Page 124 of Outcast
“You sure you don’t mind stopping?” He tugged off his helmet and pulled out the elastic holding back his hair. “Holden wanted me to check in on Axel. He’s in one of his moods.”
I tugged off my helmet and handed it over. “What kind of mood is that?”
“He gets a little wild sometimes. Makes rash, impulsive choices. Holden isn’t worried about him as much as he’s worried about what he might do.” He combed his fingers through his hair, smoothing and detangling it. “We’ll make it quick. It’s been a long day.”
We’d spent hours at the festival—not to mention a couple more riding on the bike—but I felt more energized than I had in a long time.
Being with Gray all day, hanging out as a couple, holding hands, kissing, and not caring who saw? I wasn’t sure if it was good or bad because I’d seen exactly what I’d been missing all these years. But it was eye-opening.
“I’m not ready for the day to end yet.” I leaned in against him, squeezing his waist and placing a quick kiss against the back of his neck. “I wish every day could be like today.”
He turned his head, grinning over his shoulder. “Me too, golden boy.”
The door opened, spilling out a rowdy bunch all talking and laughing, breaking the moment. Gray climbed off the bike, and I followed him inside.
It didn’t take long to spot his brothers. Bailey was working the pool table—because that had worked out so well last time—and Axel was at the bar, deep in conversation with Deputy Harvey.
Gray and I joined him—Gray not so subtly interrupting. “Buy me a beer, Axel. I spent all day in the sun, and I’m parched.”
Axel turned with a scowl. “Seriously, man? Buy your own fucking beer. I’m trying to get laid.”
At his words, Deputy Harvey grabbed his glass and crossed the room to the pool tables. He leaned against the wall, gaze on the floor, jaw clenched.
“Great,” Axel said. “You know how hard I was working to get that man to pull the nightstick out of his ass?”
Gray lifted his hand to get the bartender’s attention, then held up two fingers. “You need to stop chasing things that are bad for you.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” Axel said, smirking.
The bartender pulled two beers, and Gray tossed a twenty on the bar. He slid one of the pint glasses in front of me. I picked it up and took a drink, turning to let my gaze roam the pool hall.
Bailey was playing pool with a group of young guys who looked more like frat boys than the biker types most often seen here. Everyone was smiling, so hopefully, he was in no danger of a fight breaking out.
Gray rubbed my shoulder while he talked to Axel, both of them shit-talking like assholes but with enough affection I could tell they weren’t really mad.
Axel bitched about Gray being a cock blocker, and Gray accused Axel of using his dick as a crutch. They didn’t hold back on each other, and my chest tightened briefly, wondering if Adam and I would have been that way if we’d both had the chance to grow up.
“Holden sent you to babysit me, didn’t he?” Axel complained. “He’s such a control freak he can’t even leave me alone when he’s not here.”
“He doesn’t want you dragging Bailey into any shit.”
“Since when do I do that?” Axel demanded.
Gray lifted his hands, chuckling. “Don’t shoot the messenger.”
Axel huffed and downed his drink, then swiped Gray’s beer to punish him for checking up on him.
I handed my beer to Gray, letting him have a drink, as I idly people-watched. I noticed the deputy had gained a friend. A slim man who leaned in close, whispering something in his ear, mostly blocked by Dalton’s larger frame.
Dalton nodded and flicked his gaze back toward us. No doubt he was more interested in Axel than me—something was obviously brewing between them—but I didn’t notice because hisfriendhad just taken a step forward, his eyes narrowed on me.
Dallas.
“Shit,” I whispered as Dallas made a beeline straight for us.
Gray’s fingers stilled on the back of my neck, making me suddenly aware he’d been playing with my hair. After a day spent in Granville, touching freely, it hadn’t even occurred to me to keep my distance. It should have, of course. What if it wasn’t Dallas but someone else from town who saw us? My secret would be out in a heartbeat.
Not that Dallas seeing us wasgood.He looked pissed. And given the way he’d continued to harass me, he hadn’t moved on from the night I’d stupidly gotten into his car.
