Can't Hold Out Forever - Paul and Dean
@leatherandsoil
The orange soda splashed into Dean’s face before he even had a chance to react. He was being yelled at. So sharp and shrill that he was having trouble understanding the words. Whatever reaction he’d been expecting from Lucy when he told her he wasn’t taking the job in L.A., this wasn’t it. “Babe, I didn’t even…” She threw the cup at him, still screeching. He caught a little of it this time. ‘All those years wasted!’ - ‘How could you embarrass me this way?!’ - ‘Why does this shitty shop mean so much to you?!’ And finally, ‘I’ve had enough! I quit! We’re through!’ The mechanic blinked as his girlfriend (and secretary) stalked out the door on killer heels. At least she hadn’t thrown one of those at him.
He continued to stand there - mostly in shock - as the woman vanished. About five seconds later Dean’s heart plummeted into his toes. They were over. Just like that. How could she be so willing to throw away three years of a good thing all over a job he’d told her he hadn’t wanted. A job she’d applied for in his name when he refused to. Lucy had always been a little on the pushy side… but it was one of the things he’d liked about her. Her confidence and take-control attitude were fun at first. When had it stopped being that way? He couldn’t really remember. When she’d started pressuring him to ‘be more’ than just a ‘small town’ mechanic? When she’d tried to get him to go solo - leaving his long-time friend and business partner, Paul, in the dust? When she’d started planning their life without giving him a say?
Despite all of those things, Dean loved Lucy. Probably too damn much. And watching her walk away from everything they’d built together - especially over something that seemed so insignificant - it hurt like hell. This wasn’t his first rejection, sure. But this was the longest he’d been with just one person and no one else. This relationship had mattered to him, and he’d hoped it mattered enough to her that she’d be willing to respect his choices. No such luck.
Dean was still standing there, getting uncomfortably sticky, when he heard the shuffle of feet at the door which led into the garage. He turned to find Paul standing there. “So, uh… looks like we’re going to need a new secretary,” he quipped, trying to use humor to keep the pain at bay. “And I’m gonna need several six-packs of beer. Or a few Hurricanes. Or both. Probably both.” He looked down at himself and then back up. “And a shower.” His expression faltered, but Dean held it together… just barely. Shit! Was this really happening? Lucy was gone for good? He felt his whole body start to tremble. Adrenaline, he told himself. But that didn’t make it any easier to stop. “Paul...” He didn’t know how to finish that sentence. All he knew what that his chest hurt and he couldn't see straight, and how the fuck was he supposed to keep his life together without Lucy’s help?!