Chapter 2

The drive to Penelope’s house was full of awkward small talk. Brad was still trying to wrap his head around the most mind-blowing experience of his young teen life happened with the girl he had bullied for so long. The girl whose breasts had been the subject of his fantasies and crude jokes was in his car, and her face glowed from their intimate encounter at his house.

They pulled into her driveway, and he cut off the deep rumble of his car’s motor. The thought of her dad seeing through him made his stomach drop. Penelope hopped out of the car, her large breasts bouncing in the too-small t-shirt she had borrowed from him. She waved at him to hurry up and with a mischievous twinkle in her eye then headed to the detached garage in the backyard.

Her dad was a large burly man with a thick beard and long hair. He was wrenching under the hood of a dusty Chevelle. His eyes narrowed when he saw Penelope wasn’t alone. “Dad,” she called out with a huge smile, “This is Brad, he’s a car guy like you!”

Ted wiped his hands on a dirty rag and unfolded himself from under the hood. He stood a good six inches taller than Brad and at least fifty pounds heavier. With “dad” eyes he looked Brad over. Ted saw the kid looked scared like he was in trouble for something. Penelope was over the top excited and he put two and two together. His little girl had brought home her first boyfriend. He gave Brad a stern look. “Car guy?”

“Yes, sir,” Brad managed to reply in a shaky voice. “I love the classics. Your Chevelle is awesome!” He stepped closer to the car, trying to avoid looking at Penelope’s dad’s appraising gaze. “Can he tell what I did to Pumpkin?” A blush spread across Brad cheeks.

Ted looked from Brad to his daughter, his expression unreadable. He had no intention of making this easy on the boy. “Hmm,” he grunted, “You know anything about engines?”

“Yes, sir,” Brad said, eager to impress. “I’ve been working on my uncle’s ‘69 Camaro. It’s got a 350 small block. I’m trying to get it to run smoother since he put a blower on it. The fuel/air ratio is tricky.”

Ted raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Is that right? Penelope, crank the engine.”

The sound of the engine roared and smoke blew out the garage. It was clear the car had potential, but it needed work. Brad listened intently to the engine’s purr and heard a miss. “It’s running rough,” he suggested. “Might be a timing issue.”

Ted nodded, his expression unchanged. He gestured with a slice across his throat for Penelope to cut the engine. “Good ear, kid. That’s my thoughts too.”

Penelope beamed and jumped out of the car. “Brad drives a ‘65 Mustang with a mean stick shift,” she said, winking at him. Brad felt his cheeks heat up. He had never been so embarrassed and excited at the same time. “You’re going to love him, Daddy,” she added, taking Brad’s hand to show her dad that they were a couple.

Ted’s gaze went from his daughter’s face to their joined hands. He studied Brad’s hand on Penelope’s for a moment before speaking. “We’ll see,” he said gruffly, his stern expression not cracking into a smile. “Let’s go have a look at your ride.”

Brad breathed a sigh of relief. It was apparent that Penelope hadn’t told her dad about his bullying or he would have a different attitude. He was expecting a rigid reception from Penelope’s dad. All dads were possessive of their daughters. But the moment Brad walked into the garage, he felt a kinship. His Mustang was parked on the driveway, gleaming under the sunlight.

Ted walked around Brad’s Mustang, inspecting it with a critical eye. “Good taste,” he grunted, nodding in approval. “But the real test is how you take care of it. Pop the hood.” The engine compartment was as clean as the exterior. A set of non-stock headers poked out, hinting at the modifications done under the hood. “You’ve done some work done on her, I see.”

Brad’s face lit up, eager to share his passion. “Yeah, I swapped out the original straight six for a 289 V8. It’s got a four-barrel carb and a mild cam. Nothing too crazy, but it’s got a nice growl to it.” He rattled off the specs of his car with the ease of someone recounting their favorite baseball stats.

Ted couldn’t help smiling. The boy knew his stuff. “Nice,” he said, nodding. “You’ve got potential. Maybe you’re not just after my daughter’s ... assets.” He glanced at Penelope. “Daddy!” she exclaimed in embarrassment. Brad struggled not to turn red.

They chatted about cars for a while, Brad feeling more at ease as the conversation went on. They talked about horsepower, torque curves, and the thrill of hitting the open road. It was like speaking a secret language that the truly devoted understood. Despite the awkwardness of their situation, Brad felt a strange camaraderie with Penelope’s dad. They were bonding over the roar of engines and the scent of motor oil and gasoline.

Finally, Ted turned to Penelope. “Why don’t you go grab us some sodas, sweetheart?” She nodded, squeezing Brad’s hand before heading inside. The moment she was gone, Brad felt the air thicken. He knew what was coming. “The Talk.”

“Look, Brad,” Ted began, his tone serious. “I don’t know anything about you, but my daughter means everything to me. You hurt her, and I’ll shove a dipstick up your ass so far it will register full.”

Brad nodded, understanding the harsh threat. “Sir, I have a confession. I’ve been a jerk to Pump..., Penelope in the past. But I promise to treat her right.”

Ted’s gaze was piercing. “It appears she has forgiven you, but I will be watching you. Understand?”

Brad nodded solemnly. “Yes, sir.”

“Good,” said Ted, his voice softening a bit. “You seem to have a good head on your shoulders when it comes to cars, but I expect the same for my daughter. Treat her like you treat that Mustang of yours—with respect and care.”

“I will, sir,” Brad promised.

Penelope ran up and gave them a puzzled look then handed out the sodas. “Everything okay,” she asked. Her dad nodded, and Brad took a sip, trying to ignore the taste of nerves in his mouth. “Did I pass the first test?” he wondered.

The conversation turned to football, and Brad felt himself relax more. He knew football. They talked about the upcoming NFL season and their favorite teams. It was typical guy conversation, but with Penelope’s dad, it felt like a test of manhood. If he could win this man’s approval, he felt like he could conquer the world.

As they talked, Brad realized that Penelope’s dad had a sense of humor. He was gruff and tough, but he had a tender spot for his daughter. Brad felt a pang of guilt for the way he had treated Pumpkin. But he was determined to make it right. “Brad,” Ted said, “You’re welcome to come back again. Maybe we can work on the Chevelle together.”

Brad’s eyes lit up. “That would be amazing, sir. Thank you.” He was surprised by the invitation of acceptance.

Penelope watched the two of them interact. She knew her dad was a tough nut to crack, but Brad’s genuine passion for cars had softened him. After a few more laughs and car stories, “Do you want to see my room?” she asked Brad.

Brad looked to her dad for permission. “Make sure to leave your bedroom door open. No funny business allowed!” Ted liked the new kid but he didn’t trust him. Brad was a teen boy with raging hormones and his daughter was temptation personified.