Page 141 of Outcast
“Right here.” Holden emerged from the hallway, the faint sound of a toilet flushing following him. “I’m glad you’re back.”
He didn’t look great. The last time I’d seen Holden so drained, it had been after someone violated his personal space.
“Did someone touch you?” I asked tensely. If it turned out he’d had a run-in with some asshole…
“No, nothing like that,” he assured me.
“You look like crap.”
He pulled out a chair and sat down across from me. “Thanks. I feel like it too. The things we said earlier…”
“I fucked up at Ball Breakers,” I admitted. “I got protective of Emory and antagonized Dallas, but I didn’t stop to think how my actions would pull Axel and Bailey into the shit with me.”
Holden shook his head. “I didn’t know the whole story, and that’s my mistake. I should have asked before I jumped all over you.”
“The last thing I want to do is hurt the business.” My throat tightened. “I know it’s the only reason you asked me back?—”
“No,” he said sharply. “It was a reason I thought could lure you back. I’ve wanted you back here all along. I was just pissed, and my words came out all wrong.”
That was fair. I chewed my lip. “How big of a problem is this?”
“Not so big we can’t handle it.” Holden grimaced. “I overreacted, and I jumped to conclusions. You weren’t just out there kicking a hornet’s nest. You and Emory were defending yourselves, and I can respect that.”
“And,” Axel prompted him pointedly.
“And we’re brothers above all.” He tapped his wrist, where he had the tattoo. “Bro code, right? We’re running this business together, but we can’t let it tear us apart. For better or worse.”
My eyes lingered on the tattoo. “Thanks. But be straight with me. Is the business going to be okay? The bike business is trickling in. It hasn’t just taken off overnight, and I know you were counting on me to deliver.”
“Youhavedelivered,” Holden said, eyes on mine. He sounded sincere. “It’s not an overnight process. We’re trying to grow something for the future. You’ve done your part. You did some repairs, got the word out, did good work. The rest will take time. We’ll always have debt, expenses, worries. As long as we work together, we’ll find a way.”
“And Bailey’s college funds?” I asked hesitantly.
Bailey sat a plate of steaming food in front of me. It smelled delicious, and I grabbed up a fork and took a bite, burning my mouth.Worth it.
“We’ll figure it out,” Holden said.
“I’m not going to school unless it’s a good choice for all of us,” Bailey said, setting a second plate before Holden.
“You’re going to school,” Holden said flatly. “Wewillfigure it out. You have a chance to make a great life for yourself.”
“And what about you guys?” Bailey asked.
“We’ll be fine here. This is a good opportunity for us. But you could do so much more with your future.”
Bailey frowned, forehead creasing.
“Do you not want that?” I asked him tentatively.
Bailey hesitated, glancing sidelong at Holden. “I don’t know. I guess I never thought it was an option until you came back. I mean, the guys needed me at the auto shop.”
“I guess it’s time to think about it,” I said.
Holden shook his head. “There’s nothing to think about. Bailey deserves everything we couldn’t have.” He smiled at Bailey. “You’re gonna make us so proud, kid.”
Bailey smiled tentatively back, though he looked worried. “So, are we all good here? Are you two done butting heads and apologizing?”
Holden snorted. “I think so. Gray, is there anything else stupid I said that I need to apologize for? If so, I do. I spun out because I lost control of the situation, and I reacted badly. You’re family, and I’m sorry if I made you feel like you were anything less.”
