6. Travis
TRAVIS
I ran my arm across my forehead, wiping away sweat and grime. Damn, it was hot in Beau’s shop. Couldn’t he turn the air down some more and maybe get some mosquito netting for the garage doors that were constantly open?
As much as I wanted to protest out loud, I kept my suggestions to myself and worked on cleaning the tools Beau and the other mechanics had used.
Beau paid well, and I was lucky to have a job, but my last few jobs had mostly involved me sitting on my ass and ringing up the shit customers bought, occasionally breaking up a fight or surviving a robbery.
I’d avoided Dax as much as I could during the past few days.
I stayed with him before moving into my own apartment.
He seemed to be keeping his distance from me too.
Did he regret nearly kissing me, or had I read everything wrong.
Maybe he’d just meant to comfort me, and then I’d made things weird, but I’d really thought he wanted me.
No matter how many times I told myself it would be a disaster to let myself fall for him, it was already happening.
If he kissed me, I would be all in. He wasn’t a man I could say no to, and ultimately, I’d end up with my heart broken.
So why, when I was fighting so hard to prevent that from happening, did I feel like shit when he didn’t touch me again before I left?
My new apartment was tiny and run-down but still better than the last place I’d lived. I could walk to work, which was a plus since I didn’t have a car of my own, and I wasn’t going to ask Beau for a loaner, at least not yet. He’d been as generous as I could expect.
I’d done whatever jobs needed doing at the body shop from cleanup to basic maintenance and simple repairs. I’d never been as into cars as Beau but growing up with him and his racing friends, I’d managed to pick up plenty, even if Beau thought I never listened.
As weeks passed, Beau slowly let me do more and more. Things had remained tense between us at first, and the other employees didn’t seem to know how to react to me, but Corbin became my first true friend, and eventually, the others had followed his lead.
I hadn’t been at all sure what to expect from the youngest Theriot. He was clearly crazy in love with Beau. They seemed complete opposites, yet it was obvious Beau was just as nuts about him. It was also obvious that Corbin drove my brother crazy. I enjoyed watching that.
Much to Beau’s horror, Corbin and I started hanging out after the shop closed. He sincerely wanted to get to know me better, and I wanted to know the man who had made my brother willing to put up with just about anything.
Corbin kept insisting we go out to dinner, but I knew the sort of restaurant he’d choose, and I couldn’t afford it.
When he made it clear that he’d pay, I still refused.
I was not going to be a charity case. Beau convinced me by explaining that Corbin spent money on whoever he wanted, whenever he wanted, and he didn’t take no for an answer.
Corbin took me to Commander’s Palace where I was sure even the least experienced employee was way classier than me and probably made more money than I ever had. I didn’t count any of the money Rob let me spend. He’d controlled every cent I helped him illegally earn.
Corbin told me to order whatever I wanted.
I was still uneasy with the idea of how much he was paying, but I chose turtle soup and Gulf shrimp and greens.
Corbin ordered a glass of wine for himself and didn’t seem surprised when I ordered seltzer with lime.
I wasn’t sure if Beau had told him I was sober or if he just took it in stride that I didn’t drink.
I wouldn’t have known what kind of fancy cocktail to order anyway, and I didn’t think I could figure out all the silverware while sober; after a drink, it would have been hopeless.
Once the server had taken our order, Corbin gave me a mischievous smile. “Tell me all about all the awful things Beau did as a kid. I need shit to hold over him.”
“Is that why you wanted to take me to dinner? So I could rat out my brother without the chance of him overhearing?”
He grinned. “Maybe. But I really just want to know the funny stuff, things I can use as ammunition. I know about the darker things already.”
I’d assumed he knew about our past if he and Beau had gotten as close as they were. I doubted Beau had told anyone else, and I hoped Corbin had resisted spilling the whole story to his brothers. Dax knew because he’d witnessed some of it, though not as much as Ambrose.
“Beau was bossy as hell as a kid.”
“So that has never changed?”
I shook my head. “No, definitely not. He was always more confident than me, more willing to take charge. It’s a damn good thing because I didn’t have anyone else who was actively taking care of me.
