The Friendly Fall (Cinnamon Rolls and Pumpkin Spice #8)

7. Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

Eliza

BZZZZ! BZZZZ!

The sound of power tools startles me right out of my chair and onto the floor.

Ouch .

Thank goodness no one saw that.

I push myself upward, letting out a sigh. I hope Nick finishes the ramp sooner rather than later. I’m already tired of listening to the sounds of the construction.

“Did you see the invite for the photography class?” Granny peeks into my room, wiggling her eyebrows. “She said she sent it over to you on Facebook.”

I smile. “I got it! I RSVP’d a few minutes ago. She must be really gung-ho about it, too, because it’s tomorrow.”

“Well, I think she just loved the idea of you being interested.” Granny giggles.

“Thanks for pulling those strings for me, Granny. I appreciate it.”

“Oh, don’t sweat it.” She waves me off. “Just don’t be surprised if you’re the only one there.”

“That just means more one-on-one time for me.” I smile.

The photography class is just what I need as a distraction. And the prospect of starting something new has me feeling like maybe I made the right decision to move here.

“That’s my girl.” She laughs. “Well, Nick is about done for the evening. But he said it’s going to be a bigger project than he originally expected. Once he gets the old wood torn down, he’s going to do some dirt work.”

“Of course,” I mutter, but keep a smile on my face. “I think he’s just taking his sweet time so he can charge us more money.”

“I think he’s just hanging around because he likes talking to you.”

I shake my head. “Yeah, right.”

“Oh, come on,” Granny urges. “You need to make friends around here especially if you plan to stick around for any length of time. It’s good to know people. You never know when you’ll need their help, or when they could use your help. ”

I hesitate, loving the idea of giving back, but not the idea of trying to make new friends. It’s never been a strong point for me.

But this is supposed to be a fresh start.

I should probably put myself out there more .

“I’ll make friends with Nick,” I finally say, and Granny’s face illuminates with a smile. I don’t read into it, and get back to my work, doing my best to look like I’m busy.

I don’t feel like making friends right this second.

The alarm on my phone goes off, but I’m already ready to go to class. My new camera is packed away in a chic camera bag I found discounted on Amazon (turns out they do deliver to the middle of nowhere), which conveniently fits my laptop and a notepad as well.

I stuff everything I can fit inside to cover my bases—just in case.

I sling the bag over my shoulder and step in front of the full-length mirror for one last outfit check before leaving. I went with faded jeans and a burnt orange flannel. My blonde hair falls just below my shoulders, and while minimal, I do have makeup on for a change.

I’m feeling … fall-ish.

This is the first real outing I’ve had since arriving in West Falls about a week ago. Up until now, I haven’t been ready to show my face in the community .

Figured I’d let the dust settle on the gossip surrounding my embarrassing first day in town.

“You look very pretty,” Granny says as I enter the kitchen a few moments later. “If any boys are there, they’ll be drooling over you.”

“I don’t think so,” I say quickly, shaking my head. I’ve never been the girl that stood out, per se. “But thanks,” I add, remembering to be polite and take the compliment. My eyes lift toward the front window, just to double-check that my plan is working out accordingly.

Phew. He’s not here yet.

I don’t mind running into Nick, but it’s just easier not to.

I blame the fact that he had to rescue me from the mid-landing of an access ramp for my avoidance.

I grab a cookie from the plate on the counter and inhale it, barely having time to savor the sweet, pumpkin spice flavor.

“You know we could’ve just eaten some dinner beforehand,” Granny points out, raising an eyebrow at me.

I eye her as I grab a paper towel to wipe my mouth. “Yeah, I know.”

“You’re leaving kind of early.”

I shrug. “I’m planning to take my time and explore a bit. I haven’t gotten out much since I got here.”

“You haven’t gotten out at all .” Granny laughs. Her white hair bounces against her shoulders, and I can’t help but hope my hair is that luscious when I’m her age. Everything about my granny sparkles, including her hot pink blouse that looks like someone went a little crazy with bejeweling it .

“Love you, Granny,” I say to my still-cackling grandmother as I head for the door. “I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”

“Have fun. Love ya!” she calls from the kitchen as I rip open the front door. I take in the sight of the porch, remnants of the old ramp, and the temporary aluminum one. I hate to be a critic, but Nick is moving slow. I’m pretty sure Chicago construction workers could have built a whole skyscraper in this amount of time.

Okay, not literally, but still. I’m not going to complain. Maybe he’s a busy guy and doesn’t have a lot of time to work on it. After all, he’s a firefighter, too, right? Maybe he’s out saving another woman who fell through a rotten ramp.

