i

se is taken from our dad, Tomás, but the vandalism keeps increasing i

ng you were proud to brag about. We were shunned by both worlds, but we did have a small niche in th

il

r glass window. At least my dad did not see this one. For as

gh we love American muscle, it's the imports that pay the bills, so we worked hard to

dad's legs sticking out from under his project car. He works on it

e frozen tamales you lik

about whether the exercise was worthwhile. My dad gives me a thumbs-up but

working on something at the computer, and

nd tell me when I can fit in a front qu

. "You're kidding, right? You

eeping the lights on like a lot of the other locations in

ded with this moron who wasn't watching where he was

ad as she starts thumbing through the books. She

cquire parts, you can do it next Thursday, but you'

of the ordinary the

at

w. Looked new. I'l

s working while I bring the gro

Julian Ashford. I reprinted it an

r 12

Moreno Custom Garage. W

i Douch

t's this ye

r 12

ring it by n

i Douch

What

r 12

I'll have to keep i

i Douch

ll bring it

riends that I used to have because I'm never free to hang out. I'm in the shop seven days a week. And yet, vandals

n I see a flash of white out of the corner of my eye. I head shake. Who is going to buy that car in white? I rein in the judgment

my mind in a flash, and I notice the guy resembling

ce all scream trust fund. Another suit. The way the material sits at his wrists and ankles puts me pretty much in a position of cert

I walk over to the open garag

he states, s

ondescension in his tone, so I try to relax. What is

esn't let go with his fingertips on my palm as he releases t

It's just a car. I'm

has an extra hundred grand to lose

meant. His stare is almost deliberate, like he's rehearsing every word in his head before opening his

ey didn't drive their '69 'Vette i

ause he has my dream car, and more because he does

lies aggressively, throwing into

this guy figures out he doesn't want me putting my hands on hi

up this auto

call you when

adorns a pretty woman who is driving and smiles at him as he buckles his seatbelt. I wish I could do what he does and

li

ng on a conference call because Trenton Vale wasn't concerned with the east coast of the U.S. to Japan time differenc

River's taunting skin I caught sight of yest

I would have wished, and trying to sleep now would be po

the building's lobby where my family lives. But then when I go to charge for my salmon bagel a

t home." I smile at the beautiful barista who never fails to be chee

." She smiles and hands