Page 78

Hollywood turned to me. “So, how are things going with Dakota? You’ve been getting to know her, right?”

“Uh, yeah. Good, I think? She’s really gracious. I don’t know if anything I do can make up for what happened, but at least she lets me try.”

Hollywood squeezed my shoulder. “Hey, you’re facing what you did and doing what you can to make it right.”

“I can never make it right.”

“Well, as right as it can be.”

I nodded. “Yeah, that’s fair, I guess.”

“Do you think it’s helping you?” Aiden asked.

“Yeah. It feels wrong and selfish to think about that, though. Like, ultimately, making amends shouldn’t be about helping me, you know?”

“No, but maybe forgiving yourself shouldn’t be off the table,” Hollywood said.

I sighed. “Maybe. Let’s just call it a work in progress.”

“Good enough,” Aiden said.

My phone buzzed, and I slipped it from my pocket to check the notifications.

Kit.

My heart skipped, and I opened the text.

I’m at your place. Where are you?

Shit.

I stood so quickly I nearly knocked my chair over. “I, uh, gotta run, guys.”

“Everything okay?” Hollywood asked, forehead furrowing.

“Yeah. Yeah, just forgot about something I have to do tonight. Tell the guys good night for me?”

I turned, walking across the lot at a brisk pace.

“Hey, wait up,” Hollywood called, following me.

Damn. I’d been so close to a clean getaway. I slowed my steps to let him catch up. “Everything is fine, Holly. I just gotta go.”

“What’s got you in such a hurry?”

I hesitated, a flush crawling up my neck. “Um, Kit texted me.”

“Kit?” Hollywood’s eyes widened. “Wait, have you been…”

“A little.”

The guys knew I’d hooked up with Kit before knowing he was Dakota’s brother. And they knew he’d been there when I delivered the letter. But I hadn’t told them about the confrontation after. Or the sex.

That first time had been raw and personal, something that only Kit and I would understand.

“So he’s okay with what happened with you and Dakota?” Hollywood asked.

“No. How could he be? But he’s still…”