The next morning, Dax woke up with a sense of resolve. He knew he needed to get to the bottom of things and today was as good a day as any to start having the hard conversations with Erin. The garage was quiet, the usual hum of activity not yet in full swing, as Rev and Jinx were busy working on a customer's car in one of the bays.

After grabbing a coffee, Dax went to find them. Rev was under a car, oil smudged across his face, while Jinx was leaning against the toolbox, scrolling through his phone. They both looked up when Dax walked in.

"Hey, I'm gonna take Erin over to mine," Dax said, his tone more serious than usual. "I want to talk to her about everything, and I need you two to keep an eye on things here today. Don't want things going quiet while we're away, alright?"

Rev gave him a quick nod, tightening a bolt with his socket. "Got it, boss. We'll hold down the fort."

Jinx gave him a thumbs up, already refocusing on his phone, likely planning his next move. "You two work things out, yeah? And don't worry, we've got this."

Dax gave them both a nod of appreciation before heading toward the back of the shop to grab Erin. He found her in the small office area, sorting through paperwork from the recent customer jobs. As always, she looked focused, but he could tell there was a slight tension in her shoulders. He'd been noticing it more lately.

"Hey, you ready?" Dax asked, leaning against the doorframe.

Erin looked up, a small smile forming as she saw him. "Yeah, just finishing up. Need to grab my jacket."

She quickly grabbed her jacket from the back of the chair and tossed it on. She gave him a look that said she knew something was up, but didn't press it. Erin trusted him, but there was still a lot they hadn't fully talked through, especially after the whole thing with Kane.

The drive to his place was quiet, a comfortable silence settling between them as they each got lost in their thoughts. When they arrived, Dax led Erin into his place, his mind already swirling with questions. This conversation needed to happen.

Once they were inside, he guided her toward the couch, sitting beside her. The moment they both settled, he turned to her, searching for the right words. "Erin, about Kane," Dax began, his voice steady but serious, "I just... I need to understand. I know there's history between you two, and I don't want to push you too hard, but something feels off about him, and I can't ignore it."

Erin met his gaze, taking in a slow breath. She had known this conversation was coming. "I get it," she said softly, her voice tinged with a mix of uncertainty and resolve. "Kane is... complicated. He was part of my life back home, and, yeah, we had history. But I'm not interested in anything with him now, Dax. That's all behind me."

Dax looked at her for a moment, sensing the honesty in her words, but something still nagged at him. He needed to understand more. "But you never told me about him," he said gently, his voice tinged with curiosity. "You've always been so open with me about everything. Why didn't you tell me about Kane, especially since he was in and out of your life back in the UK?"

Erin's gaze shifted, her eyes briefly flicking away as she gathered her thoughts. "I guess I never really thought about it," she admitted after a beat. "Kane... he was always there when Jamie and I were racing. He's part of that old life. And after Jamie died, I guess I just shut that part out. It's not something I talk about. Not that I wanted to hide it from you. I just... I didn't think it mattered."

Dax's heart softened, and he reached for her hand, offering her a reassuring squeeze. "It matters, Erin. I care about you. And I want to know everything, the good and the bad. But I also want you to know that I'm here for you, no matter what. I just need to understand what you went through."

Erin turned her hand to grip his, her gaze now fully meeting his. She was silent for a moment, and Dax could see the wheels turning in her head. Finally, she spoke. "There's something else," Erin said quietly, her voice more hesitant now. "I never dated anyone from the car scene back home."

Dax frowned slightly, his mind running with questions. "Wait, why not? That's... that's strange, right? I mean, you were around so many people who loved cars."

Erin smiled softly, though there was a touch of sadness behind her expression. "I wasn't looking for that kind of connection. And having Jamie as a brother... I don't know. I think I built walls around myself, and the idea of dating anyone in that scene felt... too much. They were all about the same thing, cars and racing. It was never enough to make me feel like I could trust them. Jamie always had my back so I never felt like I needed anyone else."

Dax was quiet for a long moment, processing what she had said. His thoughts were spinning, but one thing was clear: this was Erin's way of protecting herself. She'd kept her distance from the car world for reasons only she truly understood.

