A few months had passed since Erin and Dax had officially become a couple, and things had settled into a rhythm that felt just right. The garage, once chaotic with tools and spare parts scattered everywhere, had remained impressively tidy. Erin's organisational overhaul had stuck, and now everything had a place. The toolboxes were lined up neatly against the wall, each labelled with their respective owners' names; Jinx's blue one, Rev's red one, Dax's black one, and her own yellow one. The crew joked that it was Erin's way of keeping everyone in line, but they all knew it made their work smoother.

Jinx still flirted with every girl who walked past, never letting the opportunity slip away. His charm was infectious, but it was clear to everyone that his flirtations were just that, playful, never serious. Rev, on the other hand, had become quieter as time went on. While he still worked on the cars like always, his once frequent jokes and easy banter had become more scarce. Erin knew there was something on his mind, but she didn't press him for answers. He'd open up when he was ready, and she respected that.

Carmen's body shop continued to be their go-to for any repairs or custom work, and the two had become a well-oiled team. Every time the crew needed a paint job or bodywork, Carmen delivered, and she always seemed to have the perfect vision for each project. Whether it was a sleek metallic finish or a bold design, Carmen never missed a beat.

Dax, now fully immersed in the paperwork side of the business, had taken on a new role as the administrative backbone of the crew. He spent his days buried in invoices, insurance forms, and client contracts. It was a shift from the grease and motors that used to fill his days, but it was necessary. Erin, still very much the face of the business, handled the front-end work, dealing with customers, taking bookings for both small repairs and larger rebuilds, and making sure everything ran smoothly.

The two of them made a great team, even when their tasks felt worlds apart. When Dax wasn't at the office or buried in paperwork, he'd spend time on the shop floor, checking in on the crew and offering advice or guidance when needed. It wasn't often, but when he did, Erin found herself falling even more in love with the way he could seamlessly switch from the corporate side of the business to the grease-covered mechanic.

Today, Erin was busy organising customer appointments. She had a few cars lined up for simple repairs, but her eyes kept drifting toward the corner of the garage where the GT-R was parked, its sleek lines and shiny paint gleaming under the fluorescent lights. She smiled to herself, still amazed at how far the car had come since she had first driven it. The rebuild was something to be proud of, a labour of love, and it always felt like a part of her.

A loud laugh from Jinx broke her out of her thoughts, and she glanced over to see him chatting with a group of girls at the entrance of the garage. Of course, his flirting never stopped, but it was clear he had a knack for making everyone feel at ease. Even if he wasn't looking for anything serious, he certainly knew how to make an impression.

"Erin!" Jinx called out, his voice still carrying the same playful tone even though he was clearly focused on the conversation at hand. "Got any more work for me, or should I keep busy here?"

Erin rolled her eyes but couldn't help the chuckle that escaped her. "You're busy enough. Maybe try to focus on the cars for once instead of all the attention you're getting."

"I can multitask," he shot back with a wink, clearly unfazed by her teasing.

Rev, who had been working in silence in the corner of the garage, glanced up from the car he was fine-tuning and raised an eyebrow. "Hey, maybe focus on the cars, Jinx. We've got a list to get through today."

"Yeah, yeah, just making sure the girls know who's in charge around here," Jinx grinned, giving Erin a knowing look. "But I'll get to work, promise."

Erin shook her head in amusement, then turned her attention back to her task at hand. She had a few calls to make, confirming the details for a customer's rebuild on a vintage muscle car. It was one of her favourite types of projects, as the passion that came from restoring something classic was always satisfying.

A few minutes later, Dax walked into the shop, his phone pressed to his ear as he waved at her in greeting. Erin gave him a quick smile, appreciating how even in the middle of his busy day, he still took the time to check in on the crew. He ended the call and approached her with that familiar, slightly distracted look in his eyes, the one that said he was in work mode but was still always willing to listen.

"Everything okay?" he asked, his tone soft.

"Just the usual," Erin replied with a shrug. "A few customers lined up, but nothing out of the ordinary."

Dax nodded, leaning against the counter as he looked around the garage. "Good. I'll go check on Rev and Jinx, make sure they're not slacking off."

"Don't you mean making sure Jinx isn't flirting with anyone?" Erin teased, flicking a pen between her finger and thumb as she leaned back in her chair.

Dax chuckled. "That too. You know how he is." He paused, his eyes softening as they met hers. "I'll be back to help with whatever you need in a bit, though."

Erin smiled warmly. "Thanks, Dax. I've got it under control, it's mostly been small repair jobs today. But I'll let you know if I need you."

