love coming home to you."
Kelsi leaned into his embrace and held him tight. "Well why don't we get out of here and you can make some proper love to me?"
"I don't know," Jason answered, "maybe later."
"Okay babe, as long as you're alright, I'll go finish up dinner." She drew the curtain back with a smile and stepped out onto the bath mat. Wrapping a towel around her chest, she quickly went to dress and towelled off her hair as she ran down to the kitchen. She just barely caught the hand-breaded chicken she'd prepared before it turned black. "Damn, I'll never get used to this oven," she muttered as she cut the meat and tossed it into a Caesar salad.
When Jason came down soon after and went to work setting the table, Kelsi could sense something was still bothering him. Their routine in the evening had fallen into place after a couple months of living together, meaning he couldn't hide the weight on his mind. She brought their dinner to the table and they settled into their own plates. When they had almost finished their silent meal, Kelsi reached over to take Jason's hand. "What's the matter, babe? You seem really bummed."
He heaved a heavy breath and braced for the worst. "I have to go for training for the rest of the week," he said flatly, the disappointment evident in his voice. "Luke and I are leaving for Dallas tomorrow."
"Dallas again? But Friday we were…" she said, her voice heavy with heartbreak.
Jason sighed. "Yeah, I know. I'm really sorry, babe. I know you're looking forward to that concert."
Kelsi's eyes burned with frustration. "I am. I know it was just Santa Fe, but it was our first chance to get away together…"
Jason ran a hand through his hair. "I know, and I'm so sorry. Maybe Martha would like to go or Gabriella? Someone can take my ticket and I promise, I'll make it up to you."
Kelsi sat back in her chair and crossed her arms. "Oh really? Like how you made up for going to Atlanta over my dad's surprise 50th birthday a couple weeks ago? Or maybe how you made up for going to Colorado and I went to the East High reunion alone the month before that?"
Jason winced, realizing he owed her big time for the things he was missing, but what could he do? If he said no, what would that do to his reputation at work?
"Kels, I'm sorry, really I am. I wish Allan would give us more notice for these courses, but they seem to just pop up and there's nothing we can do about it. I don't want to lose my job."
"I know, Jason, but where's the line? What's going to be important enough for you to pick us over work?"
Her words hit him like a double edged sword, the bite of her frustrated tone helping her words cut deep into his heart. A realization dawned on him and his mind flashed back to his conversation with his dad months ago, the warning had been clear: don't let anything come before your partner or family, and here he was, putting work first. He determined then to make it right.
"Okay, Kelsi, I think I see how you must feel. When we get back from this trip, I'll talk to Allan, because you're right, nothing is more important to me than our relationship and I haven't been showing that with my actions. I'll fix this."
"Fine, Jason," Kelsi said with a sigh, silently rising from her chair to begin cleaning the dishes in the sink. When dinner was all cleaned up, she offered a kiss on Jason's cheek and a soft "goodnight" before retreating to their room. She changed into her usual nightwear, just one of Jason's old t-shirts and curled up in bed with her song book. A few tears left her eyes as she thought about the concert coming up that weekend, how she wouldn't spend it with the man she loved, but she determined to make the most of it with another close friend.
The desert sun was barely cresting the horizon as Jason and Luke prepared to leave for their training in Texas. Growing up on the sprawling plains of Amarillo, Dallas was a familiar city for Luke, a bustling metropolis filled with energy and opportunity.
After they loaded their bags into the bed of Luke's pickup truck, Jason pulled Kelsi close. "I'm sorry again, Kels," he whispered, his voice soft and laced with misery. His fingers traced the curve of her jawline, sending shivers down her spine. "I'll miss you, and that concert."
Kelsi smiled, her eyes heavy, but yet optimistic for the fun she was going to have with Martha instead. "I'll miss you too, J, I'll send you some pictures. Don't you get into too much trouble," she teased, playfully nudging his arm. "Oh and before I forget…" She held up a bag of his favourite trail mix that she'd picked up unbeknownst to him. "Gross road snacks for you."
