Silas had to wonder what Rae saw in this kid, what with all the attitude he was getting. It didn’t occur to him that the sunglasses and snippiness might be a form of defense. He knew he could be intimidating when he actively tried to be, but never really took much notice when that intimidation was accidental.
It could’ve gone badly, giving her a compliment when it seemed like that was all she expected. Making her head swell with an ego that wasn’t deserved. If that had been the case, Silas probably would’ve ended their little meeting right there. He didn’t need some kid in his garage who claimed to know what she was doing while in reality knowing nothing at all. Nick seemed to know what she was talking about, though, and that was proven by her response to his question.
“Learned from your dad, huh?” He nodded, drawing his lips down into an exaggerated but impressed frown. “Lucky you. I never knew my dad. Had to learn this shit on the streets.” Which was why, even though the other mechanics who worked in the garage were quieter and more skilled, Silas never claimed to be the ‘head mechanic’ at Sing Sing. He wasn’t the oldest, he wasn’t the most skilled but, like Nick, he knew what he was doing.
He snorted a surprised laugh at her remark about him not being an idiot. Though really, a remark like that from Nick shouldn’t have surprised him. “Nope, not an idiot. Not while I’m in this garage, anyway.” Outside the garage, with things he couldn’t fix, it was safe to say that he wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed. He nodded his agreement. “That’s what I figured. Why I didn’t bother lookin’ for cages.” Of course, he’d considered taking them from the vet station, just to piss off David, but for some reason decided against that plan.