“You’re right. It’s not.” I let out a frustrated breath. “Y’all know my grandfather and his grandfather came by the bar after Walker comped me that tire repair.”
Beckett nodded. “Sure…”
“I don’t think they showed up simply because it looked bad to be receiving free goods and services from Walker Tire.”
“What do you think it’s about, then?” Sawyer asked, taking a seat across from me.
“Y’all say that Walker’s pinged your gaydar for some time, right?”
I received nods all the way around.
“Well, if you—okay, we—can see it, maybe his family can, too. Absent that, my grandfather has a nose for such things.” I snorted. “Back in the day, he tried to out me to my parents—as if they didn’t already know.”
Beckett chuckled. “Your parents were always supportive, but I swear, they seemed extra proud of you when he did that.”
“Of course. It solidified our status as Cavanaugh family outcasts,” I said, tapping his fist.
“And the Walker family is just as homophobic?” Sawyer asked.
I nodded. “Walker and I had a moment yesterday when I got my tire fixed, and?—”
“You mean when you angled your car to run over a random piece of metal?” Joel asked.
“I did no such thing,” I lied, touching my hair.
Joel, who knew me too damn well, pointed to what I was doing.
I lowered my hand. “Shut up.”
“Did you actually aim for the metal in the road?” Major asked, downing the last of his cocktail.
“Maybe,” I eventually admitted.
“Interesting,” Sawyer noted, refreshing Major’s drink.
“So glad I could amuse you.”
“So you had a moment…” Beckett made a “go on” gesture. “I need more details.”
I couldn’t help smiling as I thought about it. “He’d just finished with my tire and walked into the office all sweaty and beautiful in a dirty tank top. He had some grease on his cheek, so I wiped it off.”
Major let out a sigh and pressed his hand to his chest. “I can’t even imagine romance in my life right now, but that’s good.”
“Anyway, I’d started to kind of lean in. Not for a kiss, but maybe to whisper something naughty in his ear, flirt with him a bit.”
Joel fanned himself. “Nice.”
“And that’s the moment Momma Walker decided to stroll into the office.”
“Cockblocker,” Beckett said, laughing.
“Yeah, well. The way he stepped back told me everything I didn’t want to know about the dynamic with his family.”
Sawyer grimaced. “That sounds… not great.”
“Neither was the expression on his mother’s face,” I said, imitating her thin-lipped fury. “He wouldn’t look at me after that. I’m gonna be honest, I don’t know if he realizes how queer he is.”
“You mean, for example, when he looks at you like he wants to put his mouth everywhere and anywhere on your body?” Beckett asked, disbelieving.
