Wrecked love hollows gar.., p.1
Wrecked Love (Hollows Garage Book 2), page 1
WRECKED LOVE
HOLLOWS GARAGE
BOOK 2
KATE CREW
Copyright © 2023 by Kate Crew
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
Cover Designer: Books and Moods at booksandmoods.com
Trigger Warnings: Sexual content (Consensual), Panic attacks, Acts and references to domestic violence, illegal activities, References to car wrecks, Violence, & Explicit Language.
For those with scars, physical or unseen, this book is dedicated to your resilience and strength.
Beauty thrives amidst the marks of a life lived fully.
CONTENTS
1. Ash
2. Fox
3. Ash
4. Fox
5. Fox
6. Ash
7. Fox
8. Ash
9. Ash
10. Ash
11. Fox
12. Ash
13. Fox
14. Ash
15. Ash
16. Fox
17. Ash
18. Ash
19. Fox
20. Ash
21. Fox
22. Ash
23. Ash
24. Ash
25. Fox
26. Fox
27. Ash
28. Fox
29. Ash
30. Ash
31. Ash
32. Ash
33. Ash
34. Fox
35. Ash
36. Ash
37. Ash
38. Ash
39. Ash
40. Fox
41. Ash
42. Fox
43. Ash
44. Fox
45. Ash
46. Fox
47. Ash
Epilogue
Also by Kate Crew
ASH’S PLAYLIST
King of My Heart / Taylor Swift *
Willow / Taylor Swift
Grave / Nessa Barrett
Midnight Rain / Taylor Swift
Mad Woman / Taylor Swift
A Little Messed Up / June
Dirty Thoughts / Chloe Adams
Goddess / Xana
Killing Boys / Halsey
Read the Room / ELIO
Mastermind / Taylor Swift
Black Widow / In This Moment
Cowboy Like Me / Taylor Swift
Villian / Bella Poarch
FOX’S PLAYLIST
Reckless / Jaxson Gamble
Bad Guys / Billie Ellish
The Fighter / In this Moment
Bonfire / Phix *
Sick of me too / Lonr.
Nervous / NOT A TOY
Tailspin / For You
Horns / Bryce Fox
Anti - Hero / Taylor Swift
Something to Lose / June
When you say my name / Chandler Leighton
I follow / LOI
Labyrinth / Taylor Swift
Vicious - Bohnes
ONE
ASH
The last time I was out at this club, dancing to the beat under these pulsing lights, it was to celebrate a win. To celebrate being rich, popular, and a top racer in my events that week. It was to celebrate how perfect my life had been at that moment.
Or at least how perfect I thought it was.
Now I was here only to force myself out of my apartment after weeks on end spent locked up alone inside. It was my choice, of course. Ever since the accident, I didn’t want to be anywhere but home.
I grabbed another water, eyeing the guy who seemed to think he had a shot with me tonight.
He had that ‘I’m going to get lucky’ glint in his eye, and I almost felt bad at how sure he seemed of it. The moment he started talking about his band and how awesome he was, I knew it was game over.
Not that there was much hope in the first place.
I wasn’t into musicians, and definitely didn’t have any interest in guys that only talked about themselves.
I downed my water, and made my way back to the dance floor to let myself get lost in the music, trying to have some fun, but not even five minutes later, my chest tightened, and I knew what was coming.
It had been eight months since my accident, and I still couldn't push myself to one hundred percent. Most days I couldn’t make it to sixty percent. Even if my body didn’t protest, I could feel the panic attack building in my chest, and I knew I'd reached my limit.
I don’t know why I thought this would be fun.
Another guy stepped in front of me as I walked off the dance floor, grinding against me like I’d invited him. I pushed him back, the tightening getting worse, pulling at the muscles in my arm now.
The panic was going to take me if I didn’t get out of the crowd.
I should have stayed home. I used to love this, but now I only wanted movies and the safety of my bed.
I finally made it to the table, falling back and taking a breath. I hated that even in the strobing lights and ear-splitting music, the world around me felt dull. I wasn’t interested in being here any longer and somehow that felt like the last tie to my old life breaking. It wasn’t a freeing feeling like I would have hoped for.
It was a death.
I knew now that I could never be that same person again, but it left me wondering who I was now.
I used to love coming here, dancing away the stress, and having fun with my friends. I was trying to hold on to the pieces of my past that I loved, but none of it gave me the same feeling.
Aside from the panic attacks, I seemed to feel nothing at all anymore. The realization was more upsetting than I could have imagined.
