Loner by Harloe Rae Page 0,85
as I’m about to resume wallowing in private, the roar of pipes cracks through the silence. Who the fuck else is paying me a social visit? The shadows of isolation break apart as my next guest nears closer. I let my jaw drop when no other than Grady Bowen crests the hill of my driveway.
The biker cuts his engine along the front of my shop. He’s alone, which I hear is rare nowadays. Grady removes his helmet and comes over to stand beside me.
We’re quiet for a moment, sizing one another up. I flick my gaze to his seemingly impeccable motorcycle. “Need some work done?”
“Nah, she’s running solid. Just dropping by to say hello.”
I stare at him, waiting for the punchline. He doesn’t follow that up with a joke, though. “Huh, all right. Well, hey.”
He scratches at his scruffy jaw. “You got any beer?”
A snort scrapes out of me. “It’s gonna be that type of conversation?”
“Absolutely.”
“I have a few in the cooler. Grab a seat.” I motion to the chairs folded up against the wall.
Grady has an empty spot waiting for me when I return. He’s taking advantage of the open space, legs spread wide while reclining deep and low. I drop my ass onto the canvas seat with a groan. The shitty craftsmanship creaks under my weight.
He takes the outstretched bottle from me. “Thanks, man.”
“No problem.” I take a swig, gulping down another for good measure. “So, what’s up?”
“Did you know Keegan is close with Sutton’s family?”
I almost reel back from the unexpected blindside. With a heavy exhale, I force my expression to go slack. “Kinda,” I mumble. “She might’ve mentioned something along those lines once or twice.”
“Then you’re aware of the shitstorm I’ve been hearing about for nearly a week.”
“Okay.” The non-answer neither confirms nor denies my very dense involvement.
“I’m going to need more dedication from you, Ford.”
This guy is nosy as fuck, considering I can count the number of prior conversations we’ve had on one hand. “Not sure what this has to do with you.”
“Aren’t you listening? Keegan is friends with Sutton. Therefore, I’ve been hearing all about how awful men are. Dude, you’re making us all look bad.”
I gape at him. “Uh, sorry?”
“Are you really?”
“No.”
“What the fuck, Ford? Don’t you have any pride for brotherhood?”
Not since my actual brother abandoned me. But Grady doesn’t need to hear that sob story. “Do you?”
“Of course. I wouldn’t be here otherwise.”
That’s news to me. Last I recall, this guy isn’t a huge people person. If anyone can understand my reasoning, it should be him. “I live off the grid for a reason.”
“I’ll remember that next time you need a favor.”
“Noted.” Erik was wrong to point me in Grady’s direction. Good thing I didn’t follow through. He doesn’t get it.
He grunts, tipping his face toward the sky. “So, I’m gonna need you to fix this.”
“Not sure I’m following.” I swallow another mouthful of the hoppy brew.
His eyes roll to mine. “You broke up with Keegan, right?”
“I mean, we weren’t really dating.”
“Yes, you certainly were.”
Something dark twists inside of my stomach. I normally like this guy, but his invasive assumptions are rubbing at my raw nerves. “Not sure it really matters. We aren’t seeing each other anymore.”
“Right. That’s the part I need you to repair.” Grady points at me.
I sit there for a moment, completely caught off guard. My sluggish mind scrambles to catch up and formulate a worthy retort. “Are you trying to convince me to patch things up with Keegan?”
A sharp jerk of his chin. “Yes.”
“Listen, Grady. I appreciate the advice and all.” That’s a steaming pile of garbage. “But my relationship or whatever I had with Keegan is over.”
“I think you should reconsider.”
“Yeah, I’m getting that vibe from you.”
Grady turns to the side, staring me down. “What’s the issue?”
“Do you want a list? How about she deserves better than me and we don’t belong together.”
“Quit being an idiot, Ford. If I can win the girl, you sure as hell can.”
I tug my hat down lower. “I highly doubt that.”
“Stop arguing with me while you’re at it.”
Drinking a beer has never been so labor intensive. I’m almost out of hot air from this waste of an exchange. “Well, this has been…fun. I appreciate you coming by and all, but this is my choice to make.”
“And how is that going for you?”
“Just great, thanks for asking. I’m capable of managing my problems, however fucked up you think those methods are.”
He tosses me a look that reeks of suspicion. “I’m not