“Nothing yet, but I’ll find something.”
“There’s no rush.” Flynn said as he slung an arm over Bailey’s shoulders and nuzzled into his neck.
Right. No rush at all if I wanted to watch this lovefest every day. After my last boyfriend turned into a jackwagon when he learned about my upbringing and Flynn’s felon status, I’d been flying solo. I had my work to focus on, a whole future to chase, so I didn’t need a man.
Didn’t mean I didn’t get lonely sometimes, though. Watching my brother and Bailey together made my heart ache for something I wouldn’t have anytime soon.
That studio with no A/C was looking better and better. Or maybe that trailer on the edge of town. Moving in with a stranger to split bills would be totally safe, right?
I hopped off my stool. “Let me go change, and we can go.”
“No booty shorts!” Flynn called after me, and Bailey laughed. “It’s not that kind of place!”
I escaped into the little guest room Flynn had set up for me. It contained a futon that folded out into a full-size bed, although with a super-thin mattress, an antique dresser he’d repainted a pale blue, and a tiny closet. It wasn’t much, but considering I had no furniture of my own after living in furnished student housing in Maple Grove, I was grateful.
I opened the closet door and rifled through myclothes until I found a bright teal T-shirt that brought out the color of my eyes. I didn’t want to do anythingtoosuggestive in a tiny town like this. Flynn didn’t need to worry; the booty shorts would stay tucked away.
I changed out of my faded Thirsty U shirt and applied a few drops of cologne before running my fingers through my unruly waves. Bedhead could be sexy, but not when it looked as if I had never combed my hair. Ah well. It wasn’t as if I’d be prowling for guys tonight.
Ball Breakers was a shabby little pool hall tucked into a strip mall with a tattoo parlor and a sex shop. Motorcycles took up three parking spots, alongside pickups and a few cars that included a sleek-looking GTO and a hideous El Camino.
It wasn’t the yuppyville of Maple Grove, but that was a relief. I’d always felt like an imposter there.
“It looks like a rough crowd, but it’s not, really,” Bailey said as we got out of the car. “It’s just blue-collar guys who want to kick back after work. A few old bikers, but usually not anyone looking for trouble.”
“Not unless Bailey makes trouble with them,” Flynn added with a pointed look.
“Leave the lectures to Holden, babe,” Bailey said. “He’s better at them.”
Holden was his oldest brother and notorious for being the bossy one in the family. Bailey had two other brothers—Gray and Axel—who I’d met when I visited for Thanksgiving, along with their boyfriends. They’d had a very full house, especially with all the stray dogs that Axel took in.
Flynn huffed a laugh and brushed a thumb along Bailey’s jaw. “I’m just trying to protect this pretty face.”
Bailey smirked. “Don’t worry. Tonight’s about Aiden’s pretty face. I’ll be on my best behavior.”
Flynn opened the door, and Bailey linked arms with meand guided me inside. The interior was dim, and the clatter of pool balls competed with laughter drifting from the handful of tables arranged around the small bar. For a Wednesday night, it was pretty lively.
A group of guys in full leathers sat at the bar, one of them tipping his head in our direction.
“That’s Otis,” Bailey said. “Gray has done some work on his bike, and I’m rebuilding the engine in his daughter’s car.”
“That’s a big job, isn’t it?”
“It’s not small,” Bailey agreed. “But I’ve got some time since I’m not starting school again until the fall.”
“Right. You’re going into that car restoration program here in town?”
“Yep.” He beamed. “I can’t wait. The past six months have been great for getting back to normal, but I’m ready to tackle something new.”
“Just don’t go looking for a new relationship with one of those college boys,” Flynn said.
Bailey elbowed him. “Never. You’re stuck with me, Dozer.”
I raised my eyebrow at the old prison nickname that Flynn usually hated. But my brother was smiling, so obviously it hit differently when Bailey said it.
“Okay, I hear you,” he said. “You love me no matter what.”
“That’s right. Every part.”
