“Looking for some shorts for Brad.”
He must have seen the bemused look on Brad's face, because he smirked.
“TJ.” The man nodded, then took a step back and sized him up.
“Newman,” Brad said, because nothing else came to mind.
“TJ.” Declan sent Brad a small smile. “Tex junior, I like it.”
“Just came from the Hoot,” Newman said.
“You put some food in the book?” Brad could talk like a local too, even if he did think they were odd.
Nodding his head sent Newman’s blond curls all over the place.
“I'm thinking blue, Declan.”
“My thoughts leaned that way, Newman.”
“With pockets, maybe, and longer, to keep the bad boy image he’s got going. Not sure as I'm comfortable seeing a man in short shorts, unless he's exercising,” Newman added.
“Also my thoughts.”
Declan emerged once more with a pair in his hands.
“These should do. You head on in there and try them on, Brad.”
“Ah—”
“Just roll with it, bud.” Newman gave him a wink.
Brad took the shorts, wondering how DJ O'Donnell had known what size he was. Slipping into the curtained room, he kicked off his sneakers and jeans then pulled on the shorts.
“How they working for you?”
“Surprisingly a perfect fit.”
“Out you come then,” Newman said, and Brad heard the humor in his voice now.
Not entirely sure they wouldn't come in if he didn't go out there, Brad opened the curtain.
“Damned near perfect,” the Irishman said. “He’s the exact same size as his brother.”
“Well now, imagine that,” Newman added.
“They got them in gray if you're inclined.”
“I don’t need two pairs, I won’t be here long enough to wear them,” Brad said, deciding enough was enough.
“He's going to keep them on, Mac!” Declan called down the shop.
“I am?”
Declan had once again disappeared into the pile of shorts, leaving Brad standing there, not entirely sure what the hell had just happened. He'd been selecting his own clothes for some time now. Further to that was the fact that Brad rarely let anyone make decisions for him or manipulate him these days.
“He's good,” Newman said, as if reading his thoughts.
“I'm not quite sure how that happened, as I've been dressing myself for years.”
