Chapter Twenty

Brad sat at the end of the bar, watching Kendrick move around the other bartender. They had a shared rhythm, which spoke of years working together in a narrow space.

Kendrick met Brad's gaze, smiling. He would do that about twice an hour. Brad didn't know if he needed the reassurance or what the reason, but he didn't mind the attention. He would take whatever Kendrick wanted to give him and count himself lucky.

Brad winked.

As timid as Kendrick was around certain people, he seemed in his element serving drinks. Based on what little Brad knew about running a bar, which wasn't much, Kendrick excelled at it. Brad could take a lesson on running a business, considering Brad's repair business had doubled every year since he'd started.

Kendrick put an open bottle of beer on the bar in front of a middle-aged man. The man wore a flannel shirt and a cap advertising a tractor company. Brad thought his last name was Garrison. He had come over to the old man's trailer when Brad had been a kid, and Brad had seen him around town a time or two during his lifetime. But he didn't know a lot about him. He didn't even know why Garrison had visited his father. They could have been friends, or maybe the old man had sold something to Garrison. Either way, it made him suspect in Brad's mind.

Brad stiffened when Garrison grabbed the beer and turned without leaving money on the bar.

Kendrick yelled something, but with the loud music and people talking over it, Brad couldn't hear what he said. Kendrick slapped the bar and yelled again. Garrison set his beer on the bar and reached for Kendrick, leaning across it.

Bad idea.

Brad was off his bar stool so fast that by the time Kendrick looked his way for support, Brad was already closing the distance between himself and Garrison. Brad grabbed Garrison's arm, pulling him away from Kendrick as he put the arm behind his back.

Garrison sputtered and cursed, trying to turn, but Brad had a lot more muscle mass, even if they were about the same height. Brad wrenched his arm higher, making it hurt a little more before he let him go.

Up to that point, Garrison had no idea who had accosted him. As soon as he turned and saw Brad, he paled. "Flynn?"

Brad put himself between Garrison and Kendrick. Even with the bar separating Kendrick from Garrison and Brad, he felt better if Garrison wasn't within arm's reach. "What's the problem, baby?"

"He won't pay for the beer and he won't start a tab." The threat of physical violence shook Kendrick. Brad had gotten good at reading Kendrick's facial expressions, so he knew he was a couple minutes away from a panic attack.

When Brad turned his gaze onto Garrison again, his Adam's apple bobbed. "Why is that, Garrison?"

"Don't have to pay a fag."

Brad took a few deep breaths when the anger rose. He wasn't an immature child who needed to beat up some mouthy dick, even if he deserved it.

Garrison took a step away from Brad as he came closer. Brad was too close, and the crowd made a clean getaway impossible. When Brad grabbed him by the front of his neck and pressed him against the bar, Garrison whimpered.

Brad spoke to Kendrick without taking his gaze off Garrison. "What does he owe you, Kendrick?"

"Four dollars."

Brad tightened his hold, not enough to choke Garrison but enough to get his point across. "Give him the money."

Garrison fished around his back pockets with shaky hands, pulling out a leather wallet.

When Brad let him go, he grabbed a ten-dollar bill and lay it on the bar. "Nice tip. Now get the hell out. If you so much as look at him wrong, you'll see me directly after. And after that conversation you'll be breathing out of a different hole."

Kendrick took the money, turning his back on the entire exchange in favor of putting the money into the register.

Garrison opened his mouth to speak, but Brad stopped him. "I wouldn't if I were you. See, I'm trying not to kill you for calling my boyfriend a bad name. I'm protective that way. Now, I'd get out of here if I were you."

Garrison blinked once and then turned, heading for the door.

Brad watched him as he walked out, staring for a few minutes to make sure he didn't come back.

Someone tapped him on the shoulder. Brad turned to see Kendrick, who rested his hand on Brad's arm. "Can you come around to the back, please? We need to have a conversation."

Shit. "Sure."

Brad moved to the end of the bar, walking around.

Kendrick had walked over to the other bartender and they spoke for a couple of minutes before pointing to the back.

Maybe Brad had fucked up. Brad sighed and stuck his hands in his pockets as Kendrick turned, leading the way. The other bartender smiled and nodded.

As soon as the door closed behind him, Kendrick had wrapped his arms around Brad's waist.

Brad hesitated for about a second before hugging Kendrick. He sighed in relief. "So I didn't scare you?"

Kendrick pulled back enough to meet his gaze. "He…um…he was gonna…Do you think I should hire a bouncer? I haven't needed one, but then I don't remember him coming into the bar before. There's only been a couple of times that something violent has happened and one of the patrons have always come to the rescue, but no one has ever tried…" Kendrick shuttered and pressed himself to Brad again.

"It would make me feel better." Brad would come to the bar every night if necessary.

"I'll ask Royce."

"I'll talk to Travis and Jackson. We can take turns until you hire someone."

Kendrick pulled back again and lifted onto his toes, giving Brad a kiss. It was just a press of the lips, but it spoke volumes. "Thank you."

"I'll always protect you, baby." And maybe that was all it came down to, protecting the people who needed him most. Kendrick made him feel like a superhero, even though he was the furthest thing from one.