Page 56 of Wild Card
Holden stopped by the table, resting his hands on a chair back. “Are you going out?”
“I could,” I said. “If you wanted…”
Holden gnawed on his bottom lip and then shook his head. “Nah, I know what you’re doing. I’m fine.”
I shrugged a shoulder. “Been a while since I played some pool.”
The doorbell rang. “Oh, that’s Nova,” Bailey said, stepping around Holden. “I’ll be right back. But if you want to go to the pool hall, I’m game. I could use a little extra spending money.”
Holden sighed and shook his head at our younger brother’s penchant for hustling pool players. Bailey was the most well-adjusted of us all, but he still grew up in the same household. He wasn’t the shiny choirboy that Holden liked to see in his head.
“He’s more excited to see Nova now than when they were pretending to date,” I said, watching Bailey grin as he threw open the door and wrapped Nova in a hug.
“It’s amazing what honesty can do for a person,” Gray said.
Bailey had only come out as gay recently—after Gray did the same. My older brother had been outed and run off, and he’d kept his sexuality and his reasons for leaving a secret for far too long.
“I wouldn’t know much about keeping secrets,” I snarked. “I’m an open book.”
“Uh-huh.” Gray grabbed a stack of plates from the cabinet and began laying them on the table as Bailey and Nova returned. “So, what happened with Deputy Handsy? No way he went to all that trouble just because he’s a good guy.”
“Heisa good guy,” I said sharply.
“Holy shit, you fucked him,” he said.
“So what if I did?”
“Uh, guys…” Bailey said. “Nova’s here. Remember?”
Nova gave a nervous giggle behind me. “Sorry for interrupting. Sounds juicy. Carry on.”
I grinned. “I’d tell you everything, but I’m pretty sure Holden would stroke out.”
Holden did, in fact, look ready to pop a blood vessel. He was such adad.
“Not exactly polite dinner conversation,” Holden said. “And I don’t want you hustling pool players. You make a steady paycheck.”
Bailey rolled his eyes. “Okay,Dad.”
I snickered, because damn, it was so true.
“You should be glad he’s not out getting drunk and fucking around carelessly.” Gray paused. “You’re not, are you? I know when you first come out, it’s tempting to let loose, but?—”
“Please stop,” Bailey begged as Nova giggled into her hands.
“Please, our little bro only has eyes for Matteo,” I joked. “No way he’s getting his dick wet.”
“Oh my god.” Bailey turned his glare on me, face an adorable shade of red. “Emory’s friends with Matteo’s girlfriend. You can’t say shit like that!”
Emory laughed as he turned off the stove and picked up a serving dish. “It’s no big deal. Matteo worships Allison. She wouldn’t care that Bailey has a little crush.”
“Ugh.” Bailey groaned as he pulled out a chair and sat down. “Now I feel about eight years old. Thanks. Idon’thave a little crush. Matteo is hot, but I’m not pining after him.”
“Our friend Drew is totally into Bailey,” Nova offered up. “But Bailey won’t make a move.”
“Poor Drew can’t compare to Matteo,” I said with a sigh. “It’s a tragic story of star-crossed love?—”
“Shut up!” Bailey stood and whacked me with his placemat. “You guys are assholes.” He gave Nova a chiding look. “And Drew isnotinto me.”
