Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
TEXAS
I had a feeling Maya had friend zoned me. But that was all right. She wasn’t near ready for my confession of the future I saw for us. I was also enjoying the time we’d been spending together. It was terrible to say, but I fucking loved that I’d had the chance to be there for her when she’d crashed over everything. When that prick’s words had set her off. I loved it because if I hadn’t had that chance, I doubted she’d have given me the time of day. She’d still be dodging me every time I was around. Now, I could tell she didn’t mind my company.
The day I’d seen her at Coyote’s business, I ruffled her hair, which I was sure caused her to leave. Coyote had called me a fucking idiot. At first, I didn’t know why, until I’d asked him just the other day about it, and he’d explained that she would have taken that as a brotherly or friendly pat. I could have fucking knocked myself out for it. I’d only done it because I’d wanted to touch her in some way.
Since then, I’d made sure not to do it again. I didn’t want her to get that impression from me. When the time did come, I couldn’t have her say I treated her in a “my friend’s sister” way or anything.
She’d have to see the difference, wouldn’t she?
I’d hoped to Christ she did, because I was enamoured by her.
She’d always been a bright spot in a gathering—smiling, laughing, and sharing her love around the room. Yet, if she was pissed at something, she’d let you know. She got fiery when protecting those she cared for. Admittedly, when my infatuation started, I stalked the shit out of her, just for a glance or a word from her. What helped was how our families were close.
Christ, I sounded like a creep.
Did she still see something in me?
Could the crush she’d had when she was younger still be there under the surface?
Fuck, I hoped to Christ it was.
Hoped that I hadn’t screwed it up by acting like a dick around her, by unconsciously flaunting my exes around her.
A throat cleared. I looked up from tattooing my client’s shoulder to see Dodge standing in the doorway.
“Yo, old man.”
“Shut it, kid. We’ve got the rest of your stuff. Give me the keys, and I’ll start shifting it in.”
I waved towards the bench in the corner. “They’re on there. I’m nearly done here, which I’m sure Nick is grateful for.”
“Hell yes,” Nick said with a grimace. He’d been sitting there for four hours already.
Chuckling, I went back to work on the last of the shading. “Give me five,” I told Dodge.
“You got it.” He walked out of the room.
“That your dad?” Nick asked and then hissed.
“He’s my uncle, but he’s been around since I was fourteen, so yeah, he’s also my dad.”
I caught Nick’s wicked grin. “He’s hot.”
Chuckling, I shook my head. “I’ll let him know. But you might want to run if his woman hears about it. She’s possessive as fuck.”
“Then maybe keep it to yourself or at least wait until I’m far away from the shop.”
Snorting, I wiped over the tattoo. “I’ll give you a head start.”
“Thanks.”
Tipping my chin towards the mirror, I told him, “Go check it out before I wrap it.”
He climbed off the table and stood in front of the mirror, shifting slightly to the left and right. The bright smile and happy eyes were what I loved about this job. People wanted my work. They loved my designs, and it meant so goddamn much that clients were waiting and willing to have my ink on them.
“Man, this is the fucking best. Damn lucky you moved here.”
“Glad you trusted my work to put it on you.”
“Just wait, you’re gonna be sought after. I give it another month, and you’ll have bookings coming out of your ears.”
Chuckling, I shrugged, feeling a little bashful at the damn praises. Though, word was already starting to get around, and the shop was picking up enough that I’d have to employ a third artist soon. Also, the girl who took care of the bookings was finalising her piercing course and taking up a room here for it, so I’d need to find another front person.
“Thanks, man.” I wrapped his ink and gave him the instructions on how to take care of it. Nick headed out to pay at the front desk with Monnie. Nick had been the last client for the day, so after I cleaned up, I made my way towards the front of the store.
“Texas, that dude has a hard-on for you.”
Grinning, I shrugged. “As long as he comes back for more work, I don’t mind.”
“That’s true. Now, before you leave, you know your schedule for tomorrow?”
“Yep. I’m working on the artwork for Josh’s tonight. The rest are already done. You’ll lock up after Hex is done with his client?”
She winked. “You know it.”
“Thanks, Mon, have a good night. Later, Hex,” I yelled back down the hall.
His reply was quick. “Later.”
I was beyond grateful for Monnie and Hex. Both had followed me down from my Melbourne store to work here—after I’d begged them to and found their replacements. Besides, they’d always been talking about moving to the country, and when I’d offered, they’d jumped at the chance. The only thing keeping them in Melbourne for now was their lease, which they couldn’t get out of. Luckily, it was up in three weeks. When Monnie wasn’t busy with work and her course, she was searching for places for them to live.
