Chapter 9 #2
We rounded the house and crossed into the backyard, where most of the guys were seated around a picnic table. A fluffy snowball of a dog sat under the table, leaning against Holden’s legs. Our two doggy companions raced toward the group, sniffing at the grass, hoping to find more lost treasure.
Dalton and Axel lounged in a pair of lawn chairs a few feet away, sipping beers. A chihuahua was curled up in Axel’s lap. A huge black rottweiler was sitting with her head resting on Dalton’s thigh.
They had a lot of dogs, but Flynn had told me that Axel took in strays and had recently started up a pet fostering program.
“Aiden, finally!” Flynn stood and stepped over the picnic bench seating to engulf me in a big hug. “You’re working too hard. Come sit and eat.”
He pulled me over to the table and pushed me into his spot—right next to Knight. Because of course it was.
“Why would you think I’m working too hard?” I slanted a pointed look Knight’s way. “We haven’t talked since my first day.”
Knight held up his hands in surrender. “I wasn’t properly trained to withstand interrogation. Sorry.”
I groaned. “How hard has he been grilling you about me?”
“Pretty much every day since you moved in.”
“Flynn!” I protested.
“Sorry.” He gave me big puppy-dog eyes. “It’s just that I couldn’t look out for you for so long. I feel like I should make up for lost time.”
Aw, dang it. I couldn’t be mad at that.
“There’s nothing to make up. You’ve already done so much for me.”
He shrugged. “It’ll never be enough. Not for my little brother.”
My heart softened. As guilty as I felt about Flynn going off to prison, he carried his own flavor of regret. He had saved my life, so I couldn’t really begrudge him, but he certainly didn’t owe me anything.
“Well, that’s impossible to argue with,” I said.
Holden smiled. “Because big brothers are always right.”
“Ha!” Bailey said. “You would think that.”
“Of course he does,” Gray added. “He wouldn’t be Holden if he wasn’t a control freak.”
“But he’s a cute control freak,” Shiloh teased.
Holden didn’t look thrilled to be called cute. His brothers razzed him, but he took it good-naturedly, shrugging it off. “Still, Flynn, there can only be one control freak in the family. That job is taken.”
Flynn chuckled. “My bad.”
“Yeah, no more harassing Knight,” I added. “If you want to know how I’m doing, just ask me.”
“Fine, but you’ve got to reply with more than a thumbs-up when I text.”
“Thank you,” Holden said. “I hate when Bailey does that shit. Use your words, kids!”
Bailey tossed a potato chip at him. Shiloh snagged it and stuffed it into his mouth with a crunch.
“I’ll do better,” I promised.
And I wasn’t used to having someone check in on me.
Flynn squeezed my shoulder. “I know you’re busy with work. Just try not to forget about us little people.”
“Or us big people,” Knight said with a wink.
I smirked. It was true that Flynn and Knight couldn’t really be classified as little. They were both imposing men, with several inches of height and a good fifty pounds of weight on me.
“I’ll remember all the people,” I said. “How’s that sound?”
Flynn set a plate in front of me with a burger and a side of potato salad. “All the pickle spears were gone. Sorry. I know how you love those.”
“That’s ok—”
I stopped short as Knight set a pickle spear on my plate.
“I had extra,” he said.
“You don’t have to do that.”
He shrugged. “I’m stuffed, anyway.”
“Aw, so cute,” Gray teased. “A week living together and they’re already sharing food.”
I tensed, glancing around at the guys. Did they think there was something going on between us? No matter how hard I tried to keep my walls up, Knight had a way of melting my barriers. I was worried everyone could see the way I wanted to lean closer to him.
“And what’s your excuse for stealing my Doritos?” Knight asked. “You’ve got your own man to pilfer from.”
“I’m heartbroken and jealous,” Emory deadpanned. “You’re two-timing my plate?”
Gray slung an arm over Emory’s shoulders and kissed his cheek. “I love you, golden boy, but I can’t do sour-cream Ruffles.” He shuddered. “Sometimes a man needs a little nibble on the side.”
“There’s no nibbling between Knight and me.”
My tone came out sharper than I intended. Defensive, even.
Everyone paused, caught off guard. Shoot. I protested too emphatically.
Flynn chuckled. “They’re just fucking with you, Aiden. It’s what they do.”
“Yeah.” Knight stood up, grabbing his plate. “They know you wouldn’t bother with someone like me. It’s all in good fun.”
I frowned, but I couldn’t argue with what he’d said. Not in front of everyone else. Not when I was trying to convince everyone here—including myself—that I didn’t want a taste of the sexy man beside me.
Knight stepped over the picnic bench. “I’m getting another beer. Anyone want one?”
“Grab me one!” Axel called from his lawn chair.
“I’d love another,” Emory added.
Knight collected empties and strode away without giving me a second look. Not that I deserved one.
I picked up my pickle and took a bite, but it tasted like guilt.
“We’re, uh, still adjusting to the roommate situation.”
“Sorry for the teasing,” Shiloh said. “The guys give one another so much shit they sometimes forget that not everyone uses trash talk as a love language.”
The rest of dinner was awkward as everyone tiptoed around me. I hated it, sure I’d convinced them I was too uptight to take some good-natured teasing.
Maybe I was too uptight.
I’d never viewed myself through that lens before, but I’d never really been part of such a tight-knit group. They all seemed to know each other so well. I wasn’t sure I’d ever known anyone that well.
Not even Flynn.
He’d moved out when I was a young teen, and we’d only had occasional calls and texts until Mom ditched me. Between that and all his time in prison, we’d been brothers—but always at arm’s length.
I didn’t know how to relate to family or friends up close and personal.
I glanced over my shoulder, inadvertently catching Knight’s gaze on me. I flushed with embarrassment and refocused on clearing my plate, so I could go home and hide—not to avoid Knight, but to avoid seeing myself through his eyes.