Page 88 of Rock Bottom

I stood up straight, towering over Boone, but it didn’t matter. The man was my C.O. It didn’t matter how big he really was. He’d always feel bigger than life. “I’m aware that fraternizing with clients is strictly forbidden in article seven, paragraph four of my employment agreement, and I understand that violating this rule is grounds for dismissal.”

Boone arched an eyebrow. “That’s it? That’s all you’ve got to say for yourself?”

I folded my hands behind my back and fixed my gaze straight ahead. “If you’re expecting me to apologize, that’s not going to happen. I’m not sorry for getting involved with Dante. That man—troublesome as he is—is the best damn thing that’s ever happened to me. If continuing my relationship with him means walking away from the best job I’ve ever had, then… Well, it’s been an honor serving under you, sir.”

He paced back and forth in front of me. “Dammit, Church. You know I’ve never been any good at this shit. I hate being a damn disciplinarian. Thankfully, I don’t need to do that here.” He stopped in front of me.

I frowned. “Sir?”

“You really think I’d let you go because you fell in love?”

“But my employment contract—”

“You mean this?” He pulled out a stapled stack of papers and waved it in front of me before ripping it in half. “Words on a page have no business dictating matters of the heart. I can’t fire you for finding someone that makes you happy. Do I look like a monster? Or do you take me for a hypocrite?”

Boone cast a long look over at the shop, where Xion leaned against a wall, smoking a cigarette. His jumpsuit was filthy and his face stained with streaks of oil, but that had never mattered to Boone. Xion could be an annoying little shit, but even I couldn’t deny that the two of them were irrevocably, disgustingly in love. They were perfect for each other, just as Dante and I were.

“Maybe in the old days I would’ve been a hardass about all this,” Boone continued. “But I ain’t that man anymore. Maybe I’ve gone soft. Hell, maybe I lost my damn mind when I gave up drinking and got married, but I don’t really care. This is my operation, and I get to change the rules when I feel like it.”

“Sir—”

“Oh, cut the sir crap, Church.” He rolled his eyes.

“You’re my commanding officer,” I pointed out.

He snorted. “Not anymore. I just ripped up your employment contract.”

“But you said…”

“That I wasn’t going to fire you. But that doesn’t mean I’m still your commanding officer.” He put a hand on my back and started slowly walking us toward the office. “This thing between you and Dante deserves a fair shake, and I hear long-distance relationships suck. I can’t imagine it’d be easy for you two if you had to stay here while he went back out west. Eventually, you’d either grow apart because of the distance or you’d quit and move out west with him. So, the way I see it, I’m doing us both a favor. You don’t have to go through that song and dance, and I get to expand the business. It’s about time, I say. Honestly, it’s past time. We’ve got too many jobs and not enough people to do ‘em.”

I pulled away. “I’m sorry. I don’t understand.”

Boone grinned. “The Junkyard Dogs are expanding! We’re opening an office in Los Angeles, and I want you to run it. What do you say?”

I didn’t know how to react to the news. I’d opened this conversation expecting him to fire me, not to be promoted. What could I say but yes? I grabbed his hand and shook it so hard I wound up shaking him. “Yes, of course!”

He chuckled. “Good, ‘cause I didn’t know what I was going to do if you turned me down.”

“But what about here?” I looked around.

“Oh, I got a feeling we’ll figure out how to survive without you.” He winked and adjusted his bright blue trucker cap. “Besides, you deserve to live in a house where you don’t have to duck through doorways. I do expect you to keep in touch and to check in with monthly reports. And you’ll have to fly out here a few times a year for meetings and whatnot. It’s not all puppies and rainbows.”

But I’d get to be with Dante without having to give up the work entirely. I might even be able to go on tour with him before officially opening the doors. That was something we’d have to talk about later, but I was pretty sure Boone would be open to the idea, and I had plenty of savings to carry me through. A year off wouldn’t be the end of the world.

Now all we had to do was break the news to Dante’s label and hope they didn’t drop him over this whole fiasco.

Xion kicked away from the wall and flicked his cigarette off into the rocks as we approached. “I gather from the big smile he took the job?” he asked Boone, tucking his hands into the pockets of his jumpsuit.

Boone patted my back. “You’re looking at the brand new captain of The Junkyard Dogs West.”

“Congrats, Captain,” Xion said, though he didn’t offer his hand. He wasn’t big on handshakes.

I nodded once. “Thanks.”

Boone tugged the rag from Xion’s belt and used it to wipe the oil streak from his cheek. Xion rolled his eyes like he hated being babied, but I suspected there was a part of him that liked the way Boone took care of him.

“Go on up and give your man the good news, Church,” Boone said. “I’ve got to wait down here for the suits.”

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