The Heart System

Chapter 739: Chapter 739

Amelia reversed out of the parking space slowly, checking each mirror before easing the car into the empty lanes of the parking lot.

”This thing with Anotta,” I said as I looked out the window. ”Shit really hit the fan, huh?”

She let out a tired sigh. ”You have no idea, Evan. This project is a lot.”

”If only she knew how to keep her mouth shut.” I shook my head before pointing ahead. ”Let’s try over there. Practice some parallel parking.”

”Okay.”

She drove toward an empty space between two parked cars and slowed to a stop. After lining the car up beside the vehicle in front, she shifted into reverse and carefully began backing in.

I watched the mirrors with her while glancing toward the passenger-side corner. ”Keep coming.”

She nodded and continued reversing.

”A little more.”

The rear bumper kept creeping toward the parked car beside us.

I reached over and pulled the handbrake. The car jerked to a stop.

Amelia flinched and turned to me with wide eyes. ”I was doing good!”

”Were you?” I asked with a smile. ”Go outside and check the car on the right.”

”I will.”

She unbuckled her seatbelt, stepped outside, and walked around to my side of the car. The moment she looked at the gap between the two vehicles, her shoulders slumped. A few seconds later she climbed back into the driver’s seat with a defeated sigh.

”See?”

”Yeah.” She rested both hands on the steering wheel. ”It looked so easy online.”

”It is easy in real life too. You just need experience, that’s all.”

”I guess.”

”Alright. Pull forward and try again. Leave a little more space from the parked car, and don’t start turning the wheel so early.”

”Okay.”

She shifted into drive and carefully pulled forward.

”Good. Stop there.”

She stopped.

”Now put it in reverse.”

She shifted gears.

”Keep the wheel straight.”

The car rolled backward.

”Good. Keep going.”

She continued reversing slowly.

”Now start turning.”

She rotated the wheel.

”Not that much. Half a turn back.”

She corrected it.

”Perfect. Keep reversing.”

The rear of the car slipped neatly into the parking space.

”Straighten the wheel.”

She did.

”Now keep backing up.”

The car settled almost perfectly between the two vehicles.

”One turn left.”

She followed the instruction.

”Now move forward just a little.”

She eased the car ahead.

”There. Stop.”

She shifted into park and looked over at me.

”How was that?”

I clapped twice with a grin. ”See? It was easy.”

A small smile appeared on her face. ”It was.”

”Now let’s keep driving.”

She pulled out of the parking space and continued around the lot.

After a few quiet moments, she let out a relieved breath. ”I missed this.”

”Driving the car or my unusual charm?”

She let out a soft laugh before her usual serious expression returned as she focused on the road. ”I’ll let you wonder.”

I smiled and leaned back in my seat. ”Fair enough.”

Oh, and two points from her. Nice.

══════════════════

WOMEN - INTERACTIONS

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Jasmine: Interest: 40 / 60

Kayla: Interest: 38 / 40

Tessa: Interest: 40 / 60

Kim: Interest: 100 / 100

Delilah: Interest: 100 / 100

Cora: Interest: 100 / 100

Mendy: Interest: 24 / 40

Nala: Interest: 100 / 100

Penelope: Interest: 25 / 40

Minne: Interest: 38 / 40

Ivy: Interest: 65 / 80

Eleanor: Interest: 25 / 40

Amelia: Interest: 14 / 20

Esme: Interest: 72 / 80

══════════════════

”Good.” I muttered. ”Now let’s try that spot, okay?”

She nodded. ”Yes, Sir...”

⟁ ⟁ ⟁

It was six by the time we finally got home. Traffic had been terrible, and beach day was supposed to start in an hour. On top of that, I was meeting Luna later in the evening.

Busy day.

I wasn’t complaining, though. I’d actually missed swimming. The city’s weather had been awful lately, and spending a day by the sea sounded like exactly what I needed.

”I’m taking a shower,” Kim said with a tired exhale. ”Wanna join me, Evan?”

”Nope.” I waved a hand. ”I’m just going to lie down for a bit and maybe take a short nap.”

Nala closed the front door behind us and watched me shuffle toward the living room. ”Look at him. First day back at work and he’s already exhausted.”

”Unemployment really stuck to him, I tell you.” Tessa laughed. ”Just look at him.”

Jasmine tilted her head. ”Something wrong with your leg? You’re limping a little.”

”Oh, nah.” I shrugged. ”Probably just stepped wrong.”

”And now he can’t even walk properly,” Tessa continued with a grin.

”I’ll make you unable to walk if you keep talking, Mrs. Tessa.”

She placed a hand against her chest dramatically. ”And now he’s threatening a lady.”

Kim bumped her shoulder. ”Lady? That’s a new one.”

I chuckled as I stretched out across the double couch.

”God... this feels nice.”

My phone buzzed in my pocket. Groaning, I lifted myself just enough to pull it out. Kayla. She was asking if beach day was still happening.

I replied with a thumbs-up emoji, tossed the phone onto my chest, and closed my eyes again.

”Master,” Minne called from the kitchen. ”Would you like me to bring your dinner here if you’re too tired?”

”Nah, I’ll come. Just give me ten minutes.”

”Of course, Master.”

”Minne,” Kim called from her bedroom, ”where’s that beach ball I bought?”

”It’s in the master bedroom, Mrs. Kim.”

”Thanks. Did you let Delilah know we’ll be out in an hour, hon?”

Minne shook her head. ”I... I don’t have her phone number. I’m sorry.”

”Oh, right. I’ll call her.”

”Is Eleanor coming too?” Jasmine asked as she plugged her phone into the charger. ”If so I’ll go and fetch her up.”

”Yep,” Tessa replied.

”Can you ask if she’s hungry as well, Mrs. Jasmine?” Minne added. ”I’ll prepare another plate if she is.”

”Got it.”

I smiled to myself.

Beach day.

The sea, warm sand, a few cold beers, and the girls.

That sounded like the perfect way to unwind. If we found a quiet enough spot, I might even sneak in a short nap before meeting Luna later that evening.

”Yeah... beach day, huh...”

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