Free Hot & Nerdy by Shannyn Schroeder Page B

cabinets, under the bed, or in the sole closet. Maybe he kept it in the truck? That would be silly. If he’d been worried about her stealing it, he surely wouldn’t have given her his truck keys.
    On her phone she did a search for an Internet café, hoping there would be one close by. She gathered her stuff and Phin’s keys and headed out the door. In the garage, a radio blared over the noise of the drills and air pumps and clanking wrenches. The stench of oil filled the air, and Layla tried to block it as she wandered around looking for Phin. She probably could’ve asked any of the guys wearing blue jumpsuits, but she trusted Phin.
    A pair of legs stuck out from beneath a blue minivan. She studied the shoes. They looked like they might be Phin’s. “Excuse me?”
    â€œHey, darlin’, is there something I could help you with?” a voice called from behind her.
    She turned around. It was the guy who had towed her on Saturday. “Hi, again. I’m looking for Phin.”
    The sound of wheels rolling near her ankles caught her attention. “You found him.”
    The tow-truck driver/mechanic shook his head and turned back to the car he was working on. Phin heaved himself up from the floor. “What do you need?”
    â€œA computer. You don’t happen to have one, do you?”
    â€œNope.”
    â€œThat’s what I figured. Can you give me directions here?” She held her phone out to him to see the address of the Internet café. “The GPS on my phone drains the battery too quickly, so I don’t want to use it.”
    Phin wiped his hands on an already greasy rag. “What do you need a computer for?”
    â€œTo fill out a job application.”
    â€œPlanning on staying in Atlanta?” His mouth kicked up into a smile that made her melt.
    â€œUh . . . no. I interviewed for an internship on Friday and they offered me a job. That’s why my friends and I were supposed to celebrate over spring break. I got an e-mail telling me to fill out an online application.” She felt silly still holding her phone up to his face when he wasn’t even looking at it. His attention was focused on her, so she dropped her arm to her side. “The Internet café is close, I think.”
    â€œThat’ll cost you money you don’t have. I’ll talk to Steve. He’s got a computer in the office he might let you use.”
    Phin turned and Layla grabbed his arm. “You don’t have to do that. You guys have already been really nice. I don’t expect any more favors.”
    â€œIt’s a computer. It’s not like I’m asking him to give up his lunch.” He pulled from her grasp and walked toward the back of the garage.
    Layla stood awkwardly flipping her phone over in her hand, feeling out of place in the noise of the garage. Mumbled curses and grunts acted as background to the radio. A couple of guys stood in the corner talking over cups of coffee. One pointed in her direction, making her even more self-conscious.
    A shrill whistle sounded from the corner. Phin waved her over. “Steve has errands to run. He said you could use the computer as long as you don’t fuck with any of his shit and you’re done within an hour.”
    She hadn’t even seen the application yet, so she wasn’t sure she could finish in an hour. Even if she didn’t, she could start it and figure out what she’d need to finish. If they wanted specifics about her courses, she didn’t have that information handy anyway. She followed Phin to a crowded back office. File cabinets filled one wall, and hanging above them were various outdated girly calendars.
    Charming.
    Layla reminded herself not to be a snot. The guy was doing her a favor. “Thanks,” she said as she pulled out the rickety desk chair.
    â€œNeed anything else?”
    She shook her head, suddenly nervous again.
    â€œI’ll be out front if you need