“That’s it,” JT flitted through the cash in the envelope again, scowling up at his old, haggard employer at the junkyard. He had just worked a back-to-back security shift, monitoring the premise located off the east of Pittsburgh. Fifteen hours later, and this was what he was getting as payment.

“It’s not enough,” he said, his tone clipped, and his annoyance razor-edge. Crunching the envelope in his hands, he repeated, “Not enough.”

The elderly man who owned the lot and doled out the under-the-table cash shrugged. “It’s all I got when business is slow.” He then massaged a hand over his shiny scalp, the strands of fair white clinging to his head whipped up by the wintry wind. “Say,” he drawled, “you available the whole of next week as well?”

JT clenched his jaw, nodding sharply. He turned, figuring he might as well leave this bridge uncharred from now. He still needed the cash, even though the two-month deadline with the loan shark, Amanda Lorraine, was coming to an end.

In the safe, warm cocoon of his truck, the heater blasting on high, JT smoothed the envelope he’d crushed in his palm and drew out the bills. Counting again, he sighed. This one-twenty would add a bit more to the six thousand he’d managed to save thus far. But he still needed another half of that to free Parrot…and himself from this debt.

Starting the engine, JT blinked blearily out the window. Spying the vending machine through the window of the small office building in the junkyard, he opened the car door and moved in that direction.

The old man looked up from his desk, frowning. “I told you I don’t got any more.”

JT waved him off, heading to the vending machine. He grabbed an energy drink, holding it up and striding out. Cracking the tab open, he guzzled it and cleared the can. With that, he figured he’d be able to stay awake long enough to drive home.

Flicking on the radio, JT drove from the junkyard. He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, yawning almost as soon as he started his lengthy journey back home. Sleep snuck up on him, his eyelids drooping, his mind fogging, his body letting go—

JT gasped out of a dream, startling when a blaring horn sounded and blinding lights came at him. He swerved out of the path of the car, his truck wheels slipping and sliding on what had to be a patch of black ice. He stamped down on the brakes, watching the car swerve off from the road, down into the ditch and snow drift. There was a loud thump and a crunch of metal…and then all the noise around him vacuumed out of existence.

The heavy silence stretched on, and though he blinked rapidly, and his breathing wisped out in gray plumes, JT wondered if he died. Then he groaned, acknowledging the twisting sharp pain in his back. Unbuckling his seatbelt, he shoved out of his door. At least the snow hadn’t trapped him in.

Reaching for the keys in ignition, JT silenced his engine and locked up after him.

Grunting as he stood in the drift, shaking his head as he assessed the drop from the top of the road, he sighed heavily. Swiping a hand over his weary face, he grumbled, “Shit.” So much for that energy drink. Probably expired. He wouldn’t put it past the old man running the junkyard. The cheapskate.

Realizing though that he was to blame for the accident, that he should have slept in the truck instead, JT climbed out of the ditch. Using his gloved hands at times to get to the top and stand at the edge of the road, he looked both ways before slipping his phone from his jacket pocket. Thankful for the strong signal, he called for help.

Phoenix answered quickly, promising to be with him in thirty.

In the meantime, JT stood outside, pacing. Lucky for him, it wasn’t so cold out. Bearable. And a clear sky to boot. Winter had swept in, and it was going to be a white Christmas after all, as long as the glittering snow stayed put for the next couple weeks.

While he waited for Phoenix, JT’s mind strayed as it usually did. These past seven weeks he had little time to think between all the extra jobs he’d been taking on, both at the construction site with Phoenix’s construction company, and the late-night shifts at the junkyard and odd jobs here and there. Anything that would add to his growing savings.

Not that it was enough. Soon he’d be running out of time. Then what? He’d truly be left with nothing then.

JT fought back against the image of Alec in another alpha’s arms. Some other guy making him immensely happy. He pictured Alec round with his new lover’s baby. It brought a swell of burning anger to his throat, the lump growing larger the more he entertained the images of Alec’s newfound happiness with this other alpha.

By the time Phoenix arrived, JT had riled himself up.

“You okay?” his friend called soon as he exited his SUV. At JT’s jerky nod, the two men looked down into the ditch and assessed the damage. Phoenix called for a tow, using his insurance. They waited out the tow truck and then they piled into the SUV.

“Sorry about the truck,” JT said once they entered city limits.

“I’m just glad you’re all right, man.” Phoenix kept his eyes on the road, but it felt like he was thinking hard. Sure enough, he added, “What were you doing out this far?”

