Page 50 of Heat Transfer

I squeezed my nape. Shit, apparently, we were laying everything out on front street. My stomach flip-flopped, but I pushed ahead. This was the opportunity to speak up. “Dad, you’ve been prepping Ollie and me to run the business for years. We’re never going to get the chance to spread our wings and learn the rest unless you retire.”

“Pretty much what I said,” Ollie said.

Dad snorted. “No, you said I was going to end up with so many injuries I wouldn’t be able to enjoy retirement.”

“Am I wrong, though?” Ollie said.

For so long, I’d built up in my head that Dad would spiral or be mad or that we would cross a line. But no, here he was just listening to what we had to say, which was so like him…that it felt ridiculous I’d ever expected something else.

“You’re definitely wrong,” Dad said. “You’re assuming I’m too stubborn to step down. Did you think I stayed on because I didn’t trust the two of you to run the business? You’ve been doing it for years. Your mother and I already talked after my injury. It’s beyond time I retired, and I know the business couldn’t be in better hands.”

I stared at Dad in shock. Ollie and I had been talking about this for what felt like forever, andI couldn’t believe the words coming out of Dad’s mouth. “So, does that mean Ollie’s in charge?”

Dad shook his head, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “What gave you that idea, Cormac Brannon? You both have worked here for about the same length of time. You’re both my kids, andyou’re both competent workers with different proficiencies. The business is going to both of you as an equal partnership.”

Ollie smacked the back of my head, and I jumped.

“When the fuck did you get up?” I rubbed my nape.

“I had to with you being ridiculous over here.” Ollie shot me a serious look. “First the whole Felix nonsense and then thinking I’d be in charge when you’ve worked here just as long? Go after what you want, you stupid fucker.”

“Aw, it’s almost like you’re being nice.” Heat crept up my face. Ollie wasn’t wrong. It was the same issue Felix had nudged me about, and the craziest thing was that I hadn’t realized I was doing it. Stepping aside for everyone else had become so automatic I’d stopped questioning it.

“So, when will the retirement be, old man?” Ollie asked, growing slightly more serious.

“Consider this my notice,” Dad said, a relaxed grin on his face. “I always thought I’d be crawling out of my mind being home all the time, but I like it a hell of a lot. Whatever help you boys need for the transition, I’ll obviously give you, and I’ll begin the paperwork end of things. However, this is your show to run now. Though if I can offer one piece of advice, I’d recommend hiring a third guy to help out with jobs.”

“Any distant relatives we can tap to keep this in the family?” Ollie asked, a goofy grin on his face.

My insides bubbled with a mixture of adrenaline and nerves. We’d reached a step I’d imagined for a long time—when the responsibility of being in charge would be on Ollie and me. We could continue with the company and implement our ideas—updating systems, adding employees, whatever. The task ahead of us would be enormous, but I couldn’t wait.

Giddiness flushed through me, and I gripped my phone. The first person I wanted to tell was Felix.

And that said everything about where my heart stood when it came to him.

“Don’t think you’re getting out of that earlier confession,” Dad said. “Why aren’t you and Felix together? I’ve never seen you mesh so well with anyone you’ve brought around, Cor.”

I scrubbed my palms over my face, regretting it because I had an open callus. “When we agreed to fake date, Felix was freshly broken up and straight.”

“Someone’s talking in past teeense,” Ollie sang. “Sexuality is fluiiiid.”

“Keep the fluids talk to yourself,” I muttered. “Anyway, we just…continued to pretend.”

“How long ago was the gala?” Dad asked.

“Uh, a few weeks ago.” My cheeks heated. Saying it out loud hammered in the reality.

“And you’re still ‘pretending to date’ for no reason at all,” Dad said.

“Well, when you put it like that, it sounds ridiculous.” I shoved both my hands into my pockets and hunched, which was the closest to a sulk I got.

“It sounds more as if you’re dating and just haven’t talked.” Ollie jabbed me in the side. “Stop being a dumbass. You’re clearly smitten with Felix, so tell him.”

“What are you waiting for?” Dad asked, a slow grin rolling to his face. “He fits right in with our family. Go make it real.”

My heart beat a million miles a minute. I pulled out my phone, ignoring my brother and father, who both stared at me with insufferable know-it-all expressions. When I turned on the screen, a text from Felix already waited for me.

You around tonight? It’s been a shit day.