Chapter Twenty-Eight

The second Jaron stepped outside onto the porch, Travis and Jackson stopped talking.

Like that's not obvious at all. Jaron rolled his eyes.

Jackson had stayed since Jaron had gotten out of the hospital. He slept on the couch while Andrew took the guest room.

Jaron got the impression the incident with Brad bothered him to the point he needed the solidarity of the only other friend in their little trio that he had left. In high school, the three of them were always together. Brad had broken the friendship. Not so much by hurting Jaron. Well, also that. But Jaron thought Brad beating him represented the lack of acceptance. It might have been okay as long as one of them didn't start a long-term relationship. They could all sit at the bar and pretend. The illusion had gone up in smoke the second Travis had started something serious with Jaron. Jackson was the glue that held the friendship together in some respects, and maybe he felt as if he'd failed.

He hobbled over to Travis and sat on his lap.

Travis put his arms around him and held him, careful to avoid his injured hip.

The thing still hurt enough that he limped a bit, and it restricted his movements, which annoyed him more than anything else. He wanted to get back to work but that wasn't possible, not just because of his hip but his arm had weeks left to go before the cast was off. He had to face Jackson when he sat because the other side would hurt his hip.

He gave Travis a look he hoped conveyed he wasn't a big fan of secrets. "You two are talking about Brad. I already know you are."

Jackson smiled and answered. The smile didn't quite reach his eyes. "He pled guilty. He's getting a few years in prison."

"But?" There was a but coming. Jaron could tell. Jaron had an urge to run as fast as his gimpy ass could to the main barn where Bobby helped Greg feed the horses and protect him. It didn't matter that Andrew was with them or that Greg could hold his own when it came down to it.

"But Brad has two brothers who need him."

Jaron sighed in relief and put his cast-covered hand to his chest. "I thought you were gonna tell me he escaped or something."

"Brad knows he fucked up. He'll take his punishment." Travis' jaw muscles ticced. "He's always been good about that."

Jackson nodded. "Luis can probably financially support himself and Cadon. He works a steady job. He's still young, though. Nineteen. Cadon is what…eleven."

"Well, Brad's actions certainly don't reflect on them. Or shouldn't." Jaron thought about the gossip he always heard at the grocery store. Some people were vicious. "Yeah, I see the problem."

"It's already started. I heard Cadon got into a fight at school and got suspended. He's home alone because Luis can't afford to take off work."

Jaron stood slowly and held out his hand to Travis. "Can I borrow your truck?"

"No." Travis softened the blow with a smile. "But I'll drive you."

Jaron hobbled his way down the stairs and over to Travis' truck. "Are you guys coming?"

Travis and Jackson both stood at the same time. Travis helped Jaron into the passenger's seat.

Jackson climbed into the back seat before Travis made it around to the driver's side. "Thank you for doing this."

"It's not their fault. And it has to be me who makes friends, don't you think?"

Jackson nodded and patted Jaron on the shoulder. "I think people will back off sooner, yeah."

A comfortable silence fell between them on the way to town.

When Travis pulled in front of a mechanics garage, he put the truck in park but didn't shut off the engine before he got out and made his way around the front of the truck to Jaron. Travis helped him out and stole a kiss before he let Jaron go.

"You want me to go with you?"

Jaron noticed one of the cops watching them from across the street. Most of the cops parked in the lot there. The police station was a couple of buildings over. His stares just proved one thing. "I should go by myself."

Travis nodded and shut the passenger's side door. He didn't bother sitting back in the truck but leaned against it, watching Jaron walk to the front door that said they were open.

A bigger guy with a scowl sat behind a desk. A boxy computer sat to the left and paperwork on the upper right corner. That was Royce, who'd bought up several businesses in town and made it a safer place to live.

The guy gave Jaron the once over and didn't say a word.

"I'm Jaron McAllister. I'd like to talk to Luis Flynn."

"Not gonna happen if you're here to start shit with him."

Jaron shook his head. "No, sir. The exact opposite in fact."

"Fine." The guy walked over to a large window that separated the small office from the rest of the garage. He knocked on it and crooked a finger at someone.

