Bruised

Chapter Two

Sparks

Billy Frederick wandered into the garage, rubbing the back of his neck. Goddamn barber had shaved him damn close, too damn close.

He looked like a plucked chicken.

An itchy, grumpy plucked chicken.

“Bird? You here?” If the man wasn’t? He was going to get shitfaced. Honest to God.

“Billy?” The muffled sound of his name came from beneath a car, then Bird slid out from beneath a beat-up Ford almost in front of him. “Hey.”

“Hey. You almost done?” Sexy fucker. In the weeks since they’d first met, he and Johnson Bird had spent all their free time together. A man could get used to that kind of thing.

“For you, I’m done. Lemme just tighten a nut or two.” Bird disappeared again, something banging beneath the car. There was a soft curse, another bang before Bird slid out again, and popped up with a grin. “Yeah, I’m done.”

“Cool. You want a drink, man?” He needed one. Or two. Or six.

“Sure.” Bird grabbed his hat and put it on his own head. “How do I…?” The words faded into laughter.

“Shut up.” Billy pushed his ball cap deeper.

Bird bit his bottom lip. “You lose a bet?”

“No. Barber lost a customer.” Jesus.

“Oh, babe…” Bird snorted back another laugh and grabbed