Jason chuckled, his eyes twinkling with affection. "Thanks baby, you're too sweet. I can't make any promises that we won't get into trouble," he replied, leaning in to whisper in her ear. "But I can promise you a hot reunion when I get back." A playful grin spread across his face as he kissed her softly.
Meanwhile, Luke and Alisha shared a tender moment. "I'll call every night, darlin'," he promised, his voice soft. "And you be sure and give those little critters some hugs for me too now."
Alisha nodded with a smile on her lips. "I will, cowboy. Have fun and learn lots!"
"How can I?" Luke replied, his eyes full of affection. "I'll be too busy dreamin' about you."
"Aw, get outta here, you devil," Alisha said, giving him a smack on his ass as he turned to go.
With one last lingering look at their ladies, the two friends climbed into the cab of the truck. Jason turned the key and the engine roared to life, taking the first shift of their eleven hours on the road.
As they pulled away, the ladies watched them go, their hearts heavy with another upset week. With a long sigh to push away the disappointment, Kelsi turned to Alisha. "Well, I'm going back to bed, but how about a girl's night tonight?"
"Absolutely! Wine party at my house after work!" Alisha replied, her energy infectious despite the dim light of the morning. Kelsi couldn't help but still feel a sinking feeling as Jason drove away with Luke, barely holding onto a hope that he would keep his promise to fix things when he returned.
The first day of the training course was a whirlwind. The room was filled with seasoned mechanics from across the country, all eager to learn about the latest diagnostic technology. The instructor, a charismatic engineer, began by outlining the rapid advancements in automotive technology.
"The cars of today are more complex than ever," he explained, "and the tools we use to diagnose them need to keep pace." He then introduced the new diagnostic scanner, a sleek device that could access a vehicle's computer system and pinpoint problems with astonishing accuracy.
Jason and Luke were amazed by the scanner's capabilities. They could run a full system scan, analyze sensor data, and even reprogram control modules. The second day was all about hands-on training. They were all paired up and given a variety of vehicles to diagnose. The new scanner was a game-changer, allowing them to quickly identify and troubleshoot problems that would have taken hours to diagnose with traditional methods.
"Lord almighty," Luke said with raised eyebrows as he and Jason worked together with the new machine, diagnosing an electrical issue in seconds, "that's faster than a cat flying out of a cold bathtub!"
Jason chucked at his friend and turned back to the machine. "This would be a game changer for sure, but I can't see how it would apply at the shop. I mean, we do classics, not as much new stuff yet. It's a big investment for only a small percentage of the work we do."
Luke sighed and agreed, "Well the boss wanted our opinions, I think you done hit the nail on the head, brother. Shame to think this trip might be a total waste then."
"I think it would be a great tool, and it'll still be around if the shop starts doing more work on everyday cars. That's when they should look into something like this."
As the training course drew to a close, Luke and Jason were equal parts excited and disappointed to bring their report back to their shop. They knew that the new diagnostic technology wouldn't be an asset now, but it was something to keep in mind should the focus of the shop ever change. For now, they would stick to what they did best, classics and muscle cars, keeping those beautiful machines on the road for years to come.
Kelsi's morning alarm blared, jolting her from her sleep. She groaned, rolling over and hitting the snooze button. Today was the day of the concert, and the excitement created an instant buzz in her mind. But before she could dive into the festivities, she had to navigate the mundane routine at Baums for the day.
Her shift seemed to stretch on endlessly. She taught her students, assisted customers, and rang up sales, all the while her thoughts were drifting to the pulsating beats and vibrant lights of the upcoming concert. As the clock ticked closer to closing time, her anticipation grew. She couldn't wait to shed her work uniform and slip into something more fitting for a night of music and revelry. Finally, the clock ticked past three and it was time to head for Santa Fe.
