Page 121 of Hollywood

“Okay.” She yawned. “Will you sing ‘Love Me Tenner?’”

I smiled. “Sure, baby.”

I sang a few bars of my favorite song, keeping my voice soft and smooth, and she drifted to sleep within seconds. I smoothed her hair. How had I gotten lucky enough to have such a beautiful, charming little girl?

My phone trilled, and I hurried out of the room before it could wake Ruby. I checked the display.

Mom.

That was a surprise. Last I’d heard, Mom was attending an exclusive business retreat for some of the highest-powered execs in the country. She prioritized business over just about everything.

I picked up the call as I stepped into the hallway and closed Ruby’s door behind me.

“Hey, Mom.”

“Hendrix!” There was the clink of glasses in the background. So she’d hit the bar already. “I was just thinking of you.”

“Oh, yeah? That’s nice to hear.”

“Yeah! I’m at the summit in New York.”

“I remember, yeah. I’m a little surprised you’re makingtime to call. Unfortunately, Ruby went to bed or I’d have her come say hi.”

“Oh, I’m not calling about Ruby.”

I sighed. Of course she wasn’t. She hadn’t asked, even once, to meet her granddaughter.

Hell, she hadn’t tried to see me when I got out of prison, so why was I surprised?

“I was talking to the vice president of SkyTech. I think if I get another couple of drinks in him, he might agree to fly you out for an interview.”

“What? I’ve got Ruby. I can’t just run off.”

“Exactly. You’ve got Ruby to think about. Don’t you want to give her the best you can? You’re not abarber. You’re a damn good business analyst.”

I lingered in the hallway, not wanting to subject Joyride to my conversation.

“I’m on parole. I can’t leave the state?—”

“SkyTech has a satellite branch in Omaha.”

Damn. She’d really thought of everything, hadn’t she? But my life was in Riverton.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“No? Well, it’s your decision,” she said. “I thought you’d want a chance to provide for Carrie the way you promised.”

“Mom, Carrie and I aren’t together anymore. I have a boyfriend now.”

She sighed. “Yes, yes. Dallas or something. I saw the message you sent your dad.”

“Tex,” I said.

Mom wasn’t homophobic, but she’d never understood why I’d choose to be with a man if I liked women, too. Mom was ambitious, and she knew the traditional family man label would get me a lot farther thanguy with a boyfriend.

I hadn’t dated Carrie for that reason, but I hadn’t really tried to meet men either.

Not until I lost everything, anyway. Then it had seemed silly to worry about expectations. I’d already blown them all to smithereens. Mom hadn’t understood why I did that either. Not because it was a crime, but because I’d done it to help those retirees getting screwed out of their pensions.