Stepping outside, I noticed the sun had started to set. I had about half an hour to help Dodge with the rest of my shit in the daylight. Daylight savings sucked. Turning, I walked to the right of the shop where my house was attached and entered. I’d been damn lucky the house went up for sale after I’d bought the shop connected to it. Even if the house was a bit outdated compared to the shop, I was looking forward to doing it up.
“Honey, I’m home,” I called after entering and closing the front door.
“In the kitchen,” Low answered.
As I made my way down the hall, I glanced into my bedroom, which was already set up. Next was the spare room that I’d turn into an office, and nearing the living room, there were two other bedrooms. The place was big, and it would probably take me most of my life to pay it off, but it’d be worth it. When I saw the space the house had, my first thought was of my future and how it’d be perfect for when I had my woman and kids in it with me, making it a home.
At the back of the house was the large open-plan living, dining, and kitchen area where a family, one I’d make, would spend the majority of the time.
As soon as I entered, Low turned to me with her hands on her hips. “Are you sure this is what you want?”
Chuckling, I approached and gave her a hug. “Bit late for me to back out now.” With a kiss to the top of her head, I went to grab a beer out of the refrigerator. “Want one?”
“No thanks, and also no, it’s not too late to back out.”
“Low, I’ve already made the down payment, got the shop set up, and now moved in. I’d call that too late.”
Her nose scrunched up. “Just know you can come home whenever you want. You can put this place up for rent.” She wasn’t yet used to the idea of me being an hour away, and still a little peeved that I hadn’t told her anything until after I’d signed the contract to the house. Dodge knew. He’d helped me with the banks and an early settlement, but we’d known it was best to hold off on telling Low because she’d have her back up about me moving from Melbourne.
“It’s not far, Low,” I told her for what felt like the millionth time.
She grumbled under her breath, “Fine.”
Shifting back her way, I curled an arm around her shoulders and gently rocked her into my side. “Love you, Low.”
“Yeah, yeah. Get out the back and help my man bring in the couch.”
“Couch? Low, I was gonna get a couch soon.”
“You can’t sit in lawn chairs, Texas.”
Sighing, I dropped my head back to look for patience. It wasn’t there. “Low, you guys have already done enough—”
She waved me off and went back to unpacking crockery I didn’t fucking own. “I don’t want to hear it.”
“And I suppose you don’t want to talk about the shit I know you’re sneaking into my cupboards?”
“Exactly.”
I groaned. “Low—”
“Can’t hear you, but I do hear Trey callin’ for you. Shoo.”
Scrubbing a hand over my face, I walked out the back where a damn moving truck was parked. I went to the rear and found Dodge in the back.
“What the fuck, Dodge?”
He chuckled as he faced me. “I’d take on anyone but my woman, kid. Let’s just say she got her way.”
“I’m payin’ you back.”
He scowled. “Fuck off, you are.”
“Dodge, I don’t want handouts.”
“Kid, this ain’t a handout. This is a future investment. Look after us when we’re old or pay for the retirement village when the time comes. Just make it a damn good one. If you don’t like that suggestion, pay us back when this shop gets on its feet like I know it will.”
He knew I couldn’t argue with any of that. “All right.”
He grinned. “Good. Now get in here and help me before we run outta light.”
We worked on getting everything from the van, and the chore led us into the dark, since I now owned a new table and chairs, couch, lounge chair, computer desk, bookcase, coffee table, and a spare bed. Low explained the guest queen-size bed was for her and Dodge to sleep in when they visited, or for Rommy, my sister, when she wanted to come see me. Rommy had already texted me and told me she was coming down for a weekend soon. She couldn’t make it now because she had work at the garage. Rommy didn’t do her VCE to get her certificate of education by going into exams at the end of year twelve. Instead, she went into VCAL, which was a part-time hands-on option for students in year eleven and twelve that would lead her to her apprenticeship in the garage at the compound. She’d been fascinated by the way cars and bikes worked, and Dodge was more than happy to take her on because she was a quick study for it all.
Low ordered pizza for dinner, and I at least got to the front door to pay for it when it arrived. Taking the pizza back into the kitchen, I placed the boxes on the clean bench, since Low had been crazy with tidying, and got out a couple of beers.
“Low?” I asked.
“I’m good.”
I passed the other one to Dodge and grabbed Low a soda. Dodge stayed leaning against the counter opposite where Low and I sat at the counter seats. I didn’t realize how damn hungry I was until I’d gulped down four slices.
“When’s Talon lookin’ at addin’ you to the club?”
Swallowing my bite, I told Dodge, “Not next weekend, but the one after. Wants to do it at the family barbeque day.”
