
Miles stands in the garage while the boys huddle around his phone, laughing hard enough to shake the hoods they’re leaning on. Every few seconds another ping lights up the screen. New likes, new shares, some stranger calling him America’s blue-collar fantasy. Miles tries to laugh along but the sound feels stuck in his throat. Angel watches from behind the lift. She folds her arms tight across her chest and keeps wiping her hands on the same rag. Then Sheen sweeps in wearing a suit that costs more than any car they’re working on. He talks fast, tosses words like “exclusive” and “branding” like coins across the floor. Miles keeps nodding. Every nod makes Angel’s stomach sink a little lower. Later her phone buzzes. The video she never wanted to see plays without sound. Miles and Hazel, mouths locked under garage lights. Angel’s thumb freezes above the replay button. Something in her face goes still. Blocks away, Hazel waits for a bus that isn’t coming. A red Camaro slides to the curb. Celeste leans over, window down, all gloss and gold hoops. They trade a long look, both certain they’ve met somewhere before. Celeste shrugs, pushes the passenger door open, and Hazel climbs in. Celeste’s apartment smells like vanilla and candle smoke. She doesn’t ask questions. Hazel answers with her hands instead, sliding Celeste’s dress up slow until the fabric bunches at her waist. Celeste answers with her mouth pressed to Hazel’s neck, teeth light, breath warm. They move to the couch without hurry. Hazel pushes two fingers deep, curls them until Celeste’s hips lift off the cushions. Celeste laughs once, short and surprised, then grabs Hazel’s hair and pulls her down for another kiss. No one speaks. The only sounds are skin against skin and the faint creak of leather under their weight.
Miles stands in the garage while the boys huddle around his phone, laughing hard enough to shake the hoods they’re leaning on. Every few seconds another ping lights up the screen. New likes, new shares, some stranger calling him America’s blue-collar fantasy. Miles tries to laugh along but the sound feels stuck in his throat. Angel watches from behind the lift. She folds her arms tight across her chest and keeps wiping her hands on the same rag. Then Sheen sweeps in wearing a suit that costs more than any car they’re working on. He talks fast, tosses words like “exclusive” and “branding” like coins across the floor. Miles keeps nodding. Every nod makes Angel’s stomach sink a little lower. Later her phone buzzes. The video she never wanted to see plays without sound. Miles and Hazel, mouths locked under garage lights. Angel’s thumb freezes above the replay button. Something in her face goes still. Blocks away, Hazel waits for a bus that isn’t coming. A red Camaro slides to the curb. Celeste leans over, window down, all gloss and gold hoops. They trade a long look, both certain they’ve met somewhere before. Celeste shrugs, pushes the passenger door open, and Hazel climbs in. Celeste’s apartment smells like vanilla and candle smoke. She doesn’t ask questions. Hazel answers with her hands instead, sliding Celeste’s dress up slow until the fabric bunches at her waist. Celeste answers with her mouth pressed to Hazel’s neck, teeth light, breath warm. They move to the couch without hurry. Hazel pushes two fingers deep, curls them until Celeste’s hips lift off the cushions. Celeste laughs once, short and surprised, then grabs Hazel’s hair and pulls her down for another kiss. No one speaks. The only sounds are skin against skin and the faint creak of leather under their weight.