Chapter 2

If I didn't laugh,I might've cried. I'd only been on the new job for a week, certainly not enough time to get used to the truck, before the accident with Judah happened.

The cops came, did their job, and went, and Judah barely looked at me. I didn't blame him. Between our past and what had happened today, it was a miracle he didn't deck me. I'd never expected to run into him again, let alone for it to happen quite literally.

Too many years had passed between us, and even if he knew the truth—I doubted it because his mother certainly wouldn't've told him—he clearly hadn't forgiven me.

Now, I was back in my trailer, newly unemployed from my fuckup with not securing the hose to the vacuum truck properly, and still a little shaken from running into Judah. As soon as a tow truck had come to take his car away, he'd left without a word, and I'd let him, not quite sure what to say. I didn't deserve the chance to explain, even after all these years. I'd signed a contract, and there was nothing I could do to make up for the hurt I'd caused him.

"What happened?" Ellis—formerly known as Chet—fell onto the dilapidated couch beside me, dragging his long legs up to tuck them under himself. He was lanky, all limbs. He widened his big brown eyes in my direction.

Until recently he'd lived across the river from my trailer park with his uber religious parents, and when they'd been ready to send him off to a conversion camp, he was saved by my former neighbor, Ethan Shephard, and Shep's boyfriend and Ellis's best friend, Jonas. Now, Ellis lived with me, using his middle name to create a new identity and life. But if I knew anything about the past, it was that it tended to catch up with you when you least expected it.

Like today.

I shook my head and leaned it back against the couch. "I lost my job."

"Already?" There wasn't any judgment in his voice, rather sympathy. Ellis was a nice kid who'd grown up under difficult circumstances, something I understood well. So, while he'd offered to try and get out of my hair, I'd brushed off the idea. He deserved a new beginning, even if it was in my shitty trailer with my old, shabby furniture. It was better than living with his Jesus freak parents who were ready to ship their son off to have him tortured.

I glanced at him and took in the teenager. He was eighteen but had grown massively in maturity in barely a month. The scared child that I'd been asked to protect was still in there, but he was hidden behind a young man who'd learned to stand on his own two feet. I was proud of him. He'd dyed his hair black and pierced both of his ears. Each earlobe had a hoop with dangly pieces, but the right one had a long cylinder-type shape with rounded edges. His clothing style had also changed since he'd been with me. While his fashion was still masculine, he wore baggier pants that resembled skirts even though they weren't. He loved his leather jackets and loose shirts, too.

Today, he went for a casual pair of black pants and a band T-shirt with no shoes. He looked good. Comfortable. But that's what I wanted. When I took someone under my wing, I liked to be their older brother in a lot of ways, and Ellis was no different. I'd sent him back to school to finish his final year, which left me needing a job that supported us both. Hell, I had to figure out what to do.

"Yeah." I squeezed the back of my neck and sighed. "I got into an accident, which would've been fine, but I didn't secure the hose properly and shite went all over the other bloke's car." I didn't mention who the other person was. Ellis didn't need to know the details. He had no idea about my history, and I wanted to keep it that way. I was ashamed enough about it as it was.

"Are you okay?" He glanced down my body, studying me for injuries, and I smiled at his concern. I'd never understand how his parents had been so cruel to him just because they'd discovered he was gay.

I patted him on the shoulder. "I'm fine. Just a few bumps. Nothin' huge."

"So, the bastard boss fired you over that?" He scrunched up his nose and huffed. "That's stupid."

"That's life. It was a... shitty job anyway."

He groaned and slammed his forehead against my shoulder. "That is the worst pun ever, Tav."

I laughed loudly and nudged him. "That's what I call a good dad joke."

"You're old enough to be a dad," he shot back, grinning mischievously at me.

"Oi, watch your mouth!" I poked him, and he wriggled away, chuckling. "Aye, you may be right, though. I am thirty-eight."

"Fuck, you are old."

"All right, all right." I shoved him gently so as not to hurt him, and his laughter grew louder. It was nice to hear that sound from him. When he'd first been left with me by Shep and Jonas, Ellis had been terrified. Any small noise had sent him into a fit of panic, and it had taken every trick in the book to bring him back to a mentally safe place. My protective instincts had kicked in, and I took the role of his guardian very seriously, even if it wasn't legal.

That meant getting a new job.

Fuck.I ran a palm over my face and considered my options. I didn't have any qualifications, and while I'd finished high school and gotten my diploma, the year after that had involved taking care of my mum as her health deteriorated. After she'd died, I'd never had the chance to go to college. By that point, I was fucked in the educational department. One thing I am, though, is a hard worker. I took even the shittiest jobs—no pun because the last one showed it was literal—and I never called out sick. But apparently having no college degree or formal training meant I was useless in a lot of employers' books.

