Read Online Watercolor by Leigh Talbert Moore - Free Book Online Page A

fixed today,” he said, catching my mouth with his. “You won’t have to drive next Friday.”
    “Will I have to push?” I grinned, tightening my arms over his.
    “Please. No post-mortems.”
    I laughed. “It wasn’t that bad. I found it very… educational!”
    “Great. That’s exactly how I’d like you to think of me.”
    I let him go. “See you this afternoon.”
    I took off for class, thinking about my plan to visit Mr. Kyser’s office and strategize. If he and Ms. LaSalle were seeing each other again, I could let him know about the car breakdown and see if that had any influence on their decision to tell Julian the truth.
    Then I thought about the Audi Mr. Kyser drove and Will’s BMW. Jack said he wasn’t into cars, and he drove Will’s old Jeep because he preferred a sailboat. But even Lucy had a new car. Surely Julian’s dad would spring for something reliable for his other son.
    But it was more than cars, I thought, my brow creasing. I saw how it stung when Wade made that crack about Julian’s dad. It hurt me seeing Julian’s face. I had no idea what it would be like to grow up without one of my parents—without even knowing who he or she was. Clearly, it bothered Julian, and from the tone I heard in Mr. Kyser’s voice this morning, it bothered his dad, too. We had to get through to Ms. LaSalle.
     

Chapter 8

    Blake Fausak was a big guy with light brown hair and a friendly disposition. He was also a pro at fixing cars, and Julian and I sat back and watched as he skillfully took the T-bird apart piece by piece at my house.
    “Seen that new Lexus?” He happily chatted as he worked. “LFA? Zero to sixty in three point six seconds. It’s their flagship model now. Four hundred thousand dollars.”
    “That’s crazy,” Julian said, twirling a socket wrench. He looked at tools as potential objets d’art , and I absolutely loved him for it. “Who spends that kind of money on a car?”
    “Man, I’d love to get my hands on one,” Blake continued. “Light, too. I read it’s a little over three thousand pounds. Got a V10 engine.”
    “What’s it made of?” That got Julian’s attention, and I tried to listen and learn, although I didn’t plan to suggest his dad buy him a four hundred thousand dollar car.
    “They started with some spaceage aluminum,” Blake went on. “But switched over to carbon fiber.”
    Julian nodded.
    “Think you could work on that?” Blake asked.
    “Probably,” Julian said. “You think they’ll get one at the showroom in Sterling?”
    Blake snorted a laugh. “Doubtful. But maybe. I’ll check on it and we can get dressed up and see if they’ll let us give her a test drive.”
    Julian laughed. “Think we can beat them to the border?”
    “With 552 horsepower?” Blake cried, pulling out another tool. I was clueless as to what he was doing. “No sweat. You like margaritas, right?”
    “Tequila,” Julian answered.
    Blake continued working a moment in silence.
    “Hey, Blake,” I jumped in. “What’s your ideal car? Like if you could drive anything?”
    “Anything?” He pulled out a hose and examined it.
    “Within reason,” I added quickly.
    “Hmm… probably a BMW 3-series. That is a sweet ride.”
    “Really?” My brow creased. “Why?”
    “Just a good all-around car,” he said, bending the black hose and looking closely. “Positive steering, rear-wheel drive, fast, but decent gas mileage. And it looks… so fine.”
    At that last part, he looked up, and his eyebrows rose. His face took on a dreamy expression, and I grinned. “I’ll have to start paying more attention.”
    “Okay, here’s the problem.” Blake showed us the hose that even I could tell was bad. “Fuel line. You’re lucky you made it home. When this goes, nothing happens.”
    “Got what you need to fix it?” Julian asked.
    “Yep, hang on.” Blake walked back to his truck, and I looked over at Julian.
    “Dad was right,” I smiled.
    Julian leaned over and bumped my