"That makes sense," Dax said finally, his voice soft and understanding. "I get it. But, Erin, you don't have to shut everyone out. Not with me. You don't have to keep pushing me away, especially when I'm not going anywhere."

Erin squeezed his hand, grateful for his patience. "I know. I guess... I just didn't want to get hurt again."

Dax leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, his hand gently cupping her face. "You won't. Not with me."

The silence between them stretched for a moment, the weight of their conversation hanging in the air. But in that silence, Dax felt the distance between them close. They were in this together, and no matter what came next, they would face it as a team.

And for the first time in a long time, Erin felt like she could let her guard down. She had always felt she could trust Dax, like she had with Jamie.

Erin settled back into the couch, her fingers tracing absentminded patterns on the armrest as she gathered her thoughts. She could feel Dax's presence next to her, steady and patient, waiting for her to continue.

"I guess I should've told you all this before," she said, her voice tinged with a mix of regret and vulnerability. "It's just not something I talk about often. Not because I'm trying to hide it, but because it's easier to focus on what's in front of me now, with you and the garage."

Dax nodded, his hand still resting gently on hers. "Take your time. I'm listening."

Erin let out a long sigh, her eyes fixed on the floor for a moment. "Jamie was... well, he was more than just a best friend to me. He was like a protector. He didn't just keep an eye out for me in the garage or when we were racing, he kept me grounded. He'd always look out for me when guys would flirt or try to get too close, especially Kane and Ethan. I never wanted any of that. I just wanted to be one of the boys, you know? I wasn't looking for a relationship. I didn't even know how to think about relationships back then, not after everything with my parents."

Dax's brows furrowed, concern creeping into his expression. "Your parents?"

Erin hesitated, the memories still fresh even after all these years. "Yeah. They were... not great. I had to grow up fast. When Jamie was around me, it was like a breath of fresh air. He was my safe place. We just built cars, worked on our projects, and shared the same love for racing. I could just be myself around him." She paused, biting her lip as she continued. "But when things got rough, when other people in the car scene would hit on me or make it awkward, Jamie was always there to deflect, to make sure I stayed focused on what mattered. He made it easy to just... not care about anything else. To not even think about dating or falling for someone."

Dax stayed quiet for a heartbeat, absorbing her words. His mind flashed to the stories he had heard from the others about Jamie, the bond Erin shared with him, the way they both seemed so comfortable in each other's presence. The way Jamie had always been a solid, unwavering part of her life. Dax understood why it had been hard for Erin to move past that.

"So, when Jamie died... it wasn't just losing a friend. It was losing the one person who had your back," Dax said softly.

Erin nodded, her throat tightening as the memories came rushing back. "Exactly. It was like... everything else felt like it didn't matter anymore. I didn't trust anyone to fill that space. I didn't want to. I had built this wall around myself, keeping people at a distance so I wouldn't get hurt. It was easier that way. I threw myself into cars, into the garage. I kept my head down and stayed busy. I didn't need anyone else to fill that gap."

Her voice wavered, and Dax gently cupped her face, urging her to meet his gaze. "But you don't have to do that now. You don't have to push people away anymore, Erin."

Erin's eyes softened as she looked at him, the warmth of his touch offering her a sense of security. She nodded slowly, a small, bittersweet smile forming on her lips. "I know. I want to. It's just hard sometimes, you know? Jamie and I... we built something together. A life in this scene, this world of cars and racing. And after he was gone... it felt like I had to let all that go, too. It took a long time to feel like I could do anything but just keep moving forward, like I was stuck in a loop. But then you came along, and... you made things different. You made it feel okay to... open up again."

Dax's heart swelled with affection for her. He reached out, pulling her close, wrapping his arms around her in a gentle embrace. "You don't have to let go of anything, Erin. You're not replacing Jamie. He'll always be a part of you. But you deserve to be happy now. You deserve to feel safe, to feel loved. And I'm here for all of it."

She let herself lean into him, allowing herself a moment of vulnerability. "It's just scary, you know? I didn't think I could ever be in a place where I could let someone in like that again. But I guess, with you, it doesn't feel as hard."

Dax smiled, kissing the top of her head. "We'll take it one step at a time. Whatever you need, whenever you're ready."