Jaron assumed he made the gesture at Luis.

"Now." Royce seemed like a hard ass. Jaron could see why the homophobes in Pickleville didn't mess with him. It wasn't just because he bought up several businesses.

A few seconds later and a guy with long dark-blond hair stood there with some type of wrench in his hand. The guy looked enough like Brad that Jaron saw the family resemblance right off. Brad had a square jawline and prominent features. Luis had more of a delicate bone structure. "I was right in the middle…oh." His gaze met Jaron's, and his face turned bright red.

Jaron smiled and took a step in his direction with his good arm out. Luis hesitated, but he shook Jaron's hand. "I'm Jaron. I know you don't know me. And I know this is going to sound very forward, but would it be all right if Cadon stayed over on the farm with us while you're at work? Jackson and Travis told me about his suspension. They can give him riding lessons or whatever if he wants."

The surprise clearly showed on Luis' face. "You want to babysit my little brother?"

"Well, yeah, I guess." Jaron shrugged. "I mean I know school is already out for today. And Bobby would love having another kid around. Greg might technically be an adult but he's got a lot of kid left in him. And he's way too serious all the time. It would do him good to have another kid around besides Bobby."

"You're serious?"

Jaron gestured to the door behind him. "Travis and Jackson are outside in the truck. You should talk to them. You know, since you know them. You definitely shouldn't let a stranger take your little brother anywhere." Jaron smiled and nodded, turning a bit to give him room to pass.

Luis gave him an open-mouthed stare but moved past him and out of the door. He held it open for Jaron and waited for him to limp through. The injury ached a bit from him standing on it too long.

Luis must have noticed him wincing. "Are you okay?"

Jaron waved off the concern. "I'm fine. Honestly."

Travis closed the distance between them and wrapped an arm around Jaron's waist. He led Jaron to the passenger's seat and lifted him up before Jaron had a chance to protest. Jackson got out, and all three men stood in the open doorway.

"You guys want to help us after what Brad did?" Luis kept his head down and both hands wrapped around the wrench as if it were the only thing that grounded him.

Travis sighed. "Not your fault. Or Cadon's."

Luis looked up. "Not everyone thinks that."

"We know. That's why we're here." Travis' jaw muscles jumped. "Look, I might want to kick Brad's ass right now, but that doesn't have anything to do with you and Cadon. We're not gonna let people think otherwise. So if you let us, we'll get Cadon and bring him to the farm. Maybe you can pick him up later and stay for dinner."

Luis nodded. "I-I guess that would be okay."

Travis pulled Luis into a hug. Travis ended the hug but guided him over to Jaron. Jaron leaned down and hugged Luis. "We're here to help."

"Thank you." Luis' voice shook when he spoke, and he hugged Jaron just a little tighter, as if he needed some strength. When he pulled away, he seemed relieved. "Seriously. Thank you."

"I know what it's like living with an addict. Makes you feel helpless. Doesn't matter how much you talk to them. And I know how much you love him anyway. And I know what it's like raising a kid through all that." Jaron tried not to let the emotion well up in his chest but failed. "You're not alone."

Luis initiated the hug the second time around, and when he let go, he smiled for the first time. "Can I bring anything to dinner?"

"Just yourself." Jaron couldn't help but feel as if he had made a new friend. And out of such an ugly, violent scene.

Luis' boss stood in the open doorway of the office with that same scowl on his face. He crooked a finger at Luis, who sighed. "I gotta go. See you guys later."

Jaron watched as Luis jogged back to the garage.

"Are you appreciating his ass?" Travis looked from Jaron to Luis and back again.

"No. The fact that he can jog. I miss moving at a fast pace." Jaron really did.

Jackson snorted out a laugh and got back into the truck.

Travis moved into the open space, crowding Jaron, cupping his cheek. That sparkle of mischief made a home in his eyes. "How about I show you a fast pace later tonight?"

Jaron grinned. "None of that gentle stuff you've been giving me."

"I'll pound you good, baby."

Jaron chuckled. "You know just what to say to charm a guy."