Free The Blood Between Us by Zac Brewer Page B

shelves to the right of the door were an assortment of paints, thinners, cleaning supplies, and everything I’d need for an oil change. I’d have to pick up the rest of the stuff for a tune-up next time I was in town. The tires were another issue. I was going to need new ones, and that meant asking Viktor for a loan. Tires weren’t cheap, and I only had maybe ten bucks to my name. People always think that trust fund kids live high on the hog. So did I, until I became one. The way that my parents had set up my and Grace’s trust, our schooling and everyday expenses were covered, but there would be no disbursement of any real money to us until we each hit the age of twenty-one. Until then, it was Broke City. Not that I was complaining. They’d given me a good life. I had nothing to complain about, really. Except for Grace.
    After I opened the barn door for ventilation, I pickedup the oil pan and headed back to Maggie. I slid inside the driver’s side door again, hoping like hell that she would start after such a long rest. When I slid the key into the ignition and turned it, her engine roared to life like it was nothing.
    You couldn’t stop a girl like Maggie from having a good time.
    I let her run for a few minutes, listening happily to the roar of her engine, allowing her oil to warm. I cut her engine after a while and, once I’d gotten her up on jack stands, I put my earbuds in and cranked a bluesy playlist that I’d made before sliding underneath and unscrewing the drain plug. When the stream of oil had slowed to merely drops in the pan, I removed the oil filter and dumped the old oil out of it before putting it back on. I may not have been able to replace the filter just yet, but at least I could get rid of most of the used oil. I made a mental note to add that to my list for the auto parts store. I replaced the drain plug and dumped five bottles of 10W-30 into the engine. By the time I got Maggie off the jack, my hands were filthy and my heart was full. There was something deeply satisfying about car maintenance. I could see why my dad had loved it so much.
    Pulling the tarp over Maggie again, I whispered promises to her that I would be back soon. And that next time, I’d polish her up real pretty and take her out on the town.
    I kissed my filthy fingers and pressed them to her hood before turning to leave.
    Humming a bit of the acoustic song “Going to Hell” by The Pretty Reckless, I made my way through a hot shower and dressed for dinner, my heart feeling lighter than it had in some time. I entered the dining room to find Viktor, Julian, and Grace waiting for me at the table. I again took my seat across from Grace, my stomach rumbling. Plates of rare pot roast and savory roasted carrots and potatoes were laid out before us on china plates. The smell of cherry crumble was wafting down the hall from the kitchen.
    Julian smiled at me as I joined them. “How’s Maggie?”
    “Purring like a kitten. She’ll be up and running in no time. Just you watch.”
    After a few bites, Viktor dabbed at his chin with his napkin. “So I hear your dorm room’s in the tower, Adrien. What’s it like up there? I’m afraid I haven’t had a chance to see it since they finished the renovations.”
    I shrugged my shoulders. I was utterly unimpressed with the so-called renovations, but I didn’t want to let Viktor in on my displeasure. It’s not like complaining to him would change anything. “It’s okay, I guess.”
    “Did you meet your roommate?” I couldn’t exactly tellif Viktor was getting at something or if he was just making polite dinner conversation.
    “Yeah. His name’s Quinn. He seems all right.” Now for the test. I wasn’t sure if Julian had had a chance to talk to her yet, so I was going out on a limb here and hoping for the best. “What about you, Grace? Did you meet your roommate?”
    “I’m rooming with Penelope again.” So far, so good. Her tone was even almost pleasant. “What classes are you