That made it easier.
“Shiloh, do you like to play pool?” Bailey asked, because my baby brother was a pool shark at heart.
“No hustling my guy,” I said before thinking it through.
Shiloh wasn’t my boyfriend. In fact, when we’d talked this morning, it had been very specifically without anycommitments. But now that Shiloh had a reason to stay, a possible future here, I couldn’t stop imagining more for us.
I was getting way ahead of myself. I’d damn near panicked at the idea of holding his hand.
But man, I really wanted what Gray and Axel had found. I wanted love, affection, and a partner who stood by my side no matter what.
Shiloh smiled at my words, and I thought maybe he wanted that too.
But first, I had to be worthy of him. I had to get past my touch aversion so I could give him the relationship he deserved. Otherwise, I’d only be hurting us both.
CHAPTER 16
Shiloh
I fannedthe blow-dryer over my damp waves, styling my hair while I tried to settle the nerves dancing in my stomach. The brothers would be home soon, and we were all heading to the pool hall to celebrate my potential return to teaching.
That wasn’t what had me nervous, though.
Teaching gig or not, this was a special night. Holden had asked me to hold his hand, and I wanted to look good for him. To look worth the trouble.
Especially now that the guys knew the truth about me, that I was a camboy. My principal hadn’t thought twice before firing me for it, and he knew me a lot better than Holden’s family. I couldn’t really blame them if they doubted my intentions for their brother.
The door opened, and feet pounded across the living room floor. The guys sounded like a herd of elephants when they all came in at once.
I stepped into the hall, and Gray saw me first. He gave a low whistle. “Well, shit. You’re making the rest of us look like slobs.”
I flushed. “Too much?”
Maybe I’d overshotniceand landed insluttycamboy territory.
Holden came up behind him. “No, you look perfect.”
“You really do,” Emory said. “I love that color on you.”
I fingered the burgundy suede jacket I’d put on over my tight teal T-shirt, the better to bring out the highlights in my dark hair. “Yeah? Thanks.”
The guys scattered to go change before going out, but they didn’t take long. Fifteen minutes later, Holden pulled his GTO into a parking space in a small strip mall that included the pool hall, a tattoo parlor, and a sex shop.
Holden kept up a stream of idle conversation about the pool hall and the many times his brothers had gotten into trouble for brawling there. My face must have given away my trepidation because he stopped abruptly. “Sorry. I’m just word vomiting all over you. I promise it’s not a rough place or anything.”
“I’d never be scared with you,” I said honestly. “You’d never put me at risk.”
“That’s true.”
“About tonight,” I said tentatively. “With us, I mean…”
Holden stiffened. “We should head inside. We can talk about everything else later. This is about you. Your future.”
“Okay, but?—”
He got out, the door closing behind him before I could get the sentence out.My future involves you too.
Ball Busters was busy, a whole row of motorcycles parked out front. I stuck close to Holden as we went inside. There was a clatter of balls hitting one another on a pool table to our right. The interior was dim, with card tables scattered about and a bar on the far wall.