Once both our parents disappeared, it was just me and Beau.
I don’t know how I would’ve made it if it hadn’t been for him.
He was bossy, but I guess he had to be.” I sighed.
“That’s not the shit you wanted to hear. ”
“No, that’s… It’s nice to hear that too. I know he’s amazing, but it never hurts to have it confirmed.”
“Don’t get me wrong. He drove me fucking crazy. If I didn’t do chores just right, he’d make me do them over and over until I’d met his ridiculous standards. We were living in the middle of the swamp in a shack that was falling down around us, but he insisted on keeping it perfectly clean.”
Corbin grinned. “Just like he insists on keeping the shop as spotless as a body shop can be.”
“Yeah, and don’t tell him I said so, but he was right because, considering where we were, we had few roaches or rats.
I guess they found better spots to go, like the shed farther into the swamp where our dad hid the shit he stole.
Car parts, electronics, drugs I don’t even know all what.
Beau would never let me go in there. He told me it was scary when I was little, and the one time I tried to look, I saw some nutria and ran like hell.
I was more afraid of them than I ever was of gators. ”
I shuddered thinking about the huge swamp rats. Beau hated rats of any size almost as much as I did. Jesus, I hope he didn’t have them in prison.
Our server returned with bread and butter and the soup we’d each ordered.
It had been years since I’d eaten soup that didn’t come from a can, and this was unlike any I’d ever had.
This soup reached a whole new level of flavor.
It was even better than my grandmother’s, which I didn’t think was possible.
“I’m not doing a very good job of revealing any secrets,” I said once we’ve both made good progress on our first course. “You probably want to know about all the shit Beau and Ambrose got into.”
Corbin smiled. “Tell me whatever you want, but yeah, I bet those stories are amazing. Give me all the dirt you’ve got on them.”
“That would take a very long time, but I’ll share a few stories tonight.”
I told him about Beau and Ambrose sneaking some of our dad’s moonshine and heading out into the bayou where they never should have been.
“I followed them, and when he found out, Beau had a fit, telling me I could have been eaten by an alligator. I asked him what made him think he was any safer, especially since he could barely stand up straight. The asshole told me a gator was no match for him, then fell right into the water, trying to demonstrate how he would wrestle one.”
Corbin laughed so hard he had to cover his mouth to keep from spitting food across the table.
“Beau stank so bad on the walk home that I kept gagging, and I don’t think Ambrose quit laughing until he left us at our house. Fortunately, my dad was passed out on the couch and never even noticed.”
It took Corbin several moments to get himself under control. “That is so awesome. I’m going to ask Beau if he wants to go take a dip in the bayou one night.”
Before I could start another story, our server cleared our plates and brought our main courses.
The food was incredible. It took me a few moments before I could even speak.
After I’d finished gushing about my shrimp, I told Corbin about the time when we were living with my grandma, and she caught Beau and Ambrose smoking a joint on her porch in the middle of the night.
“I thought she was going to beat them to death. Ambrose managed to escape and make a run for it, but Beau got smacked with a flip-flop and told off for what felt like hours. I don’t think they ever realized I saw the whole thing from the living room window.”
“Ooh, so I can ask Beau about it, and he won’t know how I know?” Corbin’s grin was completely wicked.
“Yep. Beau was too busy trying to defend himself to look in my direction, but every time he got a few words out, Grandma cut him off. She told him if he didn’t mind her, he was never going to get another bite of her cooking. I think it might have been the last time Beau ever smoked.”
Corbin laughed so hard people from other tables began to stare.
A few moments later, our server asked us if we would like dessert. Corbin told me refusing wasn’t an option. He ordered us both the bread pudding soufflé, one of the menu items Commander’s Palace was most known for.
I wasn’t going to argue with him. I would’ve happily devoured anything off the dessert menu. For a long time, desserts for me had been limited to store-bought cookies and candy bars.
The server headed off to put in our order, and Corbin surprised me by asking how I’d gotten along staying with Dax.
He couldn’t have any idea how I felt about Dax, could he?
