Flynn
I pickedup a call on the way to my car Friday night, duffel slung over one shoulder and anticipation of the weekend ahead fluttering in my stomach.
“Hey, Matteo. What’s up?”
“I got your message,” he said. “You’re going to miss the next Redemption meeting?”
“Yeah, I’ve got plans with my brother.”
That was my cover story, anyway. I would see my brother when I was up at Thurston University, so it wasn’t a lie. I’d just be seeing Bailey too.
“You’re not avoiding the meeting because of Shane, are you?” Matteo asked, concern leaking into his tone.
“No,” I said shortly, the mention of his name raising my hackles. “He’s got nothing to do with it.”
“Because he came to me asking about placement at Forrester Bros Auto. He seems genuinely interested in the operation.”
Of course he fucking did. That was no surprise.
I opened the trunk and dumped my duffel bag in. “He’s interested for all the wrong reasons, Matteo. Please don’t let him play you.”
There was a pause. “I already told him no.”
That surprised me. “You did? When I brought up my concerns, you didn’t listen.”
“That’s not true. I listened. I just wanted to give him a chance. I still do.”
I didn’t have a response to that. I got into the car and started up the engine. “I’m getting ready to head out. Am I good to miss the meeting?”
“Yeah, but Flynn…”
“Yeah?” I asked, guard up.
“I’m sorry if I seemed dismissive of your worries. I’m taking your input seriously, okay? I want to give Shane a chance, but I won’t let him manipulate the situation to suit himself. That’s why I said no to his request. I know that if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have come out of prison nearly as…okay as I did. I’ll always be grateful for that.”
“We were friends,” I said gruffly. “You saved me too, just in a different way.”
“What way was that?” Matteo asked dubiously.
He never understood just how much he meant to me. Partly by design. I didn’t want him feeling pressured or obligated. There was too much of that shit in prison already.
“You reminded me of who I was out here,” I said. “Not Dozer, the big, intimidating asshole who’d murdered a man. Flynn, the guy with a little brother, and a love of sci-fi and classic arcade games, and a knack for keeping his POS cars running against all the odds.”
Matteo chuckled, his voice like warm honey. It didn’t affect me like it once had, and I was glad about that. Matteo had reminded me of who I used to be before that awful night, butBailey showed me that I could be that man again—or maybe even a better version of him.
I was already addicted to that feeling.
“Drive safe and have a great weekend,” Matteo said. “I’ll let you know if anything important happens at the meeting.”
“Thanks, man.”
I ended the call, reversed out of my driveway, and headed for the highway.
Two hours and ten minutes later, I coasted into Maple Grove city limits. Five minutes after that, I was pulling onto the Thurston University campus and following the directions Bailey had sent me to his dorm parking lot.
I found a spot toward the back and parked, then climbed out of the car to stretch my legs. Bailey crossed the lot to meet me.
He had styled his hair, messy but artful, and wore ripped jeans that seemed to emphasize his narrow hips and long legs and a forest-green T-shirt that clung to every lean muscle. He’d layered a fleece-lined jean jacket on top.
