Page 29 of Control Freak

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I never called you a slacker.”

“You implied it,” he grumbled.

“I’m sorry, Gray. I’m a little…tired today.”

“We should cancel the Chamber event then,” Bailey said quickly. “So you can rest.”

“Nice try,” I said dryly. “Go get your ass in the shower.”

“Fine,Dad.I’m going. Wouldn’t want to miss the opportunity to wow them with all the reading I’ve been doing,” he snarked.

He went out the door, and Gray and I exchanged a look.

“He thinks calling me Dad is an insult,” I said.

Gray’s expression softened. “You’re the closest thing to a father he’s got now, and he’s lucky to have you.”

I shuffled my feet, the heat of shame crawling up my neck. “I really am sorry for being a bossy dick today.”

Gray shrugged. “I got myself into this predicament. But you know I’ll always dig myself back out of the hole, right? It’s not your problem. I can handle it.”

I instinctively brushed those words away. Of course it was my problem. The shop was the glue that held our family together. It was too important for me to take my eye off the ball for even a second.

As Gray’s expression shuttered, though, I realized I was shaking my head no.

“You’re right,” I forced out. “It’s hard for me to let go of things.”

“Well, I can’t be too upset,” Gray said. “You might have never kept us all together otherwise.”

“I didn’t,” I said, thinking of all the years he was gone.

“We’re all here now, Holden,” he reminded me. “That’s thanks to you.”

“I’ll work on the bossy thing,” I said.

“I won’t hold my breath.”

I laughed. “Asshole.”

He grinned. “Don’t push yourself too hard tonight. Use Bailey as a buffer.”

“He’ll love that.”

When I got to the house, Shiloh was in the shower. I slipped into my bedroom and changed into a suit, then met Bailey out front after leaving a text for Shiloh to remind him I’d be in late.

We drove over to the swanky Silver Spoon restaurant, where they were holding their meeting in a private room.

As soon as we entered, Ed Thomas made a beeline toward me, beefy hand extended.

“Bailey,” I said tensely.

My brother reached out, shaking his hand. “Nice to meet you. I’m Bailey, the younger brother.”

“Right, right. Good to see you both here,” Ed said. “I’ve saved a couple of seats at my table. You did a great job on my BMW last month.”

“That was all Bailey,” I said.

Ed’s eyes sharpened as he took in my brother. “Well, well. That must be handy, having such a talented kid in the shop.”