Page 44 of Knight
“No worries. I hope you brought your appetite. Flynn went a little overboard on the meat. We’ve got enough hamburgers and brats to feed twenty men.”
I laughed. “More leftovers for everyone, right?”
We rounded the house and crossed into the backyard, where most of the guys were seated around a picnic table. A fluffy snowball of a dog sat under the table, leaning against Holden’s legs. Our two doggy companions raced toward the group, sniffing at the grass, hoping to find more lost treasure.
Dalton and Axel lounged in a pair of lawn chairs a few feet away, sipping beers. A chihuahua was curled up in Axel’s lap. A huge black rottweiler was sitting with her head resting on Dalton’s thigh.
They had alotof dogs, but Flynn had told me that Axel took in strays and had recently started up a pet fostering program.
“Aiden, finally!” Flynn stood and stepped over the picnic bench seating to engulf me in a big hug. “You’re working too hard. Come sit and eat.”
He pulled me over to the table and pushed me into his spot—right next to Knight. Because of course it was.
“Why would you think I’m working too hard?” I slanted a pointed look Knight’s way. “We haven’t talked since my first day.”
Knight held up his hands in surrender. “I wasn’t properly trained to withstand interrogation. Sorry.”
I groaned. “How hard has he been grilling you about me?”
“Pretty much every day since you moved in.”
“Flynn!” I protested.
“Sorry.” He gave me big puppy-dog eyes. “It’s just that I couldn’t look out for you for so long. I feel like I should make up for lost time.”
Aw, dang it. I couldn’t be mad at that.
“There’s nothing to make up. You’ve already done so much for me.”
He shrugged. “It’ll never be enough. Not for my little brother.”
My heart softened. As guilty as I felt about Flynn going off to prison, he carried his own flavor of regret. He had saved my life, so I couldn’t really begrudge him, but he certainly didn’t owe me anything.
“Well, that’s impossible to argue with,” I said.
Holden smiled. “Because big brothers are always right.”
“Ha!” Bailey said. “Youwouldthink that.”
“Of course he does,” Gray added. “He wouldn’t be Holden if he wasn’t a control freak.”
“But he’s acutecontrol freak,” Shiloh teased.
Holden didn’t look thrilled to be called cute. His brothers razzed him, but he took it good-naturedly, shrugging it off. “Still, Flynn, there can only be one control freak in the family. That job is taken.”
Flynn chuckled. “My bad.”
“Yeah, no more harassing Knight,” I added. “If you want to know how I’m doing, just ask me.”
“Fine, but you’ve got to reply with more than a thumbs-up when I text.”
“Thank you,” Holden said. “I hate when Bailey does that shit. Use your words, kids!”
Bailey tossed a potato chip at him. Shiloh snagged it and stuffed it into his mouth with a crunch.
“I’ll do better,” I promised.
And I wasn’t used to having someone check in on me.
