Unsteady (The Torqued Trilogy Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

Raven too. “It’s not that you’re doing anything wrong. It’s just that your dad was a business man. He knew how to run a business. You’re still learning.”
    I cross my arms over my chest. “So if I were Lyric Walker … what would I do?”
    Her cheeks warm as if hearing his name sends her heart racing. I know the feeling. “Before he passed, he talked about hiring another mechanic. Maybe it’s time we do that?”
    “Yeah, Tyler and I were just talking about that. He said he was gonna send somebody by and see if they might work out.”
    Mom nods and hands me an application she dug out of the cabinet. “Tell him to give this to him and have it filled out before he comes by.”
    I take the application from her. “Always prepared.”
    My mom smiles then winks at me. “It’s why I run the books, son.” She then hands me my phone. I must have left it in here earlier when I was grabbing a cup of coffee. “Elle called. Nova apparently punched a kid. She wants you to go pick her up.” My mouth gapes open, though I’m not at all surprised she hit someone. My little scrapper is notorious for landing some mean right hooks. I’ve been behind a few. “Want me to go get her?”
    Drawing in a heavy breath, I shake my head. “No, I’ll go. I’ve apparently lost a Camry anyway.”
    “Oh.” She holds up a receipt. “That car left this morning. Colt finished it.”
    That bastard. I specifically asked him where it was.
    Outside the office, I push Colt and throw the repair order from the Camry at him. “Finish the paperwork.”
    He laughs. “Whoops. There’s that car.”
    Grabbing my keys from my toolbox, I pass by Tyler’s stall. Clasping my hand over his back, he smiles, knowing what I’m about to say as I hand him the application. “Give this to Lennon. And... my sister is pissed at you, so bad news for you.”
    Tyler gives me a blank stare as he takes the application, his eyes wandering around the shop looking for my sister, and then landing on mine. “You leavin’?”
    “Gotta go get Nova. I’ll be back in an hour.”
     

    NOVA TURNED FIVE in March, so she wasn’t ready for school just yet, but I just enrolled her to start in September. I can honestly say I’m not prepared for her to start kindergarten. I have enough troubles trying to keep her in daycare. It seems every other day I’m getting called to come get her early or for fighting and her foul language.
    That’s my fault. I’m a bad influence and fuck flies out of my mouth more than civilized conversation does. She’s also been raised around a bunch of mechanics. Kid has a mouth on her for sure.
    “Hey, darlin’,” I say when she’s walking toward the car. She doesn’t wait for me to come inside Elle’s house. Instead, she’s on the front steps with her arms crossed over her chest, scowling at the driveway. “How was your day?”
    I don’t like that she’s waiting outside either with no adult supervision. I mean, Christ, she could have run off. Just as I’m about to say something, Elle’s waving at me through the front window. At least she’d been watching her.
    Nova climbs into the car, jumping over the seat and into the back. “Not awesome,” she huffs, crossing her arms over her chest again as she gestures to the straps on her car seat. “And Dad, I’m five. Can I please get out of this thing?”
    “No. You can’t.” Twisting around in my seat, I buckle her in and then turn back to look out the windshield. “Why did you hit Kale?”
    “I didn’t hit him.”
    Our eyes meet in the review mirror. “Don’t lie to me.”
    “I’m not.” Her eyes meet mine, her little brow scrunching.
    “Then why did Elle call and have me come pick you up?”
    Nova keeps her eyes trained straight ahead as if she knows she can’t look at me now. “She must have seen me punch him.”
    “You said you didn’t hit him.”
    “I didn’t. I punched him,” she clarifies. “There’s a difference.”
    I lay my arm over the front seat