JT hadn’t told him about the job at the junkyard. He did now, and Phoenix frowned.

“You strapped for cash or something?” He gave JT a quick side glance. “Because if you need a loan…”

“I don’t,” JT said.

The silence stretched until they cleared downtown Pittsburgh, and then Phoenix looked over again. “Are you in trouble?”

JT scowled out his window, turning as far from Phoenix as he could without alerting him to the struggle inside of him. One part of him wanted to cast off the weight of his worries, ease his burden with his friend and fellow biker. The stronger part shoved it down, told him that this was his problem—and his alone.

“It’s nothing.” JT switched topics, wanting the spotlight off him. He already planned to set aside the cost of the tow and any auto body work on Phoenix’s truck. He didn’t want to owe anyone. “Who’s with the kids?”

“Julian,” Phoenix said, his voice lighter when he mentioned his omega boyfriend. They’d been dating for three years, having met around the same time JT crossed paths with his own omega. Thinking about Alec again, JT drifted off, nearly missing that they’d arrived in Raven Chapel, Phoenix’s quaint neighborhood…and JT’s temporary home.

They sat in the silence once Phoenix shut off his engine. “If you need anything,” his friend said after a while, leaving his offer hanging.

JT smiled for his friend’s benefit, though he was only half up to the task, and the mirth slipped away as quickly as it bloomed. “I’ll ask you,” he filled in, knowing that’s what Phoenix wanted to hear: reassurance that all was right as rain.

The house was quiet inside. The kids had to be asleep. It was way past their bedtime, even on a Saturday night. Julian wasn’t alone in the living room. Parrot sat on the other end of the sofa, his gaze staring hard at the muted news channel while Julian flipped through one of his many romance books.

As soon as their presence was noted, Julian sprung upright, and moved into Phoenix’s embrace. “The kids are all asleep.” Julian’s six-year-old son also moved in with his father, once Phoenix realized that Julian came as a package deal, he’d been sold on bringing both of them home.

They kissed sweetly, before Phoenix regarded Parrot’s cool, assessing look and his laser focus on JT specifically.

“Hey, man,” he said.

Parrot nodded. “Yo.”

“What brings you around so late?” Phoenix rubbed his dark red beard. “Trouble at the club?” he asked, eyes narrowing.

“Nah. I need to talk to JT,” Parrot said. Then, as if he didn’t care whether they had an audience, he continued, “I know what you did.”

JT stood rigidly in the face of Parrot’s accusation. He hadn’t seen too much of his friend and ex-roommate since Parrot had admitted to his love for JT, and JT had rejected him for Alec. He felt shitty all over again just thinking about it.

Of course, Parrot being in his face yanked him out of the depressing memory. “You went to see her. You’re the reason I’m off the hook.”

“Hook?” Phoenix echoed, stepping between them, acting the buffer in case Parrot flew off the handle. JT sure as hell knew he wasn’t about to start swinging. He was too damn tired for that—for any of this, to be honest.

“What’s going on?” Phoenix looked between them, his brows dropping sharply, his lips turning down. The softness that had touched his features when he’d been holding Julian was gone now. When they didn’t respond, Phoenix snapped, “Someone tell me what the hell is up, or you’re both getting the boot.”

JT had more on the line with that threat. He’d been immensely grateful when he had left Alec and came to Phoenix, asking for shelter in his basement. He paid room and board by watching the kids sometimes, paying for groceries and doing odds and ends around the house. With five children, his boyfriend, and a company to run, Phoenix wasn’t exactly always on top of everything. Understandably.

Being kicked out now would make it hard for JT to save any more money. There was already the towing fees and damages to the truck that he’d have to pay. He didn’t need to be searching for a new place right now.

But it was Parrot who said, “I was in debt with a loan shark.”

“What?” Phoenix’s eyes widened.

“Twelve thousand,” Parrot said.

JT was just as shocked as Parrot told his whole sordid tale, adding on that he gambled all of it away. How had he not noticed that Parrot was in so deep? They had been roommates, friends, and lovers once. What kind of friend doesn’t notice trouble like that?

He swallowed thickly when Parrot ended his explanation.

Phoenix shattered the silence when he deadpanned, “That’s why you were on the road late tonight. You were working off his debt?” It was more statement than question. He nodded at the sofa, proving that he’d already put two-and-two together. “Sit down. Both of you. We have a lot to talk about.”