Ellis eyed me carefully and patted my thigh. "You'll find another one. You're resourceful, and you know if you need help?—"

"Don't even say it." Wrapping an arm around his shoulders, I gave him a grin. "You need to focus on finishin' high school. You only got a few months left. Get that done, then get ready for college. I can handle the bills."

"Getting a part-time job won't hurt." He jutted his chin, and it was a physical reminder he was still a teenager, young and innocent to the world around him. If I did anything to help him, it would be to get him out of here and toward a better life. There wasn't anything wrong with trailers, they were reasonable homes, but this park in particular was a shite hole.

"No. I want you to concentrate on your tests and assignments." I patted him on the head, and he shot me a glare before it softened into something admirable. It was scary that he looked up to me when my own life was in shambles. "We'll be fine. I'll get another job, just you watch."

"I have faith in you, Tav. You always get it done."

I ruffled his hair as a knock reverberated from the door of the trailer. Frowning, I checked the time.

7:00 p.m.

I didn't know who would be visiting this late. Shep and Jonas had gotten out of this place, and they hadn't been back since, but sometimes we met them in the city for a meal. They would've let us know if they were coming, though.

"I'll get it." Ellis jumped to his feet and rushed to the door before I had the chance to tell him to be careful. His parents had left him alone, since they were threatened very violently by the bikers from a motorcycle club that Shep was now a part of, but that didn't mean they wouldn't come back to cause problems.

He shoved open the door and paused. "Oh. Hey. Can I help you?"

Someone on the other side cleared their throat. "I thought this was Tavish Greer's trailer. I must have it wrong."

The familiar cadence of Judah's voice sent a hard shiver down my spine.

I shot to my feet at the same time as Ellis said, "This is his trailer. You've got the right place."

I came to a stop behind Ellis and paused, eyeing Judah carefully where he stood outside the trailer door. He'd never looked so out of place in his life, bathed in only the light that came from my kitchen in his expensive suit. If I hazarded a guess, his clothes cost him at least a thousand or more. Despite the many years that had flown by, though, he was still mouthwatering, a tall glass of refreshing water in front of a thirsty man—me.

With a jaw that could cut glass, plump lips, and a distinguished nose, he hadn't really changed much since we were teenagers. Other than a few age lines and his dark hair now an ash gray, he was still the same man I remembered. The only other difference was the irritated expression on his face, one that I didn't think I'd ever seen when we were teenagers. He clearly still hadn't forgiven me for breaking his heart, and I didn't blame him because I hadn't absolved myself, either.

I reached down to touch the bracelet of shells on my wrist, the same one that Judah had given me for our one-year anniversary. It'd always been precious to me because while he could afford to buy anything, even back then, he'd taken the time to make it for me instead. The care that came with the present meant more to me than anything bought would've.

His gaze followed the movement of my hand, and he froze for a moment when he saw what I was touching before his attention snapped back to me and hardened. "I see you prefer them young." He nodded at Ellis, who gasped.

I rolled my eyes. "You're so dramatic. Judah, this is Ellis." I placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'm takin' care of him until he finishes high school, not that it's any of your business." I smiled at Ellis and nudged his shoulder with mine. "Go do your homework, aye? I'm goin' to step outside."

"You sure you'll be all right?" He gave Judah his famous stink eye, and I laughed.

"I'm a big boy, I'll be okay. Off you go." I shoved him gently toward the couch, and he huffed but didn't argue.

I watched him until he grabbed his textbooks before I stepped out the front door, causing Judah to move a few paces back. I'd always been a tall man, even as a teenager, but he'd been taller. Even now, the top of my head only reached halfway up his forehead, and I needed to tilt my chin back to look at him.

"Listen, I'm real sorry about today, all right? I didn't mean to ram your motor up the behind, did I?" I crossed my arms and glanced around. To my right was the trailer that Shep had once lived in, but since he'd left, I'd gotten a couple of new neighbors. They weren't bad fellas, but I didn't want to cause any fuss that would create an issue with the park's owner. By how Judah was looking at me, I thought he wanted to strangle me.

"I heard you were fired." He mirrored my posture, and my lips quirked at the familiar move. He'd always done that. It was good to see some things didn't change. "Your boss called me about some insurance issues, and when I asked to speak to you, he told me he'd let you go and gave me your number and address. Is that true?"

