Page 20 of Knight
“They’re going to make out in the patrol cruiser, aren’t they?” Bailey said.
I laughed along with everyone else. We probably wouldn’t see Axel for a good twenty minutes. It was still a little weird to see someone like him go for a law-and-order type, though.
“See?” Gray said. “I told you they were worse than us!”
“I don’t know about worse,” Bailey said. “At least we don’t have to witness it.”
“You’re one to talk,” Aiden teased. “You’ve forced me into witnessing plenty.”
Bailey’s face flamed, and Gray renewed the shit-talking. I was still stuck on my roommate problem, though. I leaned in over the table to catch Shiloh’s attention.
He’d been the one to get me a lead on my last roommate.
“Hey, Shy, you don’t have any new student teachers looking for housing, do you?”
“No, sorry. No one that I know of.”
“That’s okay. It was worth a shot.”
Flynn nudged me. “I was about to tell you when Dalton came in. Aiden’s looking for a place.”
“Oh, really? Well, I’m sure he can do better than my shitty neighborhood.”
“I don’t know. He hasn’t had much luck yet.” He turned to his brother. “Right, Aids?”
“What?” Aiden asked, looking over. “I missed what you said.”
“Knight needs a roommate, and you need a place,” Flynn said. “Maybe you two should shack up.”
Aiden’s eyes went wide. “Uhh…”
“I doubt Aiden wants to live with a felon, but thanks anyway, man.”
“I don’t have a problem with felons,” Aiden said sharply. “My brother is an ex-con and a good man. They’re not mutually exclusive.”
“Sure.” I forced a smile. “But not all of us went to prison to save our little brother.”
Aiden went still and cold, all his fire snuffed out in an instant. “Right. Well.” He pushed back his chair and stood. “I need some air. I’ll just be…”
He spun on his heel and headed for the door, narrowly avoiding a pool cue to the ribs as he darted around a table.
Shit. I’d stepped in it, hadn’t I?
“Real nice,” Bailey said. “You know ex-cons aren’t the only ones with regrets, right?”
“I better go make sure he’s okay,” Flynn said. “Maybe we should call it a night.”
“No, let me. I should apologize.” I stood and squeezed Flynn’s shoulder. “Sorry, man. I’ll make it right.”
I found Aiden leaning against the driver’s-side door of Flynn’s car, head tipped back to look at the stars. I leaned a shoulder against the cool window beside him.
“Turns out, my real crime is being a thoughtless jackass.”
He gave a quiet huff that was not quite a laugh. “You didn’t say anything that wasn’t true.”
“I just didn’t think about how it’d make you feel.”
“It’s fine.” Aiden sighed. “Flynn’s the one who paid for that night. Not me. What’s a little guilt compared to seven years in prison?”
