Totally Hetero Pudge And Ronny: Chapter Six

 "Hey, Ronny, someone wants to talk to you, when you can spare a minute," the short, dark-haired receptionist, Janet, called from the garage door.
"Huh?" Ronny slid out from under the car he was currently working on, sitting up on the creeper. "Is it Ace again?" he asked. "Or just someone wanting reassurance that I'll take care of their baby?"
"No, it's not Ace. It's someone else and his mom. I think they just want to see you."
Suspiciously, Ronny followed her into the rather large, bright, sterile-looking waiting area. He was both relieved and still wary to see Pudge there, with an older woman he recognized after a second or two. Pudge was now wearing a white button-up dress shirt, instead of the Christian slogan t-shirt Ronny had seen him in last week, and tan slacks. Pudge's mother was wearing a long, light blue skirt with matching jacket and a white blouse. She had a plate of some kind of stacked baked goods, wrapped in green plastic wrap, on her lap.
"Oh, hi, Pudge. Hello, Mrs. McMercy," he nodded.
"Hey, Ronny," Pudge replied.
"Hello, Ronny. It's good to see you again," Mrs. McMercy smiled, in what seemed like genuine happiness. "I made you some brownies." She rose, pushing the plate towards him.
"Oh. Wow. Thank you, Mrs. McMercy. You didn't have to do that," Ronny said slowly, as he took the plate.
"It's no trouble at all. I wanted to say thank you for helping Pudge out the other day."
"Well, um, you're welcome," he nodded, glancing at Pudge. "You remembered these were my favorite, didn't you?" he asked, a strange puzzled look crossing his face.
"I remembered it was either you or Racer," she smiled, quite pleased. "I'm glad I guessed correctly." 
"Hey, Ronny, did I mention you've always been my favorite person?" Janet laughed from her desk, nodding toward the plate in his hands.
"Yeah, when you want something," Ronny grinned, eliciting polite laughs from Pudge and Mrs. McMercy. "Don't worry, I'll put it in the breakroom so everyone can have one. That is, if it's okay with you, Mrs. McMercy?" he asked, turning back to her.
"It's fine, Ronny. You're very generous," Marcy smiled, trying to hide her slight surprise. 
He shrugged. "They're pretty good to me here. Why not?" he asked casually.
A chime sounded just then, and Ronny and Janet reflexively looked up toward the outside door. Ronny's smile tightened involuntarily.
"Hi, Ace. I didn't think you had an appointment today."
"Hi, Ronny. Hey, Pudge, hi, Mrs. McMercy. I don't have an appointment, Ronny, I was just wondering if Janet could squeeze me in for an oil change." He glanced strangely at the huge plate Ronny was holding, then over to Mrs. McMercy, the light glinting off his small, silver, fish-shaped lapel pin on his white button-down shirt.
"But I thought you just had one..."
"That was our other car. Anyway, did you ever have time to look at that book I gave you?"
"Sorry, Ace, they keep me pretty busy here," he answered, holding his smile with an effort. "I haven't really gotten into it yet."
"Oh. Well, I hope you have time soon. I thought it was pretty good."
"It does look interesting," Ronny lied. "I'll try to find the time for it. I gotta go put these away and get back to work."
"Oh, okay," Ace answered blankly, glancing strangely at the brownies.
"I'll put them away for you," Janet responded in mock eagerness, taking the platter from him across the desk. "Thank you, ma'am; you're now my favorite customer!" she laughed, to Mrs. McMercy.
"You're welcome, dear, although you really should thank Ronny..."
"Nice seeing you, Ace, Pudge; thanks again, Mrs. McMercy." And with that, he disappeared quickly through the door to the garage.
"So anyway," Ace leaned on the counter, turning to Janet, "do you think you could get me in?"
She consulted the computer. "I'm sorry, Mr. Virtueson, we're booked pretty solid. Maybe you should try again another day," she smiled apologetically.
Pudge glanced out the window. Other than his own and Ace's cars, there were only a few in the parking lot, and he imagined that most belonged to Janet and the mechanics. He caught his mother glancing outside too; she had noticed also.
"Oh, I see," Ace replied, a bit disappointed. "Oh, well, I'll come back later. Hey, what did you think of that tract I gave you before?"
"Oh, it was...interesting," she nodded, smiling politely. It had told her she had a "date" with God, to be judged for her life, which sounded like the worst date ever to her. Janet had noticed long before that Ace always gave her materials geared towards women, while the men tended to get gender-neutral, sometimes even more intellectual, pamphlets and books. "I'm really not very religious, though..."