I sighed and scratched the back of my neck. There weren't many people who could make me feel like a failure, but I'd always wanted to look good in front of Judah. He'd been my crush since I was thirteen and first moved to the United States with my mum and dad. We'd started dating at sixteen, and I'd lost my virginity to him on my eighteenth birthday. He'd been my first everything. But I'd changed since I was that naive kid from Scotland. I'd grown and lived through the worst bloody times of my life. I'd seen Mum get sick despite the treatments and watched her die. If I could get through that, I could do anything, even admit a shameful truth to Judah fucking Dailey, who still stared at me as though I'd destroyed his everything.

"It is, aye. Apparently, I hadn't attached the hose properly, and it's what made your life a tad shittier, if you know what I mean." I grinned, despite the serious situation, because I would never let this pun go. It was the best.

He pressed his mouth into a thin line. Obviously, he wasn't in a joking mood—color me surprised. Not. Judah hadn't always been this serious. Once upon a time, he'd been happy and laughed. He'd enjoyed every day like it was his last, and we'd gone on all kinds of adventures together. When we were younger, we'd bike everywhere, and when he'd gotten his license and his new Mustang, I'd let him drive me. After the interaction with him today, it was clear he wasn't that carefree spirit anymore. His anger toward me drove his attitude.

He glanced around the trailer park, his gaze assessing but not critical. "You live here."

It wasn't a question, so I didn't answer. I merely stared at him, waiting.

"How's your mom?" The bite in his tone softened slightly, and I held back a smile. He'd always had a gentle spot for Mum.

"She passed about a year after we left."

He froze and the hardness on his face fell away, leaving behind a subtle sadness. If I hadn't known him so well, I might've missed it, but I'd seen every emotion on this man's handsome face, and I'd never forget them. They were burned into the back of my brain. "She was an amazing woman."

I nodded. "Aye, she was. She loved you."

He shoved his hands into the pockets of his pants and exhaled heavily through his nose. A tic worked at his jaw, and he swiped his tongue across his upper lip, a sign of his agitation. He usually got this way when he couldn't think of the right thing to say, which had always been rare for him. Judah was great with words, but there were occasions where his mind got jumbled and he was left irritated. This was one of those times.

I laid a hand on his shoulder. "It's all right, Judah. Breathe."

He shrugged free of my touch and glared. "Fuck off." His eyes narrowed again, and the anger returned, simmering beneath the surface of his perfect facade. "I need a new driver. Mine is moving to the West Coast. You know how to drive in the city, right?" His words were sharp and vicious, and he left no room for argument. This version of him was new. I supposed whatever he did for business made him this way.

"Are you offerin' me a job?" I cocked my head, watching his face carefully.

"I'm telling you that you have a job," he snapped in return. He shifted in closer until his breath tickled my nose, and my stomach clenched at having him near. His cologne danced around me, a sensual scent that teased my cock into twitching. He'd always smelled so masculine.

"I don't get a choice?" I joked.

"No." His stare dipped down to my lips, and I paused, surprised when he didn't break the gaze for a long moment. I thought he was going to kiss me, but then he snapped his attention away again and took a large step back. "Give me your phone." He held out his hand expectantly.

I only hesitated for a moment before I snuck into the trailer to grab my cell off the narrow kitchen counter, then came back out to hand it to him. He opened the Notepad app and typed an address in it.

"This is my home address. I expect you to be there at seven thirty tomorrow morning. I'll show you the car you'll be using to drive me." He glanced around again. "Do you have a vehicle?"

I shrugged. "Yeah."

"Hmm." His jaw clenched. "Good. I need you to show up on time. My business hours are important. Am I clear?"

All I could do was nod at his authoritative tone. It almost had me spouting out "Yes, Sir" as though he was my Dom. I wasn't completely into BDSM play, but at this point, if he spoke in that tone, I'd call him anything he wanted. And obviously, we weren't going to talk about the whole teenage heartbreak thing. Fine with me.

He passed me back my phone. "Seven thirty. Don't be late."

Judah didn't give me time to reply. He left, his strides strong and confident, and I couldn't help but watch him until he slid into a sleek red car, either a hire or maybe another one of his. From what I knew of his family, he was rich enough to have more than one. Hell, more than ten, if he had a mind to get them.

The headlights nearly blinded me, but I didn't leave my spot until the red backlights disappeared into the darkness of the night. When I went inside, Ellis had his textbooks closed. He grinned at me.

"He's got a hot alpha thing happening."

I chuckled and swatted him playfully across the head. "You read too many of those omegaverse novels."

He poked his tongue out at me, the glint of the piercing in it teasing in the light. "You sure you don't want to read one?"

I laughed harder. "No. Now do your homework. Don't make me sound like my mum. I'd never forgive myself."

He saluted me. "Sir, yes, sir."

All I could do was shake my head and think about tomorrow. Now this was going to be interesting.