I glared at him as I wiped my hands on a rag. “That stopped being funny two days ago.”
“Nah, it’s got another few weeks of life left. Just wait till Bailey is home for the weekend. Then we’ll really have some fun.”
Even Holden—Mr. Uptight himself—laughed. “Yeah, you’re in for some good times. You’re lucky Axel isn’t over here to give you hell.”
“Axel likes me,” I protested.
“We all like you. That’s why we gotta bust your balls,” Gray said.
“But seriously, why are you working so early?” Holden asked. “I thought we made it clear you’d earned your job. You don’t have to keep trying to impress us.”
“Even though I’m fucking your brother?”
They both stared at me. I winced. “What? You just said it.”
“Lands different when we make the joke,” Gray said.
Holden nodded. “Too soon for you to be laughing about it. You better be head over heels in love with him, or we’re gonna have beef.”
I raised my hands. “I’m one hundred percent gone for him. That’s a promise.”
“Good. I don’t feel like trying to find a new mechanic. Of course, if Bailey comes back, maybe I wouldn’t have to.” Holden cast a look at Gray. “What do you think?”
Gray grinned. “I think you better ease up before you give Flynn a heart attack.”
Holden considered me. “He is looking a little gray.”
“Man, fuck you guys,” I said. “Is this how it’s always gonna be?”
“Get used to it,” Gray said with a chuckle. “The trash talking has hardly begun.”
“Great,” I grumbled, even though I couldn’t hide my smile. I’d seen the guys give each other hell for months. They were always a little more professional with me, a little more distant. I wasn’t sure how they’d handle me dating Bailey, but it seemed once they got over the shock, they’d decided I was just another brother in need of some tough love.
Their acceptance made me wonder if maybe they’d be cool when I told them about my manslaughter conviction. I hoped so, but they were protective of Bailey, so it could go either way.
Just tell them and find out. Better to have it all be in the open.
Holden started toward his office, and the words burst from me. “Hey, uh, about me dating Bailey.”
He paused. “Yeah?”
“I know my time in prison probably gave you some concerns.”
Holden crossed his arms and leaned back against the rolling toolbox near his office door. “Bailey’s still young, Flynn. It was nothing against you.”
“The brat is gonna love who he loves,” Gray said. “We’ve got no say in that, and we shouldn’t.” He cast a pointed look Holden’s way. “Right?”
Holden sighed. “Yeah, yeah. I overreacted at first. I get it. But Bailey was injail, and they sprung this shit on me, along with Bailey not wanting to continue with school. You gotta give a guy a chance to process.”
“It was a lot to take in that night.” I took a big breath. “That’s why I… Well, I didn’t want to get into the whole con thing with you on top of everything else.”
“We get it, Flynn,” Gray said. “Don’t worry about it.”
He didn’t get it. Not yet.
I licked my lips. “I made mistakes that put me in there, and I should own up to that.”
“We’ve all made mistakes,” Gray said. “Hell, I ran away from home and took way too long to come back. Axel was pissed as hell at me for a long time. We hired you, and we hired Matteo before you, because we believe in second chances.”
