Missed

Realizing that the task was suddenly on Ryan, Axel rolls his eyes. These guys were impossible. "Hang on, I'll..." Too late. Ryan had taken it. Axel throws Jed a withering look only to receive a blank stare in response.

Alec really hadn't expected to be waited upon by Ryan. Maybe he'd hoped he might see her... just for a moment... which might explain why he hadn't chosen an auto shop closer to home. But as Ryan approaches and smiles, he can't help it that his stomach does a flip. How many times had he shown up here to take her to lunch? How many times had he been greeted right here in front of all the guys, with a hug and a kiss? Today there could be... nothing. And though Ryan smiled, she was doing her job, and that was it.

Lowering his gaze, Alec rolls a pebble around under his foot. "Um... it's just my bike." He thumbs to the parking lot. "I can't figure out what's wrong with it and... just wanted an estimate I guess. I can't.... well, I can't afford much."

He looks back up to her again, trying to give her a small smile, but not knowing if he succeeded. Oh how he missed her.