As he left to check in on the guys, Erin returned to her paperwork, tapping her pen against the desk absentmindedly. She couldn't help but think about how much had changed in the past few months. Their relationship had only deepened, and the work at the garage seemed to grow by the day. It wasn't always easy, there were late nights, endless tasks, and the pressure of keeping the business running smoothly, but there was also satisfaction in it. They had built something together, not just in terms of their relationship but with the garage itself.

The garage wasn't just a place of work anymore; it was a part of their lives, a reflection of who they were, and who they were becoming. The cars they worked on, the projects they took on, and even the long hours spent together, it all added up to something meaningful.

Erin glanced at the clock on the wall and sighed, knowing that the next few hours would fly by as they all worked to finish up the customer cars. Despite the steady flow of tasks, she couldn't help but smile at the thought of what lay ahead. For now, the garage was her home, the place where everything came together, and she was content in that.

Her mind wandered briefly to the future. Would they expand even more? Maybe take on bigger projects? It felt like the possibilities were endless, but for now, she was just happy to be in this moment, working alongside the people she cared about, and doing the work that meant everything to her.

"Hey, Ace!" Dax's voice broke her from her thoughts, and she looked up to see him standing by the garage entrance, holding a fresh cup of coffee in his hand.

"Coffee break?" he asked with a grin.

Erin smiled, feeling the warm affection for him that had become a constant in her life. "You know it. I think we've earned one."

She grabbed her mug, and as Dax sat down beside her, the quiet comfort of their relationship settled in again. They might not have everything figured out, but in this moment, everything felt just right.

As Erin, Dax, and Rev finished their coffee and chatted about the next project, the door to the garage creaked open. The bell on top of the door jingled as a tall figure stepped inside, catching their attention. He was looking around, seemingly scanning the area, until his eyes locked onto Erin.

Her gaze snapped to the newcomer, and for a split second, her breath caught in her chest. The guy had the same confident, relaxed demeanour that Jamie once had. His eyes were warm, but there was a certain hardness beneath the surface. He raised a hand in a casual greeting. "Erin Calloway?" His voice was familiar, but it took her a moment to place it.

Erin stood up slowly, her heart rate picking up. She stared at him, processing the situation. He was clearly searching for her, his eyes filled with recognition, as if they'd met in a different life. "Yeah?" she replied, her voice uncertain but intrigued. "Can I help you?"

"Guess you can," the guy said with a faint grin. "Name's Ethan Grant, E for short." He nodded at the crew around her. "I've been looking for you, Erin. Been asking around LA for weeks now." He seemed to be sizing her up, waiting for her to react.

Erin blinked, taken aback by his sudden appearance. The name Ethan struck her like a lightning bolt. Jamie's best friend. She hadn't seen him in years. The guy who had been with Jamie in the early days.

Her voice softened, almost instinctively. "Ethan?" Her heart tightened at the memory of Jamie, and she stood up straight, suddenly aware of the weight of the moment. "What are you doing here? How did you find me?"

Ethan's expression shifted, as if he could feel the tension in the air. "I've been traveling across the country, holidaying and, well... trying to find people from my past." He sighed deeply. "It's a long story, but I'm here to reconnect with you, and... well, Jamie." His voice faltered for just a moment. "I should've reached out sooner."

Erin's emotions swirled as she tried to process the flood of memories from her past. "I didn't know anyone was still looking for me," she said, her voice distant. "But... why? Why now?"

Ethan stepped forward slightly, his eyes softening. "I owe it to Jamie. I couldn't leave things like they were. And you... you were his family. I didn't want to leave things unfinished."

Dax, standing off to the side, could sense the tension in the room. He exchanged a glance with Rev, who shrugged as if to say "I don't know either."

Erin felt her pulse quicken. "So, you just... found me?"

"Yeah, kind of," Ethan chuckled softly. "Been asking everyone I could find. Word of mouth and all that. And after hearing what happened, I couldn't just let it go." He hesitated, studying her closely. "Look, I know it's a lot. I didn't expect this to be easy, but I needed to make things right."

Erin bit her lip, caught between the past and the present. Ethan hadn't changed much, though time had added a layer of depth to his eyes. She could see Jamie in his gaze, the familiarity of old memories creeping back in. "Well," she said, after a pause, "you're here now. We can talk, but this is a bit... unexpected."

Ethan nodded, understanding. "I get it. We'll take it slow."

Dax, ever the protector, stepped forward. "You said you've been looking for Erin for a while. What is it you want now, exactly?" His voice was firm, but not aggressive.

