Firefly Lane (Briar County 1)

One thing that had surprised Holden, though—well, two things had surprised him. The first was how well he and Monroe got along. The Covingtons were basically Briar County royalty. Where he grew up, they’d had a similar family, and they’d harassed Holden and his family—judging his dad, picking on Holden and Marilee when they were kids. He hadn’t ever given a shit what they thought, but Marilee had.

The second thing was how much he enjoyed working with his hands. When his dad had actually worked, he’d done carpentry. The work had come naturally to Holden as well, but he’d hated it at the time, not wanting that connection to a man he’d despised. He’d stopped doing anything like that when he became a pilot, and…well, he hadn’t thought he’d missed it, but he had. He liked this, but he was a stubborn motherfucker and didn’t like liking it.

Things were going well with Sean. Holden had even gotten him to come to the barn and work with him a couple of times, trying to teach him the craft. The first time, Holden had almost had to drag him, but the second he’d agreed right away, and the third he’d come out to help on his own, claiming boredom. Holden was pretty sure it was more about an interest he didn’t want to admit to having.

While Monroe invited them to eat and hang out with him and his family fairly regularly, Holden always said no. It felt too…intimate? Or maybe he was just an asshole; he couldn’t say. But he also knew Sean was unsure about spending time with Wyatt, and his nephew’s comfort was the most important thing.

It was a Friday evening. He was almost finished with the inside of the barn, and he’d locked Monroe out of it, not letting him see. Holden was sitting on the porch while Marilee and Sean got ready so the three of them could go out, and he decided to call Vince, since they hadn’t spoken in a couple of days.

“Hey, you,” his boyfriend answered. “Sorry I didn’t call you back the other day. Things have been busy.”

“No worries.” Holden put his feet up on the porch railing and leaned back in the chair. “I just thought I’d say hi before we head out for movies with goats.”

“Excuse me, what?” Vince asked, making Holden laugh.

“Yeah, apparently it’s a thing, and Marilee wants to do it. She’s dragging Sean and me along. She’s never gone the whole time she’s lived here, so I guess I can handle it for a night, even if it is weird as hell. Monroe’s family runs it from their farm.” When he and Vince spoke, Holden always updated him on the barn and the work he was doing for Monroe.

“Sounds like he has his hand in a bit of everything there.”

“He does. He’s not a dick, though, not one of those guys who throw their weight around.”

“I didn’t figure he was if you spend so much time with him. You’re not good with that shit.”

No, no he wasn’t. “Anyway, what are you up to this weekend?”

“I’m going to a dinner party tonight—Chris and I are going.” Chris was a friend of theirs they hung out with sometimes. “It’s at Gregory and Liam’s.”

“Liam’s not jealous of you anymore, then?” Holden chuckled. Gregory was Vince’s ex-boyfriend. They’d broken up a few months before Holden and Vince started seeing each other, and Gregory’s current partner, Liam, didn’t like Vince around Gregory. He was a jealous little thing, but considering Gregory had cheated on Vince with Liam, Holden didn’t think he was the one who had the right to feel that way.

“I guess not,” Vince replied. “Tell me more about what you’re doing, though. It sounds like things are going well.”

They chatted for a while. Holden always enjoyed talking with Vince. It was one of the reasons their relationship had lasted so long. When he heard Marilee shout, “You ready, Sean?” Holden stood.

“I think we’re about to head out, so I should go. I’ll talk to you in a few days.”

“Okay. Have fun with your goats!”

Holden rolled his eyes. “Have fun at dinner.”

They hung up just as Marilee came out, a bag over her shoulder. “I can’t wait!”

“Mom…it’s movies with goats running all around. What if they poop by us?”

“Then there will be poop in the grass. Stop stealing my fun.”

Holden squeezed Sean’s shoulder. “We get to choose the next family outing.”

“I agree with Uncle Holden.”

“Fine. Gang up on me. It’s gonna be fun. I know it.”

Holden wasn’t so sure, but he wanted Marilee to have fun. The look Sean sent his way told him his nephew felt the same.

He grabbed the folding chairs, which were stuffed in bags, then looked over and saw that Monroe’s truck was gone. Holden wondered where he was. It was seven, and he hadn’t noticed him come home from work—not that he was watching. He just hadn’t seen him, so he could have come and gone or…or Holden could be thinking way too much about Monroe Covington.