My white Vans crunch through some of the leaves that have freshly fallen as I make my way to my car. I hit the unlock button on the key fob, but nothing happens. Annoyed, but not worried, I use the key to open the door, and slide in. I set the camera bag into the passenger seat, stick the key in the ignition, and turn it…

But nothing happens.

“What the heck?” I mutter, turning it again. The engine doesn’t even sputter. “It’s dead.” I groan and shake my head. More than likely, I forgot to turn off the headlights or something. Leaving my bag where it’s at, I slide out and jog back to the house.

“Well, that was a short class,” Granny teases as I step into the kitchen.

“My car is dead. I think it’s the battery, but I don’t know for sure.”

“Take the truck then,” Granny says with a smile, nodding toward the keys hanging on a little rack by her landline .

A little intimidated, but not about to give up and miss my class, I grab the keys and tell her thanks before jogging back out to my car and grabbing my bag.

When I open the door to the nineties model Ford parked on the right side of my Hyundai, my heart sinks.

I can’t drive a stick shift. Does Granny drive this thing?

I sit and ponder for a moment. Considering this truck is her only vehicle, I’m going to say that she can, and does, drive it. “I guess she’ll have to drive me to class tonight,” I mutter.

Just as I turn around, I see Nick pulling into the yard in his white work truck.

So much for missing him…

And now he gets to witness my grandma driving me to class.

Great.

I straighten my shoulders, trying to convince myself that it’s no big deal, and head back to the house for the third time…

But I don’t make it.

“Hey!” Nick greets me with a warm smile. “You look a little stressed.”

“Uh … thanks?” I stop next to my car.

He chuckles. “Car trouble?”

I narrow my eyes at him, ignoring the way his tight burgundy Henley clings to his biceps. “How’d you know?”

“Maybe the open doors and two sets of keys?” he offers, shrugging his shoulders as he heads around to the back of his truck. “You want some help? ”

“Well…” I begin, my eyes darting to the house and then back to Nick.

I have two options: suffer the embarrassment of Granny giving me a ride, or take his help. I’m not sure which is worse.

“Is it your car, or the truck?”

My shoulders sag. “My car. I think the battery is dead. Granny was gonna lend me her truck but I can’t … I can’t drive a stick shift.”

Nick nods, not remotely reacting in the way I thought he would. “Well, let’s fix one thing at a time, starting with your car. I have jumper cables.” I watch as he grabs the cables and then hops back into his truck, pulling it up close to my car’s hood. “Go pop the hood, please.”

“Right.” I rush to my car and do as he instructs, pulling the lever.

Nick expertly connects the red and black cables to the corresponding terminals of both cars, his hands moving with precision born out of familiarity. As he finishes the connection, he gestures for me to try starting my car.

I slide into the driver’s seat, my heart pounding with anticipation. I turn the key in the ignition, crossing my fingers that it will roar to life, but all that greets me is a feeble clicking sound.

Nick frowns slightly, his brow furrowing in concentration. “Looks like your battery is completely drained,” he remarks, his voice tinged with sympathy. “You’ll need a new one.”

“Great,” I mutter, running a hand through my hair. “Just what I needed. ”

Nick studies me for a moment before easing himself out of his truck. “Where ya headed?”

“I’m going to the photography class at the high school.”

“Oh, I heard about that. My best friend’s wife, Vanessa, is going. What time does the class start?”

“Six thirty. I was hoping to get there early, but I’m not sure how that’s gonna happen now.”

He looks at his watch. “You’ve still got a solid forty minutes, and the high school is only five minutes from here. Pretty sure you could walk at a snail’s pace and still make it there early,” he quips.

My mouth drops open. “Are you being sarcastic ? I didn’t think you had it in you. I mean, I fell through the ramp and you were nothing but nice about it. But now I’m positive you were secretly laughing at me.”

Nick looks confused for a moment. “Why in the world would I laugh at you? There wasn’t anything funny about you falling through that ramp. People can get seriously injured when that kind of thing happens.”

“Well, it was embarrassing, to say the least,” I mutter, fumbling with the hem of my flannel. It’s weird being this transparent, but there’s something about Nick that’s suddenly making it easy to overshare.

“You really shouldn’t feel embarrassed.” Nick’s voice is soft. “I’ve seen way worse. This one time, there was this drunk guy who decided to go skinny dipping. He then climbed a tree— naked— and then couldn’t figure out how to get down. You falling through a bad landing was nothing in comparison to that.”

“Okay, maybe you’re right,” I say, relaxing as a giggle slips from my lips. “At least I wasn’t naked.”

Nick is quiet for just a split second but then laughs. “ Anyway …” His voice trails off. “How about this? I know a place nearby where we can get a good deal on a new battery. Let’s go pick one up. I’ll drop you off at class and then come back here and install it, so your car will be good as new next time you need it.”

“Oh no, I couldn’t let you go through all that trouble,” I protest. “I’m sure Granny can take me.”

