Free Lonely Heart by MJ Kane

reached her apartment. Though I’d gotten to know more about her, I had no right to demand she do.
    She tilted her head to the side and smiled. “I’ll be fine. Trust me, if I wasn’t comfortable with drivin’, I’d ask you to take me home. I’m independent, not stupid.”
    I chuckled. “I’ll see you around. Don’t forget…call me if you need me.”
    Kaitlyn studied me. “I will. Bye, Antonio.”
    I watched as she drove off. Not ready to go back inside, I leaned against the column of the building, stuffed my hands in my pockets. My fingers grazed the packet of gum so I popped a piece in my mouth.
    Kaity.
    Pretty. Interesting. Entertaining.
    Single.
    Pregnant.
    Baggage.
    I rubbed my eyes. How could she be more interesting than Gina, a woman I’d known for years who was single, sexy, and childless?
    And no longer held my attention.
    “Tio, Tio!” Julio ran in my direction. I squatted down and opened my arms to catch the thirty pound ball of flying nephew. I stood, tossed him over my back, and spun around. Laughter and shrieks filled the air.
    Family. Some people just didn’t know what they were missing.
     

Chapter 12
     
    “Your brothers are complete assholes.”
    “Tell me something I don’t already know, Antonio,” Fernando replied. His attention waning, he nearly dropped the spot light.
    “Hey, move it over to the left.” I leaned further into the wide cavity of the nineteen-seventy Chevy Chevelle SS. The project car was my baby, a gift from my uncle who understood my love of old school American muscle. I worked on it as often as possible. Thankfully, Tio didn’t mind me storing it in an unused bay of the garage. My desire to complete the project was a labor of love, one of the few dreams I could make happen.
    If I couldn’t open my own shop, then this would suffice.
    “Let me get this straight, your brothers said they weren’t going to help you get a job, you’re on your own. Does that mean you’re ready to grow a pair and do your own thing?” I grunted; the rusted fuel line seemed fused in place. Age old rust broke off in my hand. I dusted my hands off on my overalls while reevaluating my approach. “I mean, Fernando, you’re twenty-five.”
    “And my brothers still treat me like we’re kids. I’m tired of it.”
    I laughed. “You weren’t complaining back then, spoiled brat. I don’t understand how your father let you guys get like that.”
    We both looked at each other. “Madre,” we said in unison.
    “Papi always let her have her way. I swear she’s got him by the short hairs.”
    “And he takes it out on everyone else at the shop.” We both looked around, hoping my uncle was not in hearing range, then laughed. “Where is the old man, anyway?”
    Fernando glanced around. The shop had closed an hour earlier. We were the only two left in the garage. “Last time I saw him, he was headed to his office.”
    I sighed, stood up, and stretched. “This is taking longer than I thought.” It had been a long day and my back ached. Time to call it quits. I gathered my tools, put them back in my box, engaged the lock, then walked back and closed the hood.
    Fernando gathered the loose items, disposing of the trash and broken parts. “By the way, I checked out the mechanics school you told me about. I enrolled. Classes start in a month.”
    I clapped. “That’s what I’m talking about. Have you told your father? He’ll be excited.”
    “No, I’m telling him tonight. I hoped you’d go with me.” He appeared nervous.
    “You don’t need me. The name of the shop is Alvarez and Sons . He started this business hoping you guys would take over one day. Telling him you’re making moves to do so will have him up and dancing.” I glanced over my shoulder; Fernando was horrified. I walked over, slapped him on the back. “When you’re ready, I’ll step aside for you to take over. This is your family’s business.”
    “Y tu eres familia,” he returned the back slap with a punch to