It made me worried about what would happen when I tried to race again. The nagging fear that the thing I always loved would never bring me joy again.
I wanted my life back.
“What’s up?” Celina asked, sitting next to me as I took deep breaths. “Not taking one of those cute ones home?”
“Nope. One talked about himself, one asked to kiss me, and the other just grabbed my ass and went ‘Hell Yeah!’ which is really not a turn on,” I said, taking short, shallow breaths. I focused every part of my mind on breathing and talking to her, trying to make the panic subside before it took over. It had happened so many times since the wreck that I knew if I caught it early I would be able to stop it, but I only had seconds to try to gain any control over my body before I spiraled.
“What’s wrong with the kisser?”
“He literally walked up and asked out of nowhere. Maybe flirt for a second before asking to kiss someone? I don’t know, give it some sort of effort.”
“Sounds like you’re being picky.”
“Sounds like it because I am. I’m sick of fuck boys.”
“That's new,” she said with a giggle. I did always like the confident, upbeat attitude of the everyday fuck boy, but it was one more thing that had lost its appeal now.
“Well, lucky for you, you won’t have to go home alone tonight,” Aubrey said.
“I want to go home alone tonight.”
I had barely been out of my apartment in weeks, aside from my two college courses and the grocery store.
I hardly counted myself in college, but I was taking my business courses as seriously as possible, knowing I would need every bit of help I could get in my life.
I needed to start getting out into the world again, but pushing to get ready had felt like dragging myself out of mud. The thought of taking someone home now sounded like hell. The thought of the small talk alone made me want to run away.
I came out tonight for a break from hiding myself away, not to hook up with a random guy. I hadn’t even thought about guys in months, and I was careful tonight to be inconspicuous, from leaving my car at the apartment to telling my friends not to let anyone else know I was coming out with them.
It was all to stay away from David, which, these days, meant staying away from my dad. I had to sneak around more now, while living in my own apartment, than when I wanted to sneak out in high school and get drunk at a friend’s house.
“Why’s that?” I finally asked, pulling myself back to reality. “Wait, what did you say? What do you mean, I’m lucky?”
Celina giggled, the five cocktails having gone to her head now.
“Because David is on his way and can’t wait to see you.”
It was like cold water being dumped over my head. “You invited David?”
“Yeah, he goes on and on talking about you and, you know, I just got so sick of it. I finally told him to come hang out.”
I was already digging for my purse and getting up. “Great, you guys have fun. The one thing I told you was not to invite him and that’s exactly what you do? No wonder I haven’t been out with you guys.”
“Wow Ash, calm down. He’s just coming out for a drink.”
“No. No, he’s coming out because he wants to corner me and apparently you guys do not care. Have fun with David. I’ll see you two around.”
They both giggled as I turned.
“Always so dramatic, Ash. Fine, go home and just call us when you’re
Laughter erupted, but I was already walking to the front doors. I was completely sober, and any belief I had about them and our friendship disintegrated. They didn’t care about me or my safety, they cared about drinking, partying, and me paying for it all. They knew David had been getting worse and didn’t seem to care that I wanted to stay away from him.
I stepped out, needing to find where I could wait and call an Uber, when a tall, gorgeous guy leaning against his car in the parking lot caught my eye. He looked up, and for the first time that night, my heart gave a small jump. Why couldn’t he have been in the club tonight? He gave a smirk before looking back at his phone.
I was so distracted thinking of him that I didn't hear someone come up behind me, grabbing for the purse that was slung across my chest.
“Give it to me now!” he yelled, but I was already trying to pull it over my head to hand it over. He kept yanking it harder, pulling me backwards.
“Let me go and I will!” I yelled, stomping at his feet as I pulled at the strap.
He held on tight, not giving me an inch of room to pull it off.
“Here, take it. I don’t care, just take it.” I yelled again, but the strap was caught on my dress now.
His hands suddenly grabbed at me harder and I screamed.
“Get off!” I kicked, trying to break free and run, but he held on. I pulled back my elbow and jabbed it back into him. It only connected with his chest, and it was enough that I could break free.
I turned and ran, the darkness stealing my breath as I realized he was still after me.
TWO
FOX
Earlier that Day
Scout ran into my apartment, launching herself over the back of the couch next to me.
“Are you ready to go?”
“Just about. Are you?” I asked, looking over her clothes.
“Yeah, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I thought you and Quinn would be all dressed up.”
She shrugged. “I’m not really in the mood.”
“And why not?”
