Page 7 of The Bro Pact
I square my shoulders and clear my throat. I’m cool, calm, and collected when I propose my bargain, like I’m making a deal with the devil. “I was wondering about that old RV that came into the shop recently. You want to fix it up and sell it, right?”
My dad hums his agreement, nodding.
“Well, I was thinking I could be the one to fix it up—on my own time of course—and then borrow it for a couple weeks before you sell it.”
He eyes me warily, most likely playing a reel of my worst teenage highlights in his mind. “What would you do with it?” he questions with a suspicious tone.
I can’t stop my smile from spreading, and there’s no hiding the enthusiasm in my voice. “Take it on a road trip with Kyle. We’re headed to the Pacific.”
My old man stares at me for a moment, analyzing the excitement in my eyes and the joy written all over my features.
I need this, and Kyle needs this, too.
Please say yes.
“Fine.But don’t ask me for a dime, Warren. I ain’t got it,” he grumbles, and I jump up with a hoot and a holler, pumping my fist into the air.
I can’t wait to tell Kyle.
“Okay, Pops. I don’t need any money. Promise.Thank you.I really mean it.”
“Yeah, yeah,” he mutters, dismissing his own kind gesture. “It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement,” he reasons.
My dad is not the mushy type. Emotions make him uncomfortable, so I try to minimize it for him, but under his gruff exterior, he’s a good man.
“I won’t let you down,” I insist.
Pops grunts, unlocking his desk drawer and pulling out a ring of keys, flipping through a few before he takes one off. “Don’t make me regret this, son.” He hands the key over, lowering his brows with a frown.
“I won’t,” I say vehemently, maintaining eye contact so he knows I mean it.
I got this, no problem. I can fix anything.
“What’s going on?” Val saunters into the garage in tiny pajama shorts and a crop top. Her long raven hair is piled into a messy bun on the top of her head.
My old man leans around me and shouts through his office door. “Valentina!”
“What?!” she snaps back with an attitude, walking over and leaning against the door frame to speak to him.
“Oh, hey, little bro.” Val smiles sweetly when she notices me sitting in the oversized chair.
“Put some clothes on for Christ’s sake. You’re distracting my men, and that could cost someone a finger,” Pops says harshly.
I hear a loud crash and a small clatter out in the garage, followed by a muffled curse.
Valentina laughs inappropriately. “I don’t even have any makeup on, so if they’re distracted by this baby face, then gross on them.” She rolls her eyes. “Besides, Ilivehere. I can dress however I want, whenever I want.”
I can’t help but chuckle at my sister’s give-no-fucks attitude, even though I know it’s exasperating for Pops. Val and I are only a year apart, with her being the older one, but sometimes it feels more like we’re twins. She’s pretty much the girl version of me, and I know we gave my dad hell growing up and probably still do.
“I’m gonna fix up that old RV in the back of the lot, then take it on a road trip with Kyle,” I blurt out, distracting Val from an impending argument with Pops.
“Aw, man. That sounds like so much fun. I’m super jelly,” Val says with a small smile and a wink.
There isn’t much time left before the semester is over, and I don’t want to waste a day. I have no idea what I’m going to find under that hood. My impatience to get started is killing me, but I send Kyle a quick text, letting him know the good news.
The RV is a go! I just gotta fix it first.
No fucking way! You got this, bro.