“Lucky you don’t have to join as a prospect,” Low said. “Dodge told me the crappy jobs he had to do.”
“Yeah, you punk. Now I can’t make your life hell.” Dodge smirked.
“You already do, old man.”
He shot me the middle finger. “But seriously, you know you don’t have to be a member to be family. You already are.”
“I know. I held off because my apprenticeship kept me busy, then there was branching out into my own business, but now that I’m settled, it’s time to become Hawks.” I glanced away and shrugged. “Besides, I’ve always looked up to you and want to follow in your footsteps in some way.”
“Jesus, kid, you just hit me in the damn heart.”
“Translation, he loves you,” Low put in.
“He knows that,” Dodge grumbled, probably as uncomfortable as I was with this feelings shit.
“I do.”
“Well, looks like we’ll be back in Ballarat in a couple of weeks.”
“You don’t have to come,” I told them.
Low punched me in the arm. “We wouldn’t miss it.” When she rested her elbow on the counter and head in her palm to stare at me, I knew something was up.
“What?” I asked around a mouthful of slice.
“You ever gonna be honest and just straight up tell me who brought you to Ballarat?”
She caught my gaze flaring. I opened my mouth, closed it, and fought not to look at Dodge. Had he said something? I’d asked him not to because we both knew that once one of the pussy posse members knew some gossip, the rest would hear it within hours.
Low glared and pointed at my face. “So, there is someone. I’ve had my suspicions, and I knew you wouldn’t just up and leave the family for no reason other than opening another shop, but you could have done that in Melbourne. Who is it? Are you gonna tell me now? Is it someone I know? I bet it is. Why else wouldn’t you want me to know?”
“Jesus, woman.” Dodge chuckled. “Take a breath.”
Her glare was back and aimed at her man. “Don’t you “woman” me, Trey. You obviously know. I don’t understand why I couldn’t know. I wouldn’t have been such a pain about you moving if I knew—”
Both Dodge and I raised our brows at her.
She rolled her eyes. “Okay, I wouldn’t have been as bad as I have been. I still would have tried to stop it because you’re one of our babies.”
It really did suck that Dodge and Low couldn’t have kids. They’d told us enough times we were enough for them, but they would have been fucking brilliant parents to their own like they were with Rommy and me after we moved in with Dodge when his sister, our mum, died.
“Low, I told you already today. Love you. You’ve been the best mum to Rommy and me.”
Tears welled in her eyes. She swiped at them and scowled. She hated showing emotions.
“And havin’ grown up around you and your girlfriends, I knew if I’d told you, the rest of your girls would know in seconds.” I couldn’t risk anything getting back to Maya. She wasn’t ready for what I saw us as.
She scoffed. “I know how to keep secrets.”
“Little bird” was all Dodge said.
“Sometimes,” she added with another glare at Dodge. “Do you really not want me to know?”
I rubbed a hand over my beard. “Can you wait just a little longer?”
She sighed. “Fine. Even though I’ve already guessed, but I was waiting for you to admit it. I suppose I’ll just wait until you and Maya are datin’.”
“How…?”
She grinned, but it vanished all too quickly. “You were wrecked when Maya nearly died. I was at the hospital, Texas. I felt and saw your pain. A man who wasn’t half in love with someone wouldn’t have reacted that way. I get why you didn’t tell me. Us bitches talk. We really do.”
Did that mean she’d already talked with her girls about this? Was that why Zara had come up to me outside the hospital? I’d always wondered. I’d just never approached her about it. Low’s next words brought me out of my thoughts.
“But I also know you gotta go slow with that girl. She is something special, and even though you’re my own kid, I will fuck you up if you hurt her. She’s been through enough. And shit, she’s been into you since she was sixteen. Ever since then, I witnessed her hurt when you had other women on your arm.”
I went to explain that I hadn’t seen what was in front of me, but her hand resting on my arm shut me up.
“Boy, I didn’t say anything back then because I knew you had to sort your own life out and that eventually you’d wake up to see what was in front of you.”
Clenching my jaw, I nodded. I didn’t know what to say. I felt like my gut had been kicked for not trusting Low with this.
She patted my hand. “I’m not mad you didn’t tell me, so don’t stress about it. I haven’t said anything about my suspicions, which were right,” she said pointedly, “to anyone, and I won’t. I just wanted you to know that I’m in your corner, and I hope Maya will see what an awesome man you’ve grown into.”
My throat thickened. “Thanks, Low.”
She waved me off. “Still, you can come home anytime you want.”
Smiling, I hugged her close. I was damn lucky to have them in my life.