Erin could sense the protective edge in Dax's tone, and it made her heart swell. She appreciated the concern, even though the situation was complicated.

Ethan smiled faintly. "Look, I'm not here to cause trouble, man. Just trying to tie up some loose ends from the past."

The tension in the room eased slightly, but Erin still felt conflicted. She had no idea what this meant for her, but one thing was for sure, Ethan Grant was back in her life, whether she was ready for it or not.

A couple of hours later, the garage had quieted down. Rev and Dax were back inside, working on a new project in the shop. Erin stepped outside to get some air, sitting on the roof of one of the old scrap cars near the back of the garage. The sun was starting to set, casting long shadows across the lot.

Ethan followed her outside, keeping a respectful distance as he leaned against one of the nearby posts. His presence felt heavy, but Erin wasn't sure whether it was the weight of the conversation or just his sudden reappearance in her life.

The cool evening breeze ruffled the edges of her hair as she looked out at the city skyline in the distance. She let out a slow breath before turning to look at him. "You've been all over the place, huh?"

Ethan ran a hand through his tousled hair and let out a sigh. "Yeah, guess you could say that. It's been... a journey." He paused for a moment before adding, "Erin, I need to apologise for not being there for Jamie. I... I should've been there when everything happened. I didn't know until I came back from Japan, and by then, it was too late." His voice cracked slightly, betraying the regret that had lingered with him for years.

Erin didn't say anything at first. She just stared at him for a moment, her mind swirling with the mix of emotions that his words stirred up. The loss, the anger, the sadness, it all came rushing back to her. But even then, she didn't blame him. He couldn't have known. "Don't apologise," she said softly. "You didn't know. There's nothing to apologise for." She shifted on the car's roof, pulling her knees up to her chest and resting her chin on her knees. "I was angry for a while, you know. For a long time. But I realised... Jamie wouldn't have wanted me to stay mad at anyone. He wouldn't want me to carry that weight."

Ethan nodded, his hands in his pockets as he looked down at his feet. "I still feel like I could've done something. I was his closest friend. I should've been there."

"Maybe," Erin said, her voice quiet but firm. "But Jamie's life was his own. We all had our paths. It wasn't your fault. Things just... happen." She looked at him again, her expression softening. "It's been hard, but I'm not going to let it hold me back. And you shouldn't either."

Ethan exhaled a breath of relief, clearly appreciative of her understanding. He stood up a little straighter, as if the weight on his shoulders had lifted a fraction. "Thanks for that, Erin. You don't know how much it means to hear that."

Erin glanced over at him, her gaze steady. "I know it doesn't make things better. It doesn't bring him back. But it's... it's the way forward, you know?" She let the silence settle between them for a moment before asking, "How did you find out I moved to LA? I didn't think I had left much of a trace behind."

Ethan's lips curled into a half-smile. "You'd be surprised," he said, his tone light. "I've been asking around. You wouldn't believe how many people still remember you from those days. From the races and all the old stuff. Word travels, especially in the car world." He paused, and his smile faded slightly. "I asked around at a few places back home, and a couple of people mentioned you were out here, working on cars. That's when I started digging a little more."

Erin raised an eyebrow. "You really went through all that just to find me?"

Ethan shrugged. "When Jamie's gone, and there's no closure... you just... start looking for it where you can." His eyes softened, and he gave her a hesitant look. "I'm not here to stir anything up. Just wanted to see how you were doing."

"How do you think I'm doing?" Erin replied, a faint but playful smile tugging at her lips.

Ethan chuckled. "You seem like you're doing alright. Looks like you've built something here."

Erin nodded, her smile turning into something more genuine. "I have. It's not perfect, but it's mine. We've all worked hard to make it something good."

"That's what Jamie would've wanted," Ethan said, his voice quiet but sincere.

Erin glanced at him, nodding again. "Yeah. He would have." She paused, the weight of the past lingering in her mind. "So, what now? You came all this way to find me, but what do you want to do now that you have?"

Ethan hesitated for a moment, as if contemplating his next words. "I just... I want to be around for a bit. Maybe see if we can't get to know each other again. I don't expect us to just pick up where we left off, but... if you're willing, I'd like to help out. Maybe find some closure together, you know? I'm still in the states for awhile so it's no problem for me."

Erin considered his words carefully, and after a long silence, she nodded slowly. "I think we can do that." She smiled, though it was faint. "We don't have to rush anything, Ethan. But... it's nice to have someone from back then around again."

Ethan's eyes brightened slightly, and he returned her smile, more genuinely this time. "I get that. I'm not going anytime soon."

