Free Choosing Happiness by Melissa Stevens

better get going too, Jeanie will wonder what happened to me.”
    Together they walked out to the parking lot then went their separate ways.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN
    A couple days later, Jake pulled his truck up outside Ben's shop. He'd asked if he could borrow some tools so he could change his oil. Ben had told him to just bring the truck into the shop and do it there, so here he was. He went inside looking for Ben.
    "Hey, man." He spotted Ben in the office.
    "Hey, what do you need?"
    "Where do you want me to work?"
    "Just pull it into the bay. I don't have anything there right now. We'll lift it up so we can work a little easier."
    "All right." Jake pulled the truck into the bay, watching Ben for directions and when to stop, then killed the engine. He popped the hood so he wouldn't have to do it later and climbed out.
    Ben lifted the hood and did something, then checked that Jake was clear and started the lift. As the truck slowly rose into the air, Jake gathered tools. When the truck came to a stop above their heads Ben wheeled over a large drum with a drip pan mounted on top. They worked together to change the oil and do a little more routine maintenance on the older truck, chatting and catching up as they worked.
    "What do I owe you?" Jake asked when they'd finished.
    "Nothing." Ben lowered the pickup.
    "Come on. I could see nothing if I'd just used your tools but you supplied the filter and oil too. Let me at least pay for those."
    "Nope." Ben wouldn’t back down. "You're not paying. I get it wholesale and I do all the minor stuff for the family for free. Bigger things I let them pay cost, but no, you're not paying for it."
    "I insist.”
    "If you keep this up, you're gonna piss me off. This is something I can do for my family that costs me next to nothing, so I do. You're family."
    "All right, all right" Jake put his wallet back in his pocket. "I don't want to have to deal with you angry."
    Ben chuckled. "What are you doing tonight?"
    "Going out with your sister." Jake grinned, enjoying the low growl Ben let roll from his throat.
    "Why don't you two come by our place? Jeanie said to invite you over, she wants to spend some time with both of you."
    "Can't tonight. Andrea said something about big plans. Last week I told her where I was taking her was a surprise, wouldn't tell her where we were going all day, or even after I picked her up. It drove her crazy."
    "She's like that. All you have to do is whisper the word secret in her presence and she's on you like a Chihuahua, nipping, bouncing and hounding to find out what it is."
    "You got that right, it was hilarious. Anyway, she's making a big deal out of it being her turn to take me out."
    "Another night then?"
    "Sure. I'll talk to her and see when we both have the time off."
    "Sounds good. Figure it out and give me or Jeanie a call."
    "Will do. Thanks for the oil change."
    "No problem, man.” Ben watched Jake climb into the truck and pull out of the garage.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN
    "S o where we headed?" Jake looked at her.
    "Not telling." Andrea grinned. "You wouldn't tell me, so I'm not telling you." She drove through the quiet streets of town with a destination in mind.
    "Fair, I guess, but I'm not going to try to pry it out of you. Nor will I bounce with excitement like you did."
    Andrea laughed, a full happy laugh. "I don't expect you to." She turned onto an almost empty street and drove a few hundred yards before parking beside an old, run down building.
    "Here?" He looked around, apprehensive.
    "Yep." She got out of the car. "Trust me, I know what I'm doing." She waited for him to join her, hooked one arm into his and walked him inside.
    Inside, Jake saw it was a small diner, old and worn, but clean. She led him to a table and sat down across from him. He looked at her, wary, but she just smiled.
    An older woman, probably mid-60's came up beside them and set two small glasses of water on the table followed by a pair of menus.
    "Hey, how you doing, Andy? It's been a while