“Because it’s such a hard job?” James snarked, before turning to me. “Are you even legal?”
“Whoa!” Dylan jumped in front of me and raised his palms. “What the fuck is wrong with you? What the hell kinda question is that?”
“A required one. We can’t film anyone under eighteen. She has to sign a contact and a waiver with production, so she’s gotta be a legal adult.”
“She’s a college student, James.” Austin gave him a deadpan look. “Second year.”
“I, uh, I’m nineteen,” I mumbled.
“What?” James put his hand to his ear. “I can’t hear you, sweetheart.” Then turned to Austin. “Seriously? This is who you hire? How am I supposed to film someone who can’t even speak for herself?”
“Then don’t.” Austin crossed his arms over his chest. “She’s here to answer the phone and keep the crazies out of our way. She doesn’t have to provide content for the fucking show. It’s supposed to be about the bikes and us brothers.”
“Or—and I’m just spitballing here—” Dylan pulled a funny face. “Maybe you can put a microphone on her like you do with us.”
James’ eyes flicked to Dylan briefly before turning back to Austin. “Speaking of brothers, what’s with the new addition to the paint shed? Anyone want to comment on that?”
Austin’s eyes flicked to Dylan even as his face remained blank.
Dylan shrugged. “We thought you’d want us to wait for you before we talked about it.”
“So it’s not a random tagging? It’s, you haven’t…” James practically vibrated with excitement as he connected the dots.
It would’ve been funny if I wasn’t so torn up with guilt.
“Wait, who all is here?” James’ gaze bounced around the room.
“So far, just us, but Nathan and Ryan should be here in a minute or two. We just came in early to plow through the paperwork with Indy.”
“Indy? Seriously, that’s your name?” James’ nose wrinkled with his opinioned tone.
I didn’t even bother to respond. I let my eyeroll do my talking for me.
James blinked a few times. “Right. I have some paperwork you’ll need to fill out, too, Indy. I’ll have someone pull it out for you. In the meantime, we’ll set up at the mural and start taping when the rest of you get here.”
He pivoted on his heel and all but bounced out of the room as the drama over the mural filled him with purpose.
“Right.” Austin sighed. “So there’s that.”
“You holding up okay, kiddo?” Dylan asked me.
“Is he always such a tool?” I settled onto the chair behind the receptionist’s desk with a groan.
Austin’s lips quirked. “Pretty much.”
“I would’ve called him an ass, but yes.” Dylan hitched a shoulder.
“Fantastic,” I groaned. “I forgot to ask, but does the job come with hazard pay, or am I just supposed to swallow my words all the time?”
“Not sure how to take that.” Austin cocked his head. “Hazard pay because we’re always fighting or hazard pay for having to deal with that jackass?” He nodded toward the door James had left through.
“The jackass.” I laughed. “I’m used to dealing with hotheaded boys.”
Dylan sent me a searching look like he wanted to know more about the last half of my statement, but I avoided his eyes and trained my gaze on Austin.
“Then yeah. You’ll get two paychecks here. One from us and one from the network. But don’t ever feel like you have to swallow your words with us or him. We want you to be yourself.”
“That’s what I told her.” Dylan continued to give me that look like he was trying to figure me out.
