I went out to Monarch and opened the back door to toss in my backpack. It was nearly eleven. The guys would be taking a lunch break soon.
I could drive straight back to campus, but it didn’t feel right. This was the second time I’d come home without actually going home. I hadn’t wanted a lecture from Holden about missing classes or getting into fights, but damn, I missed my family.
Mind made up, I slipped into the driver’s seat and headed for Forrester Bros Auto. If Holden wanted to bitch me out, I’d take it like a man.
I pulled into the lot just as a couple of bikers rolled out. Gray was still standing outside the open bay, and I could see Flynnbent over the open hood of a county Jeep, the pesky Malibu sitting to the side with diagnostic equipment still hooked up.
Gray clocked me immediately, grinning and coming toward me as I threw open the car door.
“What the hell are you doing here, man?” He dragged me into a hug, thumping my back with one hand.
“Just passing through,” I joked.
“You need a tune-up?”
“Yep. The check engine light keeps blinking on.”
He laughed and slung his arm over my shoulders. “Come on. Axel just ran out to get Zacos. I bet you’re missing those, huh?”
I chuckled awkwardly, casting a sidelong look at Flynn as we passed. He’d frozen with a wrench in his hand, eyes wide.
“Yeah, Zacos,” I said. “It’s been a while.”
Only sixteen hours since I’d had them with Flynn last night, but I couldn’t exactly tell my brothers that.
“We got a surprise visitor,” Gray told Flynn.
Flynn swallowed. “Yeah. This is a surprise.”
I smiled and shrugged. “I missed home.”
Flynn’s face softened. “Of course you did.”
“Will you text Axel?” Gray asked Flynn. “Make sure he adds to the order so Bailey can eat with us.”
“Sure,” Flynn said, reaching for his pocket before remembering his greasy hands. He grabbed up a rag and wiped at them. “Sausage and peppers again, right?”
“You’ve got a good memory,” Gray said with a chuckle. “Those are his favorite.”
“Lucky guess,” Flynn said, and when Gray turned away, widened his eyes at me.
If he didn’t relax, he was going to give away the change in our relationship, and I really wasn’t ready for my brothers’ opinions about my love life.
Relax, I mouthed at him before turning back to Gray. “Guess I better go say hi to Holden and take my scolding.”
Holden stepped out from his office doorway. “Scolding? Hell, kid, I’m just glad to see you.”
I smiled tentatively. “Yeah? Even though I’m missing a class to be here?”
He looked pained, but he nodded. “Yeah. I told you when we talked the other day that I never wanted you to feel you had to avoid home because of shit like that.”
My throat tightened. “Thanks. That’s why I’m here. I just…really missed you guys.”
“We missed you too.”
He stepped forward and opened his arms.
I hesitated. “You’re sure?”