Nick chuckles, a warm smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “It’s no trouble at all. Really. I could give you a little tour of town while we’re at it. I’m a great tour guide, and it’s not often I get to show a newcomer my town.”

“Well, I do need a new battery,” I concede. “And a tour of the town does sound intriguing. But … we gotta make it quick, okay?”

“Lucky for you, this town is the size of a postage stamp,” he jokes, his laughter infectious.

I find myself smiling back. “All right, let’s do it.”

Nick’s smile widens as he gestures for me to hop into his truck. I grab my camera bag, settle into the passenger seat and buckle up. He takes off down the road, the engine rumbling beneath us.

As we drive, Nick points out various landmarks: the quaint bookstore run by an elderly couple, the diner known for its famous pie, the local church, and the park where residents gather for summer concerts. People wave at Nick as we pass by, and he returns the greetings with a friendly nod and a smile.

I’m a long way from Chicago…

“And this is Main Street.” He gestures toward the row of charming shops passing by on either side. They are a mix of old and new buildings, with colorful awnings and flower boxes adorning the windows. “Over there, is Parker’s Pizza Parlor—best pizza in town, hands down.”

I raise a brow. “How many pizza places are in West Falls, exactly?”

“Believe it or not we have three. Parker’s is the only one worth mentioning, though.” He chuckles as we drive past the inviting pizza parlor adorned with twinkling lights and colorful umbrellas on the outdoor patio. “But they do it right. You’ll have to try a slice sometime.”

I nod, a small smile playing on my lips. I doubt it holds a candle to Chicago style pizza, but I’ll never know unless I try it, I suppose.

“To your right is my family’s hardware store, Walters Hardware.” Nick glances over at me with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. “If you ever need a hammer or nails, you know where to find them.”

I chuckle, feeling more at ease than I have all day. “Good to know. I’ll keep that in mind for my next home improvement project.”

“Stop by any time. And when you do, be sure to grab some ice cream next door at Mrs. Henderson’s shop. Her homemade ice cream is a town favorite,” Nick adds with a grin. “One scoop is never enough. ”

Despite the unexpected turn of events with my car, spending time with Nick, and getting a glimpse of the town hasn’t turned out to be so bad after all.

A minute later, the truck comes to a smooth stop in front of the auto parts store just past Main Street, and Nick jumps out before rounding to my side and holding the door open for me. “Let’s go find that battery.”

We enter the store, greeted by the faint smell of motor oil and rubber. Nick heads straight to the counter where an older man with a friendly face stands, wiping his hands on a rag.

“Hey, Tom! This is my new friend, Eliza Willis. She just moved to town, and we need a new battery for her car,” Nick says, nodding in my direction.

“Welcome to West Falls, Eliza,” Tom greets me, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “I’m Tom, and I run this place. You’re in good hands with Nick here. Let’s get you sorted with that battery.”

“Thank you! It’s nice to meet you, Tom,” I reply with a smile, grateful for the warm welcome. He asks me a few questions about my car before disappearing into the back and returning with a brand-new battery.

“This one should do the trick. And it’s thirty percent off today since you brought my good friend Nick along,” Tom says, a kind smile on his face.

“Wow, thank you both so much for all your help,” I say, feeling overwhelmed by their kindness as I pay for the battery .

Nick grabs it and heads toward the door, holding it open for me once again. “Now let’s get you to class.”

We hop in his truck and head back toward the high school, the new battery riding shotgun between my feet. The sun is beginning its slow descent, casting a warm golden glow over the town as we drive. The fall weather has painted the trees hues of red, orange, and gold, creating a picturesque scene.

“Be on the lookout for my best friend’s wife tonight. I think you two will hit it off. Her name’s Vanessa Morrow.”

“Okay, I’ll look for her.”

“She shouldn’t be hard to find.” He chuckles as we pull into the high school parking lot. “ All right , we’re here with ten whole minutes to spare.” Nick beams, putting the truck in park.

“Impressive,” I reply, a grin tugging at my lips.

“Now I’m gonna head back to your Granny’s house and get this battery installed. But here, let me give you my number.” Nick pulls out a bright red Walters Hardware branded business card with his name and cell phone number on it from his glove compartment and hands it to me. “Whenever class is over, just shoot me a text and I’ll come pick you up.”

“Thank you, Nick. Really. You’re a lifesaver.”

“Well, maybe sometimes, but this time, I’m a carsaver ,” Nick jokes, shooting me a wink. I can’t hold back my laughter. “And just so you know, I’d be happy to teach you how to drive a stick shift sometime. You know, in case you ever need to drive your Granny’s truck.”

“I might have to take you up on that.”

“Great! I’ll see you later, Eliza.”

“See you later.”