Page 115 of Outcast
“Then this is our chance,” I said. “We bring on Matteo, and we can take all the business that comes our way and turn it around faster. Then when the time comes, Bailey won’t have any reason to worry about leaving.”
“Yeah.” He rubbed at his jaw. “It’s worth a shot. Go get him. I’ll start the paperwork.”
I opened the door, catching sight of Matteo bent over an open hood and Bailey staring at his ass. Axel was crouched down, rubbing Sugar’s ears while he smirked at our little brother.
“Matteo,” I called.
He turned, and Bailey jerked his head up so fast he was lucky he didn’t break something. Lucky for him, Matteo was a straight guy who wasn’t expecting to bust anyone ogling him at the auto repair shop. We probably should make sure he was cool working with gay dudes, though.
“Holden wants to see you in his office.” I took a few steps from the doorway, putting out a hand to stop Matteo before he went in. “You’ve got the job if you want it.”
A huge smile broke out. “Thanks, man, that’s?—”
“A couple of caveats, though,” I cut in. “I work here too, and I’m gay.”
“Okay…”
“Homophobes aren’t welcome at Forrester.”
“Got it. I got no problem with that. To each their own and all that.”
“Good.” I lowered my voice. “Secondly, I’m telling you this in confidence, so don’t make it weird, but you don’t touch Holden unless he initiates it.”
He blinked at me. “Uh, okay. Not really in the habit of touching other dudes.”
“I mean any kind of touch, even a handshake or a pat on the back. Casual things you may not normally think about.”
“Oh.”
“We’re a bunch of former foster kids with fucked-up trauma. You’ll learn as you go, but that one is nonnegotiable.”
“I spent time in prison,” he said quietly. “I saw plenty of trauma there too. I’ll respect any boundaries given to me.”
“Great. Go in there and get yourself a job, then. We need all the help we can get.”
He nodded. “I really appreciate this chance. Emory said you were all good guys, but you wouldn’t believe how many people shut down when they learn I’m an ex-con. They don’t want me associated with their business. They don’t want to trust me. I swear, though, this chance means everything to me. I won’t let any of you down.”
I stepped aside so he could enter Holden’s office. I wasn’t worried about Matteo, regardless of his ex-con status. If anything, it made me more certain he’d value this job.
The person I was worried about? The one who might let down my brothers?
That would always be me.
Holden needed me to help him expand this business and make it truly healthy again. Bailey needed free rein to live a life the rest of us never got a shot at. And Axel? He needed the freedom to be out in the junkyard, not picking up our slack at the shop.
I wanted so badly to give them everything they deserved. I had a lot to make up for after checking out of their lives for so long.
But could I deliver—or would I only let them down all over again?
CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVEN
Emory
I smiledas I typed out an update on the Jerkers file for my dad. The local grant money had caught up their back payments, and Allison had won a state historic preservation grant to come in later this year, as well.
She really was damn good at her job, and Brenda had offered us both free MoonShakes for life. Win-win.
A new email appeared in my inbox. Not from Dad, though. It came from [email protected].