“No, we don’t.” JT shook his head, standing his ground, preparing to turn and leave. He’d rather spend the night in a motel, than face his failure of not being able to recognize Parrot’s cry for help. And now being ashamed by failing him with the money. Six thousand was nowhere near what the loan shark wanted, and his two-month deadline was up next week.

“It’s my problem,” JT started, cut off by Phoenix’s sharp, hissing inhale.

“Sit,” Phoenix ordered.

Parrot had already dropped down, taking up his previous spot. He stared hard at the television again, but it was obvious from his tense shoulders that he was waiting on what JT would do or say next.

Phoenix’s features softened again, but his voice remained steely with determination. “And just so we’re clear,” he said, clapping a hand on JT’s shoulder, “you’re not alone in this. This is a club problem, here. Not just your problem. So, please… Sit down.”

JT moved to take a seat beside Parrot.

Phoenix took the loveseat with Julian returning from the kitchen, four mugs of instant coffee readied. It was just the kind of beverage they needed for this long talk. And though JT hated to admit it, once it was all out, he felt lighter, easier. Freed from the secret of the debt, he leaned back into his couch.

“We’ll call an emergency meeting for tomorrow then,” Phoenix said. “Like I said, it’s a club problem now. So, leave it alone.”

Parrot stood then, mumbling, “I should go.”

Phoenix didn’t hold him back. But when he cleared the house, he said, “You should talk to him.”

JT knew he was right, so without arguing, he stood, and hurried to catch up to Parrot. There was no need. Parrot lingered on the porch, his face turning up to regard JT briefly, his expression suggesting he anticipated this meet.

“I’m sorry,” he said after a long silence. Parrot dug the toe of his boot into a patch of icy snow. His hair was loose, no braid today. It curtained over the side of his face, blocking any telling emotion from JT.

“It’s cool.” JT shrugged, knowing Parrot couldn’t see him. “We’re cool,” he stressed, needing to close this chapter behind him.

Parrot did lift his head, turning to face him. “Let me get this off my chest first: I shouldn’t have unloaded on you. I’ve treated you like… well, like shit.”

JT folded his arms over his chest, listening, keeping his mouth closed.

“Listen, about what I said—you know, when we last spoke, it wasn’t entirely true. At least, I don’t love you anymore.” Parrot’s hand on his arm shifted JT’s gaze from scoping out the otherwise still neighborhood. “Look at me,” Parrot urged, “I need to say this and then we’ll move on.”

JT nodded for him to continue. He had his full attention now, even if his gut squeezed at the L-word.

Parrot dropped his hand and shoved both into his leather jacket, his cuts visible underneath, but barely. He wasn’t walking around, stupidly announcing he was a biker. He had a reputation to uphold as the President of the east chapter of The Strix MC, after all.

“I did like you, but I also like us, like this, as friends. And, honestly, I was shocked as hell about Alec Edwards.” Parrot cocked his head. “Also maybe a bit jealous. The kid is cute…” He trailed when JT raised his brows. Parrot had flirted with Alec; he’d been interested, just not as interested as JT.

Chuckling now, Parrot smiled brightly and it was the first time JT had seen him talk and smile with ease. Lowering his arms, he faced his friend and that radiant smile. “What?” Parrot teased. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“So,” he said, after a pause, that smile not lessening in its wattage, “where is he? Where’s Alec?”

JT swallowed, not sure how much he was willing to share. But lying didn’t sit right with him. Seeing Parrot like this, trying hard to mend their friendship, called out JT’s determination to help him out. Besides, he didn’t want to lose Parrot. The beta remained a huge part of his life. He would remain the reason JT had a whole clubhouse of bikers to call friends and family.

So, despite how hard it was, he said, “We broke up. Alec… he’s doing his own thing, I imagine.” He recalled the last time being out here, Alec’s name on his tongue. Only now, his tone was sour, as he thought about what—or who—the omega might be doing right now.

Parrot side-eyed him for a moment. “Doesn’t sound mutual.”

That’s cause it wasn’t. Not really.

Alec had been distraught. Angry, but needing comfort too. He had wanted JT to fight for him. But now that this debt debacle was over, put behind him for good, what else was stopping him from running back to Alec, doing what he wanted to do from the start: beg forgiveness?

As if reading his mind, Parrot said, “You should grovel, if it’s your fault. And knowing you,” he grinned, “it’s totally your fault.”

JT couldn’t disagree. It was his fault. And, soon as he got a few hours of sound sleep, he was taking a cab and finding Alec, claiming his omega once and forever.