Erin sat up slightly, looking at him with a more relaxed expression. "I think I'm ready. I think I'm ready for this... us. Whatever it is."

Dax nodded, his smile growing. "Good. Because I'm all in. You're not alone anymore, Erin. You never will be."

The two of them sat there for a moment longer, the weight of their conversation settling between them. They didn't need to say anything else. Erin knew that with Dax, she was finally starting to feel like she could breathe again. That she could be her true self without fear of pushing anyone away. The future didn't seem as uncertain anymore.

An hour passed, and the atmosphere between Dax and Erin had shifted. The tension from before had evaporated, replaced by a quiet understanding. They sat side by side on the couch, their shoulders touching, each of them feeling the weight of their conversation lift. Erin felt lighter than she had in weeks, and Dax, despite the lingering question about Kane's contract, was just happy to be in the moment with her.

Dax finally leaned back, his eyes scanning the room briefly before landing on the contract still sitting on the coffee table between them. The sleek, high-end paper, the offer from Kane, a reminder of what still needed to be decided. He sighed, picking it up slowly and flipping it over.

"You know, I can't help but keep thinking about this damn contract," Dax said, glancing over at Erin. "But I know you're right. This is my decision to make. It's my business. My call."

Erin nodded, offering him a reassuring smile. "Yeah. It's all yours, Dax. Whatever happens, you've built this garage into something amazing. It's your vision."

Dax gave her a small smile, appreciating her words, but there was still something lingering in the back of his mind. He felt like he needed more time to process Kane's offer. It wasn't just about the money; it was about what it would mean for the future, for their crew. It was too big of a step to rush.

"Let's just put it off for today. I'm not ready to decide yet. There's no rush," he said, finally putting the contract back on the table. "Besides, I'm more worried about what those guys are getting up to at the garage. We've left them alone for too long."

Erin chuckled, the sound light and easy. "You think they've burned the place down yet?"

Dax raised an eyebrow, giving her a mischievous grin. "If we're lucky, they'll have at least kept the fire contained to the workshop. But with Jinx in charge, who knows?"

The thought of Rev and Jinx causing chaos in the garage was enough to make Erin laugh. It was a welcomed distraction, and it helped take her mind off the heaviness of the decision Dax would eventually have to make.

"Alright, alright," Erin said, pushing herself off the couch and stretching. "Let's go save the garage from a disaster."

Dax stood up too, brushing off his jeans with a quick laugh. "You think they'll listen to us, or are we going to have to play firefighter?"

"We'll see," Erin said with a grin, reaching for her jacket. "But I'm betting on them needing a whole lot of clean-up."

As they made their way toward the door, Dax slung his arm around Erin's shoulders, pulling her in for a quick hug. "Thanks for being patient with me. I needed this time to talk things through, and... well, I'm glad we got it sorted."

Erin smiled up at him, her eyes soft. "No need to thank me, Dax."

With that, they left the apartment, the contract still sitting on the coffee table, untouched for now. The drive to the garage was easy, the silence comfortable between them as they talked about anything other than business.

When they arrived, Dax's suspicions were confirmed. The garage was bustling with activity, Rev and Jinx had clearly been up to something. They didn't immediately notice Dax and Erin's arrival, but as soon as the door to the workshop creaked open, Rev's voice rang out.

"Hey, look who decided to show up! About time, too."

Erin laughed, shaking her head. "What have you guys done now?"

Jinx, wiping grease off his hands, grinned. "Nothing... yet."

Dax gave them both a pointed look. "Uh-huh. Well, we'll see about that. Let's get to work."

They spent the rest of the day getting back into their usual routine. Rev and Jinx were working on small fixes for a couple of customers' cars, while Erin and Dax dug into the Silvia project. The banter between the crew felt natural, the way it always had, and Erin couldn't help but feel a small sense of relief. They were back where they belonged.

The contract with Kane was still on her mind, but she wasn't in a rush anymore. There was time to figure it out. For now, Erin was content, surrounded by the team she'd come to rely on.

And as the sun began to set, the familiar sounds of the garage filled the air, the clinking of tools, the hum of engines, the laughter of friends. It felt like home.