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He chuckled as he faced me. “I’d take on anyone but my woman, kid. Let’s just say she got her way.”
“I’m payin’ you back.”
He scowled. “Fuck off, you are.”
“Dodge, I don’t want handouts.”
“Kid, this ain’t a handout. This is a future investment. Look after us when we’re old or pay for the retirement village when the time comes. Just make it a damn good one. If you don’t like that suggestion, pay us back when this shop gets on its feet like I know it will.”
He knew I couldn’t argue with any of that. “All right.”
He grinned. “Good. Now get in here and help me before we run outta light.”
We worked on getting everything from the van, and the chore led us into the dark, since I now owned a new table and chairs, couch, lounge chair, computer desk, bookcase, coffee table, and a spare bed. Low explained the guest queen-size bed was for her and Dodge to sleep in when they visited, or for Rommy, my sister, when she wanted to come see me. Rommy had already texted me and told me she was coming down for a weekend soon. She couldn’t make it now because she had work at the garage. Rommy didn’t do her VCE to get her certificate of education by going into exams at the end of year twelve. Instead, she went into VCAL, which was a part-time hands-on option for students in year eleven and twelve that would lead her to her apprenticeship in the garage at the compound. She’d been fascinated by the way cars and bikes worked, and Dodge was more than happy to take her on because she was a quick study for it all.
Low ordered pizza for dinner, and I at least got to the front door to pay for it when it arrived. Taking the pizza back into the kitchen, I placed the boxes on the clean bench, since Low had been crazy with tidying, and got out a couple of beers.
“Low?” I asked.
“I’m good.”
I passed the other one to Dodge and grabbed Low a soda. Dodge stayed leaning against the counter opposite where Low and I sat at the counter seats. I didn’t realize how damn hungry I was until I’d gulped down four slices.
“When’s Talon lookin’ at addin’ you to the club?”
Swallowing my bite, I told Dodge, “Not next weekend, but the one after. Wants to do it at the family barbeque day.”
“Lucky you don’t have to join as a prospect,” Low said. “Dodge told me the crappy jobs he had to do.”
“Yeah, you punk. Now I can’t make your life hell.” Dodge smirked.
“You already do, old man.”
He shot me the middle finger. “But seriously, you know you don’t have to be a member to be family. You already are.”
“I know. I held off because my apprenticeship kept me busy, then there was branching out into my own business, but now that I’m settled, it’s time to become Hawks.” I glanced away and shrugged. “Besides, I’ve always looked up to you and want to follow in your footsteps in some way.”
“Jesus, kid, you just hit me in the damn heart.”
“Translation, he loves you,” Low put in.
“He knows that,” Dodge grumbled, probably as uncomfortable as I was with this feelings shit.
“I do.”
“Well, looks like we’ll be back in Ballarat in a couple of weeks.”
“You don’t have to come,” I told them.
Low punched me in the arm. “We wouldn’t miss it.” When she rested her elbow on the counter and head in her palm to stare at me, I knew something was up.
“What?” I asked around a mouthful of slice.
“You ever gonna be honest and just straight up tell me who brought you to Ballarat?”
She caught my gaze flaring. I opened my mouth, closed it, and fought not to look at Dodge. Had he said something? I’d asked him not to because we both knew that once one of the pussy posse members knew some gossip, the rest would hear it within hours.
Low glared and pointed at my face. “So, there is someone. I’ve had my suspicions, and I knew you wouldn’t just up and leave the family for no reason other than opening another shop, but you could have done that in Melbourne. Who is it? Are you gonna tell me now? Is it someone I know? I bet it is. Why else wouldn’t you want me to know?”