“Nothing you want to know about,” she said, the frown deepening as she sunk further into the couch.
“Hey,” I said, knocking against her arm as I pulled my shoes on. “What’s that supposed to mean? I’m always worried about you and your problems.”
“This one is about a guy, and I’m pretty sure you’ve said that you definitely don’t want to hear about that.”
“No. I said I only want to hear about it if you are prepared for me to kill them in the event they upset you.”
“Isn’t that a little extreme?”
“For other people? Maybe. For you? Not at all. You’re one of the happiest people I know. If you’re upset, someone really fucked up and they deserve what’s coming to them. Now come on, tell me.”
“You really are a gossip.”
“No, someone just needs to keep everyone’s drama straight in this place. Come on, tell me.”
“Well, what I thought was a date the other night was apparently not. According to everyone, and I mean everyone at school, we are just friends. I was put in the friend zone, Fox.”
“Oh,” I said with a wince. “That’s not fun.”
“No, not at all. And it’s nothing you can help me with.”
“And why not?”
“Have you ever been put in the friend zone?”
I thought back, struggling to find an example. “Maybe.”
“Exactly. You’re the playboy from every girl’s dreams. This is one you can’t sympathize with.”
“Just because I’m not put in the friend zone all the time doesn’t mean a damn thing. I don’t get close enough to even risk the friend zone. You’re just braver than me.”
She rolled her eyes, but couldn’t help the smile spreading across her face.
“See, that looks better. Come on.”
“Fine, but going on dates isn’t brave.”
I wrapped an arm around her while I grabbed my keys and wallet, pulling her to the door with me.
“Yes, it is. Why do you think I don’t do it? Trusting someone like that?” I faked a shiver. “I’d rather fight a bear.”
“You’re never going to get a girlfriend with that attitude.”
I laughed. “Are you saying that girls don’t like to hear that you would rather fight a bear than date them? Damn, I wish you would have told me sooner. I was wondering why that pickup line wasn’t working.”
“Fox,” she said. “What’s your plan, then? Wind up old and alone?”
“Alone? Am I ever alone? I have you. I have all five of you who never leave. How would I be alone?”
“You know what I mean.”
“I’m fine, Scout. I promise.” I pulled her in, kissing her head before heading down to the cars.
Quinn, Ransom, and Jax were waiting around their cars.
“Where’s Kye?”
“Already waiting in the car. We didn’t realize we would be waiting for you to prim and prep yourself for an hour,” Jax said.
“You’re just jealous that you couldn’t look this good, even if you did spend an hour getting ready.”
He pushed me, making me fall towards Quinn. Her arms came out, stopping me from falling completely against her.
“Well, hello beautiful,” I said, picking her up and spinning her away from Ransom.
“Hi, Fox,” she said sweetly. “Are you trying to start a fight before the night even begins?”
“Always.”
Ransom was already pushing me out of the way.
“Fuck, Fox. She’s already mine. Find your own,” he said, sweeping Quinn away.
“I just like messing with you. You know that.”
“Yeah, and it works every damn time,” Jax said, laughing.
Quinn rolled her eyes and pointed to the car. “Alright, enough. All of you into the cars and let’s go before we miss our reservation.”
“Wow, reservations. We’re fancy now,” Jax said, sliding into his car.
Ransom and Quinn got into his and Scout jumped into hers. She would always ride with me before, but since she got her new car, it was hard to pry her out of it. Not that I blamed her. We built her a nice car, and she deserved to drive it everywhere.
Without another word, everyone pulled out and headed to the downtown part of our city. We lived on the side that was more spread out, giving us room to drive the cars out onto emptier roads when we wanted, and head to the fancier side when we wanted to go out.
In seconds, I was forgetting about the day, every worry melting away as I drove.
I meant what I said to Scout. If my life was only filled with the crew, I would be happy.
By the time I made it halfway, my mood was ruined.
My car was acting up.
The engine kept jumping when it shouldn’t be, setting my teeth on edge the entire way here.
I should have just ridden with one of the crew. It would have been easier than trying to navigate these small roads while worrying about the car. I had already guessed there was something wrong with it, but wasn’t expecting it to be this annoying.
People littered the sidewalks, walking in and out of bars and restaurants, and for the first time in my life, I was getting claustrophobic. These outings were Quinn’s idea. Her plan to make us more cultured and presentable was going to a new restaurant every once in a while. I had never minded. It was a nice change of pace from takeout food at the garage, but all I could think about now was going back and figuring out what was wrong with my car.
