Page 19 of Jockstraps & Newspapers
He nodded, ushering her with the other hand."Go, go, I'll see you tomorrow."
She flashed him a smile before scooping up her things and ducking out of the booth…and thankfully, out of range.He watched her go, chest aching and loins buzzing.For the first time in a long time, his knot was swollen again and it wouldn't go down.Barely brushing it with his fingers, in hopes of coaxing it down, made him shiver.Welp, looks like we're going back to cock cups for practice.He bemoaned his own comfort, but did not want his lead pipe showing atany point.If Cassie thought he was unprofessional before, just wait till she smiles at him again and watch his sweatpants rise like a circus tent.
"I'm in trouble," He groaned, hanging his head.His heat meant another thing…he needed to go back home to grab a few things."Jessie's going to take the piss out of me."
"IsthatTHEElliotBonesaw, gracing us peasants with his presence?"Jessie Bonesaw laughed as he barreled up the greasy steps of the lower bay.The garage, Bare Bones Cars & Repairs, was mostly done for the day, just cleaning up.Elliot used to help his father do it when he first started the shop, wiping down the railings and putting up tires.Now, it seemed Jessie was in charge of getting the shop closed down.Jessie ran a tight ship.Elliot had never seen the shop so organized.He jogged the last few steps down the slanted asphalt to the last bay door that was halfway closed.Jessie, his younger brother, leaned out with a shit-eating grin.Jessie was the same white fluff with rust red spots, but he had a massive heart shape on his left eye and oil stains up his arms.He stood an inch shorter than Elliot, less broad but still as thick in the torso and thighs.One hand on the metal doors, one on the knot where he'd tied the sleeves of his jumpsuit around his waist, showing off his damp tank-top stuck to his furry chest, Jessie chuckled.
"Hey Jessie, how's it going?"Elliot rolled his eyes.
Jessie swung out of the bays and immediately enveloped Elliot in his arms.Heavy grease, asphalt, fuel, and oil filled his nostrils as he hugged Jessie tightly.His little brother squeezed him, popping his back, then released him with a sigh."Good to see ya, big guy.Things are alright, you know, business is business, every car is a problem."
Elliot snorted, "The usual."
"Oh yeah, minus, well…uh, you know, Pops got anotherbusiness,right?"Jessie nodded toward the front of the shop.A bugbear, Nikolai, popped his fluffy head out the bay doors.Jessie smiled at him, "Hey, Nikki, go ahead and pull the doors.Once the tires are done, we're out."
"Sweet," Nikolai beamed a big, toothy grin."Sup, Elle, nice seeing your hooves around.You gonna win us another championship?"
"You know it," Elliot laughed.Nikolai was one of the first people Pops hired when he bought this rusty, crusty garage.It's since been spit-shined, but once upon a time, it was a rust bucket death trap.And Nikolai, and his mom up until she retired 5 years ago, saw its evolution from the start.Pops and Mrs.Efink had both worked at a different shop before, and the Efinks had lived next door to the Bonesaws.Currently, the massive Fae, fluff ball made of steel and muscles lived with Jessie in the duplex next to the shop.There had been a time when Elliot almost moved in with them.He almost regretted it the first year, being so far away.
Nikolai gave him two massive thumbs up before ripping the bay doors closed with a clatter.Elliot was removed out of his thoughts, following Jessie into the waiting room.Jessie pulled out two water bottles and tossed Elliot one.The eldest brother waited, watching Jessie stoically.Jessie craned his neck, checking the office door.Finding it shut and blinds down, he gave Elliot 'the nod'.Elliot sank down onto one of the couches while Jessie sat on the service writer’s desk with a loud groan."Man, everything aches."
"You need a massage."Elliot cranked open his bottle and tossed back a massive swig.
"You willing to pay for it, Mr.Moneypants?"Jessie retorted.
"Sure, you wanna go this weekend?"Elliot cocked his head.Jessie sprayed him in the face with a few drops of water.
"You're serious?Like, Saturday you pick me up at noon?Serious?"