I wasn’t even sure Beau knew I’d had a crush on his friend.
I doubted he’d realized I was more likely to tag along with him and Ambrose when Dax was with them, especially since he’d acted like I hardly knew Dax.
“It was fine. I appreciated having a place to stay.”
I could tell my answer didn’t satisfy Corbin. “Most people are scared of Dax, and even though he’s my cousin, I sometimes find him a little chilling. Don’t you dare tell him I said that, though.”
“I’m not afraid of him. I mean, not really.
I definitely didn’t mind staying with him.
I watched him play around the bayou with Ambrose and Beau on the rare occasions when he came to his uncle’s place with his twin.
I also got to spend time sitting on the porch with him because he didn’t like rampaging through the bayous as much as the others.
He was always complaining about the bugs and the heat and trying to get them to go back and do something inside his uncle’s air-conditioned house. ”
Corbin studied me for a moment, and I tried to keep my expression neutral. “I’m sure he’s a whole lot different now than he was back then.”
I shrugged. “Not so much.”
“Really?” The curiosity in Corbin’s gaze worried me. I didn’t need him finding out that there was more between Dax and me than an old friendship, at least on my part. “How much do you know about his role in the family?”
“I know what he does now, but I also know he’s still as kind and protective as he was when I was a kid, at least as long as you’re a friend and not an enemy. He’s always been ready to defend his family and friends.”
Corbin’s lip curled in a mischievous smile. “I see.”
Fuck. I’d been way too defensive about Dax. “No, you don’t. He was like another older brother. I…” Shit. I was just making it worse.
Corbin held up a hand. “There’s no need to explain, and I won’t say a thing except that he is single, and I’m always here to help.”
I snorted. “I got the impression Dax doesn’t take help from anyone.”
“Much like your brother.”
“Yes.”
Corbin smiled. “Things can always change.”
“Maybe in your world.”
“You’re in my world now.”
I managed to change the topic back to Beau and his antics as a teenager for the rest of the meal.
I hated to think how much it would cost, but I told Corbin I could get a ride home.
He still insisted on driving me. His Porsche Cayenne was going to look way out of place on my street, but I was eager for another ride in it.
When we were nearly to my driveway, Corbin waved at a man in a much less ostentatious black SUV.
“Who’s that?”
“Lenny. He’s watching your place.”
“What? Why?”
Corbin glanced at me, then bit his lip. “Shit, you didn’t know?”
“Corbin, tell me what’s going on. I swear I’m not going to fuck Beau over again. I never wanted to. I?—”
“He’s not here because Beau doesn’t trust you. He’s here because Dax insisted on someone watching you at all times. He’s worried about you being in danger from Rob’s former associates.”
“He’s got people watching me?”
“They’re watching your apartment, making sure no one suspicious comes by.”
“I can take care of myself. I’ve been doing it for years.”
“But you don’t have to now.” Corbin put the car in park and looked at me with narrowed eyes. “What was it you said about Dax not accepting any help?”
My instincts were against it, but maybe I could use some protection. Still, sending people to follow me around without even telling me was not going to cut it. “I didn’t give anyone permission to spy on me.”
“Our family doesn’t usually ask permission.”
I huffed. “That’s why… Look, it would have been easier for everyone if I’d just left town.”
“No, and it would never have worked. Beau or Dax would have come after you.”
“What the fuck? I don’t get to make decisions for myself anymore?”
Corbin grinned. “Trust me. There are a lot of benefits to being under the protection of my family. If you’d let us, we’d help you a hell of a lot more.”
“There’s no need to have anyone watching me. I’ve got a gun and?—”
“Rob’s enemies have a hell of a lot more resources than you. We want to even the field. But if you really don’t want the protection, you’ll have to talk to Dax.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Don’t play games with me.”
“Dax requested they watch you, so they’ll want his orders or Remy’s before they back down. I could make sure Dax comes by the shop tomorrow.”
My heart pounded at the thought. Did I really want to see him? Was there any chance I’d convince him to call his men off? “Fine. Do it.”