Bailey:
I’m leaving for college tomorrow. Want to go out with me and have a proper goodbye party?
Flynn:
Isn’t your family having one tomorrow?
Bailey:
Yeah…
My chest ached as I considered what might have happened if I’d gone out with Bailey. If I’d not resisted the pull between us.
Maybe we’d have hooked up and he’d have forgotten about me once he got to Thurston. Maybe I’d have only gotten one night.
But damn, I’d give anything now for even that much time with him. Now that he was completely out of reach, I didn’t want to resist anymore.
I wanted him.
Too bad I’d fucked that all up.
I clumsily typed a text to him, stopping to delete and correct words several times. My damn fingers were just too big for smartphones.
Finally, I had a message that was readable, and I hit Send.
Flynn:
Please call Holden. Let him know you’re okay.
I held my breath, wondering if he’d answer, but there was no sign he’d even seen the text. But of course he didn’t want to talk to me after last night.
With any luck, he’d at least have mercy on Holden.
I switched streams and sent a quick text to Knight.
Winslow had said I should talk to someone, and I thought maybe he was right. I needed to get my head straight before I had to return to work Monday and face Holden and his brothers.
Flynn:
Can we meet up for a beer?
Knight:
Sure. Ball Breakers?
Flynn:
No. Anywhere but there.
Knight:
Fieldhouse, then. See you in ten.
I tossed my phone into the console next to my seat and started the car.
The Fieldhouse was downtown, tucked into Main Street not far from Sauced, a pizza parlor, and Jerkers Soda Shoppe. I didn’t venture out to eat often, but I’d had food from both places because Holden often got takeout when we were busy at the shop.
Knight was already at the bar when I walked in. He waved me over.