"Well, good," Erin said, leaning back a little against the scrap car behind her. "Let's take it one day at a time. You can start by helping us out at the shop tomorrow. No rush, just... whatever works."

Ethan nodded, relieved. "Sounds good to me. Be nice to see how the Americans do things round here."

As the evening settled in, the sound of distant city traffic filled the air. The garage was quiet, except for the occasional rustle of wind through the trees. Erin and Ethan sat there together for a while longer, not saying much, but the understanding between them was enough. For now, it was enough to just have him back in her life, someone who knew Jamie the way she did, someone who could understand the past and, maybe, help her move forward.

As Ethan waved goodbye and disappeared down the street, Erin remained sitting on the roof of the scrap car, her legs dangling over the side. The cool breeze of the evening had a calming effect, but her mind was a whirlwind of emotions. She hadn't expected Ethan to show up out of the blue, and even though she had reassured him, part of her felt a little unsettled. The past had a funny way of resurfacing when you least expected it.

She rubbed her temples and closed her eyes, trying to push the memories of Jamie, of everything that had happened to the back of her mind. The night had grown quiet around her, save for the faint hum of the city and the distant sounds of cars driving by. She wasn't sure how long she had been sitting there, but when she opened her eyes, she saw Dax approaching.

He'd been in the garage with Rev and Jinx earlier, but as usual, he'd caught wind of the fact that Erin was still outside. He approached with a relaxed but concerned look on his face, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his jacket. "You okay?" he asked, his voice steady but laced with concern as he stopped a few feet away.

Erin didn't immediately respond. She just stared out at the horizon for a moment, unsure of what to say. When she finally spoke, her voice was soft. "Yeah, just... just thinking."

Dax stepped closer, his gaze following hers as he leaned against the side of the car next to her. "About Ethan?"

She nodded slowly, finally letting herself breathe a little more easily as she let the weight of his presence ground her. "Yeah. It's... strange, you know? He showed up out of nowhere, and now I'm left with all these feelings I thought I'd buried."

Dax tilted his head slightly, a quiet understanding in his eyes. "I get it. People from the past have a way of doing that." He paused for a moment, glancing down at the ground, before meeting her gaze again. "But you handled it well. You don't have to figure everything out all at once."

Erin let out a breath, a smile tugging at her lips. "I know. It's just... I didn't expect him to show up, and now I'm questioning everything. Like, where do we go from here?"

Dax nodded, as if he knew exactly how she felt. "I don't know," he said quietly. "But it's okay to take your time. You've got all the time you need. I'm not going anywhere."

Erin glanced at him, her smile widening slightly. She didn't know why, but hearing those words from him made her feel more at ease.

Then he asked something only Dax would ask. "So, you and he? Were you...?"

Erin's eyes bulged and she almost fell off the car's roof. "Ethan?! Oh god, no!" Then she began chuckling, almost howling, with laughter. "No. No." She coughed to compose herself. "Nah, Ethan is... was Jamie's best friend, I'd say almost like a second brother to me in a way."

If Dax had blushed, it wasn't obvious, especially with the reddish glow from the setting sun washing over the garage.

Despite the moment of laughter, Erin was still unsure about one thing. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do with all this, Dax," she admitted softly, looking down at her hands, tracing absent patterns along the edge of the doorframe.

Dax pushed off the side of the car and took a few steps forward, looking back over his shoulder at her. "Whatever you decide to do, I've got your back. We've all got your back. You don't have to face any of this alone."

His words, simple but sincere, gave Erin a sense of comfort she hadn't realised she needed. She hadn't realised how much she'd been carrying until now. But now that she had Dax's support, she could feel herself starting to let go of some of that weight.

Erin stood up from the roof of the scrap car, dusting off her jeans, and walked over to Dax. "Thanks," she said quietly, giving him a small but genuine smile.

He grinned back at her, his usual playful energy shining through. "Anytime."

There was a moment of silence between them, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was the kind of silence that came when two people were just... comfortable in each other's presence. Erin felt the tension in her shoulders finally begin to release, and for the first time in a while, she felt like maybe things were starting to fall into place.

"You hungry?" Dax asked after a beat, his smile turning a little more teasing. "I'm pretty sure Rev's already ordered pizza for the crew, and if you're still sitting out here, you're gonna miss out."

Erin raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a playful grin. "Well, I can't miss out on pizza."

"Thought you'd say that," Dax replied, his grin widening. "C'mon, let's go eat before Jinx eats all the good slices."

Erin laughed, following him back inside the garage. As they walked together, she felt a small sense of relief.