Page 29

JOYRIDE

“Fuck fuck fuck!”

I strangled the steering wheel with my hands, but my chest squeezed my heart even tighter.

This was not the plan. I was supposed to quietly deliver a letter into Dakota’s mailbox. I wasn’t supposed to intrude on her life by forcing her to see me—and I damn sure wasn’t supposed to see Kit.

I’d already given up the hope that anything could happen between us. As soon as he knew the truth, he’d want nothing to do with me. But I hadn’t counted on seeing him, flushed and sweaty and so fucking perfect.

Fate just had to give me one final stab to the heart by showing me what I couldn’t have.

I drove only far enough to ensure Kit wouldn’t come to the car and demand answers. Then I parked and tried to breathe until I calmed down. After what happened when I was eighteen, I refused to drive while I was upset.

A call came into my phone. Hollywood.

I picked it up. “Hey.”

“Hey,” Hollywood said. “Did you do it?”

I chewed my lip. The guys knew I’d planned to deliver the letter today. They’d encouraged me every step of the way, or I might have chickened out.

“Well, hey, it’s okay,” Hollywood said, obviously misinterpreting my silence. “You can try another day.”

“No, I—” I sucked in a shaky breath. “I did it.”

“Oh. Oh. Well, that’s great.”

“Kit was there,” I rasped. “He saw me. I-I- Why didn’t I realize he lived with Dakota? I didn’t want anyone to see me!”

“Shit, Joey. I’m so sorry.”

I groaned. “This was a mistake. I shouldn’t have done it. He never would have known if—if⁠—”

“Maybe not,” Hollywood said, sounding infuriatingly calm. “But you’d be living with guilt burning a hole inside you. You’d never be able to apologize to Dakota. That’s what this was all about, right? Not Kit.”

I blew out a breath. He was right. It was selfish to melt down over Kit. That was just the part of me that wanted him to like me. That wanted what couldn’t ever be.

“Yeah. You’re right. I shouldn’t care about that.”

“I didn’t say you shouldn’t care⁠—”

“I should go. I’m parked on a random side street. The neighbors are gonna think I’m casing the place. That’s all I need right now.” I laughed. “The ex-con must be planning a burglary or something, right?”

“Come over to Ball Breakers, okay? We can grab a drink and talk more.”

“I don’t know…”

“Have you eaten? They’ve got a good burger special tonight. Get your ass over here.”

Click.

Damn. Hollywood knew me too well. He’d learned that he could circumvent any argument by ordering me to do what he wanted and hanging up before I could refuse.

Well, it was better than going home and staring at the ceiling.

I started the engine and drove across town. Ball Breakers was a pool hall in a strip mall next to Anarchy Ink tattoo parlor, where Knight worked, and Blush, a sex toy store.

Motorcycles took the front row of parking. I parked farther back, next to Tex’s pickup. If they’d come in the truck, they must not have Ruby with them tonight.