"It's not really about religion, it's about a relationship...but anyway, you can always talk to me if you have any questions, you know."
"Well, thanks, I'll keep that in mind, Mr. Virtueson..."
He gave her a slight wave as he turned to leave. "Okay. See you later, Janet. Bye, Pudge, Mrs McMercy..."
"Bye, Ace," Marcy nodded. "See you in church Sunday."
"Wait, Ace, I'll walk you out," Pudge jumped up, following him.
Once they were outside, Pudge whispered, "Ace, I thought you hadn't seen him much. Why were you surprised he's nice now?"
"Come on, Pudge, he has to be nice for his job. He's not going to read that book. Not unless God drives him to it somehow. I've been praying that would happen soon..."
"But he stopped to help me. That's a nice thing to do."
"I told you: He was probably planning on giving you his business card, and just forgot to. I think they get a commission on their work. Besides, have you seen what's over there?" Ace asked, pointing across the street.
"Yes," Pudge sighed. "It's a porn shop." He quickly looked away from the window, in which a handcuffed mannequin was displayed, strung up by her wrists, wearing a feathery pink chemise-thing. Right above her, a blinking yellow sign flashed "Adult Shop" continuously. Pudge had seen this place on the way there.
"Where do you think Ronny goes on his lunch hours? Where do you think all the mechanics go? You think that's very nice?"
"I don't know, I guess not..."
"That lady, Janet, has to work with a bunch of porn-addicted perverts! She probably gets harassed all day long! And I think it's not a coincidence that it's right across the street from this place. I'll bet they get pretty good business from the staff and customers both. Let's just say I know exactly why Ronny doesn't have time to read that book I gave him," he added with a knowing, conspiratorial look.
"Um...okay..." Pudge was a little uncomfortable with the mental image of Ronny masturbating; it made him feel like a creepy lecher. He also wondered if Janet ever went across the street herself; he had heard conflicting accounts of whether women had the same problems with lust that men did. He always figured that it was more of a way to feel loved than anything else.
"So, did you say something to him?" Ace asked, changing the subject.
"Say something?"
"About God, Pudge."
"I didn't get a chance to. I've barely seen him."
"Huh. Well, if you won't say anything to him, Pudge, then I will," he declared proudly.
"I didn't say I wouldn't say anything to him. I just haven't had the chance yet," Pudge said, a little irritated.
"Okay, Pudge. See you later," Ace answered as he got into his car.
"Bye," Pudge muttered as Ace drove away.

A half hour later, Ronny was handing him the keys, as his mother was climbing into the passenger side. "And Janet told you that I checked the oil? It probably should be changed soon." Janet had checked up on Ronny's progress about ten minutes ago.
"I'll come back later," Pudge said nervously, taking the keys from him. "Thanks again, Ronny."
"Uh-huh. Have a good one, Pudge," he replied, starting to leave.
"Um, Ronny, wait!" he called, hurrying after him.
Ronny stopped, stiffening as if expecting something unpleasant.
"I just..." Pudge stammered, not knowing what to say. "I just want you to know...I didn't ask Ace to come here today."
"You probably didn't have to," Ronny exhaled, rolling his dark brown eyes up towards his long, tousled black hair. Then his professionalism returned, and he seemed to catch himself. "I mean, um...well, you know..." he shrugged slightly, spreading his hands.
"Yeah, I know. I saw, today." Pudge nodded, just a tiny bit. He felt as if he should be as enthusiastic about witnessing as Ace was, though he didn't want to get the same reactions that Ace had.
"Oh, yeah," Ronny started chuckling as a slow smile spread across his face.
"What's so funny?" Pudge asked, perplexed.
Ronny leaned in closer,  lowering his voice. "Pudge, I work across the street from a sex shop, and I know everybody in Highland by their cars. What do you think I'm laughing about?" he grinned wickedly, his face about six inches from Pudge's face.
Pudge's eyes widened, and his jaw dropped. "Ah...you mean...Ace?" he asked, genuinely shocked.
Ronny was suddenly taken aback. "What? No, not Ace. Just no one in particular. Someone else. I shouldn't say anything, I'm at work. I gotta go," he explained, hurrying off. "Bye, Pudge!" he called waving back over his shoulder.
"Bye," Pudge muttered, for the second time that hour.