Page 9 of EX

I can’t believe how many lies come to me. So easily too.

The craziest part?

For the first time in a really long time… I’m actually excited about something…

Chapter 4

Corbin

The old garageis still standing.

The light is on in the office. The garage bays are closed.

The neonOPENsign is turned off.

I rub my jaw and walk up to the door and grab the knob.

Locked.

I reach into my pocket and pull out a key. An old fucking key.

Amazes me the shit they kept for me while I was away.

I never thought for a second this key would be kept.

And now comes the moment of truth.

There’s no chance the key will still work, right?

I slide the key into the lock and turn.

I actually laugh out loud.

“Stupid fucking Mutt,” I whisper as I open the now unlocked door.

I step into the office and look around. I swear not much has changed over the past decade. The posters that once had bright colors are now faded. Sexy woman, half naked, bent over thehoods of Camaros and Mustangs. Washing the hoods, their huge tits all soapy.

Then the ads for tires and brake pads.

It smells the same too.

Greasy. Moldy.

Smells like home to me.

I can crash upstairs in the apartment for a minute or two.

“Mutt!” I call out but there’s no response.

My cousin is nothing short of a moron. There’s no other way to say it. You’d swear my aunt and uncle were related with the way Mutt turned out.

I walk behind the main counter and look at the collection of worksheets on the desk. The place is still doing a hell of a business. Maybe Mutt isn’t such a moron after all then. He’s good with a wrench. That much anyone could see.

I step toward the door to the bays and open it.

The smell of oil and faded gasoline hits me like a familiar cologne.

Instinctively I reach to my left and find the same light switch that’s been there since the building was erected.