Back home, she wasted no time. Her fingers danced across the hangers, selecting a fun and carefree outfit that hopefully wouldn't make her stand out in the crowd. A pair of ripped jeans, a flowing, neon-coloured top, and a pair of comfortable sneakers completed the look. She added a few finishing touches - a sparkly headband and a small, crossbody bag - and was ready to go. She hit the road in Jason's Jeep, cruising her way over to Martha's house. At the first honk of her horn, her friend came flying out the front door and skipping towards the Jeep.
"Hey, Kelsi! Ready to party?" Martha squealed as she jumped in and quickly fastened her seatbelt.
"You bet! Santa Fe here we come!" Kelsi threw the Jeep in reverse and flew out onto the street, the excitement and urgency to make it to Santa Fe in time getting the better of her. They laughed out loud at the screech of the tires as she peeled away from Martha's house, on their way to a night of nothing but music.
That music soon pulsed through Kelsi and Martha's veins as they approached the venue, a relentless rhythm that mirrored their pounding hearts. The festival grounds were a kaleidoscope of colour, a sea of bodies swaying to the beat. They quickly got lost in the crowd, their laughter echoing amidst the din.
Jason's absence was a pang in Kelsi's heart, a reminder of the unexpected twists life was throwing at them. Disappointment had briefly flickered, but Martha brightened her spirit by teaching her some wild and carefree dance moves. And now, as they revelled in the music and the moment, Kelsi couldn't imagine a better companion.
"This is awesome!" Martha shouted over the music, her eyes wide with excitement. "This band is amazing!"
Kelsi grinned, the worry lines on her face smoothing out. "I know, right? They're really rocking tonight."
They danced until their feet ached, their bodies carrying a sheen of sweat. The music was their lifeline, pulling them deeper into the euphoria of the moment. As the final notes of the headliner's set faded, they made their way precariously out of the venue, exhilarated and exhausted.
"That was the best show ever!" Martha declared, her voice full of satisfaction.
Kelsi nodded, her heart still racing. "Thanks for coming with me, Martha, I'm so glad I asked you to join me! I better send Jason some pictures," she said, pulling out her phone.
They lingered outside the venue, the cool night air a welcome respite from the heat of the crowd. The festival lights twinkled in the distance, a reminder of the magic they'd just experienced. The music had faded, the crowd slowly dispersed, and they were left with the lingering afterglow of an unforgettable experience. It was a bittersweet feeling, a bittersweet reminder that even the most perfect nights must come to an end.
Jason said goodnight to Luke on the fourth and finally the last night of their training course and retreated to his hotel room, flopping down onto the bed in exhaustion. For a training course that was a total waste of time, it sure was tiresome. He was about to head for the shower when his phone rang, the beautiful image of Kelsi driving his Mach 1 lighting up the screen. "Sorry the guy you've tried to reach is miserably dead, please try again later," he groaned, unable to contain a smile when her laughter rang through the phone.
"Aw, what a shame," she purred, "guess he doesn't want to hear about what I'm wearing then… or maybe not wearing."
"I guess miracles do happen," he replied, sitting straight up on the bed, "I've magically come back to life and would love to hear all about it." His smile widened as Kelsi's melodious laughter rang out again, lifting his tired spirit. "How are you doing, baby?"
"I'm fine, just missed you and couldn't wait to call you tonight," Kelsi answered.
"I miss you too, Kels, and this course has been such a waste of time. I'm just so pissed that I'm here instead of with you. Thanks for those pictures of the music festival though, it looked like you and Martha had a great time!"
"We did! It was amazing! It sucks you had to miss it, but I think Martha is a lot more fun than you at concerts," she teased before she filled him in on more details from the show.
"But no one hosts an after-party like me though," Jason replied with bravado, the innuendo heavy in his low tone.
Kelsi's breathed a long sigh, trying to hide how shaky her breath became at the thought. "Jason… did you still want to hear about what I'm wearing?"
