Page 131 of Hollywood

“Tex?” I called. “You awake yet, babe?”

No answer.

I headed for the bedroom. “Sorry. I’d let you sleep, but Carrie took Ruby, which means we’ve got the place to ourselves.” I opened the bedroom door. “And I want to have my way with?—”

The blankets were thrown back, sheets rumpled. The bed was empty. Well, damn. There went my plan to jump him on the spot.

His truck was in the driveway, so he must be in the bathroom. I could join him in the shower. Even better.

I backed out of the bedroom and headed down the hall.The bathroom door was closed. I tapped on it. “Tex? You in there?”

The sound of running water cut off. Not the shower. The sink faucet, I was pretty sure.

“Yeah,” Tex rasped. “Be right out.”

“Or you could let me in,” I called through the door. “I am Ruby-free and feeling feisty!”

“Uh…give me a minute.”

I frowned. Usually, Tex would jump at the chance for some alone time. “Okay.”

I retreated to the living room and dropped onto the sofa to wait. A few minutes later, Tex came out of the bathroom. He stopped at the refrigerator to pull out a beer. It wasn’t like him to drink this early in the day.

“You want anything?” he called.

“Um, no. Just you.”

He straightened and twisted the top off his beer. He took a long drink before turning toward me. His face was unreadable. Too unreadable. Like he was trying to hide his emotions. I hadn’t seen an expression like that since…

My smile sagged. “Oh, god. What’s wrong?”

His jaw worked. “Nothing.”

His voice was like gravel. I shook my head. “No, something’s not right. I can tell. You’re trying to hide it, but it’s there.”

His shoulders curled forward, and he gripped his beer so tightly I could see the tendons stand out in his wrist. “I fucked up.”

My heart missed a beat. “What?”

He looked at me, eyes dark with misery. “I made you a promise, and I can’t keep it.”

Spontaneous combustion was real. That was the only explanation because I was nothing but ash, destroyed by thosewords. I’d tempted fate by thinking I could have it all—redemption with Carrie, a relationship with my daughter, the love of my best friend.

“You’re leaving me?” I croaked. “Why? I thought— You said you loved me. You said…”

“No! God.” He set down his beer and crossed the room in two big strides. “I wouldn’t ever do that. Not unless you made me go. But you might want me to leave after you hear the mess I’ve made of things.”

“What mess? I don’t understand.”

He paced away. Then back. Hands curling and uncurling.

My heart contracted, making my chest ache. He said he wouldn’t leave me, but something was wrong.

“Just tell me,” I blurted. “Please.”

He stilled with his back to me. His shoulders crept up. The man was tense as fuck.

“I don’t have my share of the rent. I know you were counting on me, but the money’s gone.”