Total pages in book: 18
Estimated words: 16461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 82(@200wpm)___ 66(@250wpm)___ 55(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 16461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 82(@200wpm)___ 66(@250wpm)___ 55(@300wpm)
I study the design further. “You know, this could be applied to more than just tractors. How many cars come in broken down because their owners didn’t change their oil for three years or something?”
“Way too many. I’m surprised so many of them keep running. If you could get something like this in them, though, oil changes would be far more rare. And I don’t think it’d cost the manufacturers much. A bit of metal and plastic, really.”
I stroke my chin. “So why don’t they?”
Windy shrugs again. “Stubbornness? Copyright law? Big Oil Change keeping an idea like this under wraps to sell more oil changes?”
“Or no one’s thought of a way to apply this. Maybe we should take this idea and see if it has any legs. If it works like we think it could and no one’s done it yet? We’ll be millionaires. Imagine this in every new car that comes out. And retrofitting it to old ones? Not just millionaires, billionaires even.”
“For our silly idea?” Windy sighs. “I’m not sure.”
“You always doubt yourself, girl. You’re fucking brilliant. Believe me, I think this can go somewhere. It’ll do great things for both of us.”
“Both of us? It’s your idea mainly.”
“You made it yours as much as it is mine. We should shop this idea around. Together.”
She nibbles her lip. “If... if you’re sure. I guess I should have faith in you, Williams. You’re always a hard worker and you’ve never been lured in by get rich quick schemes. If someone like you thinks this is a good idea? Then it has to be.”
“We’ll let the world know of your brilliance yet.”
“How do we get this out there, then?”
“Your dad runs an auto parts store. Maybe we should run it by him. One, to see if he knows of anything similar, and two, maybe he knows someone that could help us out.”
“My dad knows how to sell things, Williams. He doesn’t know a thing about cars or engines or otherwise.”
“Which is what we need, Wind. He knows the business end, we know the mechanical end. He can give us the knowledge we need.”
I smile her way, and she smiles back. Goddamn, she’s brilliant. She’s beautiful.
She’s perfect.
I love her. As a friend.
And maybe I love her as more than that. But I don’t want to risk losing her. She means so goddamn much to me that I don’t want to ever risk pushing her away. Especially now that she’s finally back in town.
As much joy as she brings me sitting next to me, though, I can’t deny that it also tortures me, knowing that we can’t be closer than this, unless I act.
I can resist telling her how I feel. I have so far, haven’t I? Ten years as friends, what’s the rest of my life without her compared to that, if I screw things up?
2
WINDY
“So you’re certain this’ll do what you say it does?” My father is looking over a more professionally produced schematic that Williams presented him with. We had to do a few jaunts around town to get the proper supplies for it, knowing that we aren’t going to win anyone over with napkin scribblings.
“I don’t see why it wouldn’t. We’ll need some money to produce a prototype and make this a reality though.”
My dad pulls back his ponytail of gray hair and lets out a long sigh. “Hot damn, if this does what you say it does, you’ll sell millions to every car company in the country.”
Williams and I exchange glances, a smile on both our faces.
Coming back to Burly is bittersweet for me. I’m definitely happier being in a small town than the big city, yes, and I’m glad to be away from all that hustle and bustle. But being side by side with Williams again?
It’s awakened feelings in me. Things I don’t want to feel. A romantic relationship with Williams is the most obvious thing in the world, but I’m scared of what will happen if it goes wrong.
Exes staying friends isn’t impossible, but damn, is it rare. It can get so hostile and cold between people, best friends turning into worst enemies. It would devastate me to lose someone who understands me so well, who would do anything for me.
“Hrm,” my father sighs, stroking his chin. “Obviously to get this going, you’re going to need some seed money. Or maybe just an investor. Someone to help you get the materials to build this and test it so you can shop it around and get some contracts going. But if you can get it working, I’m sure it’ll be a success.”
Williams and I loom close to one another, side by side. If we leaned in just a bit more, we’d be kissing one another in celebration of our new venture. Kissing one another because it’s what we both want to do.