"Tell me, honey," he said softly, "every detail."
"Well when I got home from work today, I changed into my blue romper, you know the one with the cherry blossom pattern?"
"Mmhm, I love that one."
"Then I painted my toes."
"What colour?"
"You can see when you get home," she said, giggling at his frustrated groan. "Then when I went to bed, I thought it was a bit warm tonight so I debated between one of your t-shirts and nothing else or that black night dress I have…"
"What'd you pick?" Jason held his breath as he waited for her to complete the vivid image coming together in his mind.
"The dress," she answered, "I'm saving your Wildcats shirt for when you get home. With absolutely nothing underneath."
"Damn, Kels, you're incredible," he said, some defeat lacing his voice. "Here I am, a hundred miles away on a stupid course that I should have said no to, and you're still so good to me. I can't wait to get home to you tomorrow night, honey. I'm gonna tear that shirt off of you so fast."
"I'm counting on it, babe," she said softly. "And don't beat yourself up too much about this, you're in a tough place at work and I'm sorry that I was less than supportive. While my point still stands that you need to ease up on all this training, I shouldn't have been so harsh, so for that I apologize."
"Thanks, Kels, I'll do what I can with work, I promise."
"Thanks, J. Are you driving first tomorrow?"
"Yeah I think so, we're aiming to leave by five tomorrow morning."
"Then go on and get some sleep, I want you home in one piece tomorrow." She made an exaggerated sound of a kiss, "goodnight, Gearhead, I love you."
"Alright, Kels, sweet dreams. I love you so much. See you soon."
Luke and Jason finally loaded their bags back into the pan of the truck after a quick breakfast. They were both eager to get home, back to their waiting ladies, and had agreed to set out as soon as they could.
Luke tossed Jason the keys, slid into the passenger seat, and tipped his Stetson down over his eyes. "Alright now, Cross, you drive steady ya hear? I could use a couple more hours of shut eye. Alisha kept me up awful late on the phone last night."
"Put your seatbelt on, cowboy, then you can get all the Zs you want," Jason replied before he fired up the truck to start their journey home.
The trip was relatively easy, it wasn't a holiday, just a plain old Sunday afternoon in Texas. They stopped for lunch and traded spots, Luke finally feeling energized enough to drive. A couple of quick texts to their girlfriends let them know how long until they got home, the responses bringing grins to their faces.
"Lordy that woman sure is lookin' forward to gettin' her hands on yours truly," Luke said as he dropped his phone into the console and pulled the truck out of the rest stop parking lot. "Never thought I'd ever get sold on one lady."
Jason chuckled to himself over the naughty text he'd gotten back from Kelsi and leaned back in the seat with a sleepy sigh. "That's true, I don't even wanna know how many girls you've taken home," he replied.
"Neither do I," Luke said with a grin, "but Alisha…" He let out a low whistle that said more than words, but he added, "I love her somethin' fierce."
Jason offered a polite grin as his weary eyes began to flutter closed. "I've been in love with Kelsi since high school, couldn't imagine a woman more perfect for me."
"Say Jason, I've been meanin' to ask you: How'd you know you wanted Kelsi to move in with you? I've been thinkin' about askin' Alisha to get a place together, but I don't know if we're ready."
"Well, it just seemed like the next thing. The fact that she was coming home from school and was in transition in her life anyways just made it a more ideal moment I guess. But more than that, I just wanted her with me all the time, to share everything with her. Now I'm just trying to find the right time to, well, see if she wants to stick around for the rest of our lives."
"You're not talkin' about gettin' down on one knee are ya?!" Luke exclaimed. Jason nodded and couldn't help a small smile. "Good lord, guess when you know you know," Luke added, reaching over to punch Jason's arm.
Jason smirked at the gesture, even though the reality of his decision began to sit heavy on his mind again. He knew it had to be soon, or those nightmares would overstay their welcome.