My eyes welled unexpectedly. I blinked, hoping to avoid embarrassing either of us. “Not really. It’s just two words, I guess.”
“Maybe. Maybe it’s a little more than that. I get it. I know how hard it is to grapple with your truth and let other people in. I’m living it too. The older gentleman next door came by to welcome my wife and me to the neighborhood the other day. I thanked him and told him that my boyfriend and I were excited to be here. He didn’t flinch, but others might. I don’t care. I have what I want, and I’m willing to fight for it.”
“You make it look easy,” I whispered.
“It’s easy for me because I love Topher,” he said matter-of-factly. “Look, I don’t need to know anything about you and George, but he is my kid brother, so as much as I love you, A, I gotta warn you…one wrong move and I will kick your fucking ass.”
I snorted. “Thanks for the warning, but I got friend-zoned.”
“Oh.”
“He’s worried I’m going to regret him.”
“And what are you worried about?”
“I’m worried about the same thing I always worry about…failure.”
“You can spend your time worrying, or you can spend your time doing. In the words of Babe Ruth, ‘Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game,’ ” he quoted sagely.
“Yeah, but… I don’t have a great job or a lot of money in the bank. I’m not who I set out to be. I’m so close to a good opportunity, but…I’ve been here before. I’ve been on the brink of something special, ready to pack my bags and start over, and it’s never worked. Ever. I want to believe that’s behind me. But I didn’t get the job yet, and I’ve run out of time ’cause at this very moment, I don’t have anything to offer him…except me. See the problem?”
“I do. You’re forgetting that George knows you, Aiden. He’s known you forever and he likes you the way you are. I know that without knowing any…intimate details,” he said, narrowing his gaze. “Don’t make things unnecessarily complicated.”
I let out an amused huff. “I’m so good at that, though.”
“Nah, you’re just used to getting tough breaks, A. It’s hard to trust when something good comes around.”
“Maybe so.” I looked away briefly, feeling a little too exposed.
“But you gotta remember that the best things in life are worth fighting for. Keep fighting, man. You got this.”
I swallowed hard. “Thanks.”
Simon patted my shoulder then pointed at our handiwork. “So…wanna help me string another set of lights while I go into excruciating detail of how badly I’ll kick your ass if you mess with my brother?”
“Gee, that sounds like fun. Your side is crooked, by the way.” It wasn’t, but it made me laugh when he growled.
“Damn it, Baker. It’s your fault if I have to redo this again.”
“Nice try, Si.”
We squabbled like a couple of preteens…or maybe just a couple of old friends navigating a new reality. I felt a weight fall from my shoulders. It was intangible but heavy. I could tell I’d been holding on to it for years. So much wasted time, so much fear.
I was ready to shed it all and begin again.
“I’ve got a bone to pick with you, boy,” Uncle Hank barked.
And good fucking morning to you too.
I slipped my sunglasses on the collar of my UCI T-shirt. “What is it?”
Hank glowered at me from behind the reception desk. “I heard you bought a battery for the queermobile. If you’re trying to work out a discount by purchasing it yourself and passing it along to your friend, think again. Not happening. This is my shop, and those are my rules. Take ’em or leave ’em.”
“Are you giving me an ultimatum?”
“No, I’m charging you full price for that damn battery. That’s what I’m doing,” he grumbled.
“Got it. You can take it out of my last paycheck. I quit.”
Ah, another weight fell from my shoulders. A big one. I sucked in a cleansing breath and smiled at my now red-faced uncle.
“Say what?”
“You heard me, Hank. I quit,” I repeated in a pleasant tone. “This is my two-week notice.”
“You can’t quit. You owe me, boy.” His pudgy face turned pink with anger.
“Owe you? What could I possibly owe you?”
“Try a debt of gratitude for starters. If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t have had a job or means to pay your own way.”
“Thank you for the opportunity, but I’m moving on.”
“Where? Where are you going? Who hired you?” he demanded.
“No one yet, but—”
“I won’t be recommending you. No, sir.”
Okay, this was going badly. I pinched the bridge of my nose and set my hands on my hips. “Noted. Thankfully, I won’t be needing your help.”
He went still, then narrowed his beady eyes menacingly. “Are you in cahoots with your queer friends? Is that what this is all about? Did you trade my property…my battery for a fucking blowjob or a real job?”