"Yeah, the place up the road from me takes walk-ins and Mrs.P is still there, she's worked wonders on my shoulders."Elliot flashed his brother a smirk before drying his face with his sweaty tank top.
"Uh, then, absolutely, let's do it."Jessie bound off the desk and flopped down onto the couch next to Elliot.They sat in relative silence, lulled by the sounds of Nikolai in the shop tossing the last few tires.Elliot remembered the days when he sat in this part of the shop, doing homework on this very couch.Then Jesse took a swig of his water, and spoke after a short burp.“So, Pops bought Jimmy Three Thumbs’ business.”
“How did he get Jimmy's business?”
“The same way he gets all the businesses, big guy, I thought you knew better.”Jessie relaxed his arms along the spine of the couch propping his feet up on the coffee table in front of them.“Jimmy owed Pops money, and Pops got impatient.”
“How much money?”Elliott asked as if he didn't already know the answer.Jimmy the giant, got the nickname from taking loans he couldn't pay back.Pops had already dealt with him once.Elliot was there the night he came home with a busted eyebrow and a handful of coin.Jimmy had already used some of his goodwill on Pops; it was no surprise he owed more money and Pops got impatient.
“About 300 gold.”Jesse took another swig before glancing at Elliot.“What are you really here for big fella, not that I don't appreciate the company, but it's been a while and I figured you were really busy with training?”
“I was talking with a friend, and she's the middle child you see, and she was talking about how her older sisters make her feel overshadowed and her younger sisters make her feel ungrateful, and I got just the biggest feeling that maybe I needed to come hang out with you more if you were feeling unseen.I know Pops wanted me to take over the shop and the business but that's not where my heart is, and I wanted to ensure that you didn't feel like maybe you were getting leftovers?”Elliot watched his brother's face, worry pinching his features.Jessie had never asked for anything.
“Ah,” Jessie let out a deep exhale.He used his dirty tank top to dry his face.“I did when we were younger if I'm being honest, big guy.When you were Pops’ golden child, you got everything.But then you decided to become a big old meathead and suddenly I'm the good one and you're the disappointment—just kidding.But for real Elle, it's all good.When we were little?Maybe a little bit, but now?I'm—I'm doing OK.I mean Pops has me running the shop and the garage and tools, and I've taken over a few things for him.”
“What things?”Elliot furrowed his brow staring at his little brother in a way he had never stared at him before— curious and with slight fear.He hadn't imagined for one moment that Jessie would be taking up the family business.Yet, it made sense.Elliot left completely…Pops still needed an heir.“You're not doing anything dirty, are you?”
“Don't worry, nothing I do is going to tarnish that pretty boy reputation of yours,” Jessie teased rolling his eyes.
“I'm not worried about my reputation, Jess.I'm worried about your future.The things that Pops does…doesn't give you a life of luxury.”Elliot witnessed horrors that he saved his baby brothers from.Jessie was only three years younger than Elliot, but he was still too young to see Pops come home with a busted lip and a broken rib.Jessie was not the one who stitched his dad's side up before Mom got home.Jessie was not the one who lied to Mom about where the money was coming from for months.Jessie was not the one who had to clean up blood on the garage floor.
“Oh, so I should just become a big ol’ sports star like you, huh?I'm OK with this life Elle.I'm OK with my job and what I do and I'm OK with the consequences so don't worry about me.”
Elliott wanted to argue.Elliott wanted to grab his brother by the shoulder and shake him, hoping he would see reason.Elliott wanted his brother to have a good life.But we don't always get what we want.And sometimes the people we want those things for don't want the same things.
Before Elliot could say any other words, a flash of heat licked under his jaw and ran directly down his chest.Pressure and uncomfortable temperature filled his body, specifically around his hips.It made his muscles tighten and he licked his lips before tossing back another chug of water.This heat was going to be the death of him.Raking his fingers through the fluff between his horns, he tried not to pay attention to the rising tent in his lap.
“You OK?You seem kinda jumpy all of a sudden?”Jessie stared at him with confusion.
