Page 36 of Hollywood

His eyebrows shot up. “Really?”

“Yup.”

“With you in the car, huh?”

I chuckled. “I turned up the radio and tried to keep my eyes on the road.”

The light turned green and Hollywood pulled through the intersection, then continued on to the highway that would take us to Clover Leaf Mobile Home Park. We passed by the Ball Breakers Pool Hall, where we’d met up for drinks with the guys a few times, and the tattoo parlor where Knight worked.

He was quiet for a few minutes, and I assumed the conversation was over.

But as we reached the park, he suddenly said, “It didn’t bother you? Seeing that?”

“No. Why would it?”

“Well, because you…” He trailed off, lips pressing together, forehead creased in a frown.

I knew what he wasn’t saying. I’d rejected him. Refused to acknowledge my feelings for him. Run away. He was right. I’d looked like a homophobic ass. I guess I was. Internally, at least. But I was working on it.

“People can change, right?” I said quietly.

“Yeah. We’re all in Redemption Road to change our lives,” he said. “I wouldn’t be here, wouldn’t have Ruby, if I didn’t believe I could change.”

I nodded. “I’m trying to change too.”

“Okay.” He cleared his throat and looked around. “So, where’s this trailer? Did you get a lot number?”

“Head toward the end of the park where Ghost’s trailer is. Looks like it’s on the same street, just a few slots down.”

The trailer park was made up of three circles, trailers lined up around them like spokes. He pulled around a curve, and the vacant trailer came into view. It was a pale yellow, like weak sunshine, with dingy white trim. That could easily be touched up, though.

Knight and Ghost leaned against the chain-link fence that surrounded the front yard.

“There it is,” I said.

Hollywood pulled in. “Well, at least it’s not a tiny camper like Ghost’s place.”

“Would kind of defeat the purpose of moving you out of the apartment.”

He laughed. “Yeah, it would.”

We got out, and Hollywood unbuckled Ruby and hefted her onto his hip. She let him carry her through the gate and up the porch. Once we stepped inside, she squirmed and pointed to thefloor. “Down!”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, putting her on her feet.

She immediately darted down the hall.

“I’ll go keep an eye on her,” Ghost said. “Look around.”

I was surprised he’d volunteered, but maybe he just didn’t want to get drawn into chitchat.

“The living room is already bigger,” Hollywood said. “And there’s actually room for a dining room table.”

“How many bedrooms?” I asked Knight.

“Two,” he said. “I realize three would be better, but there’s nothing open right now.”

I exchanged a considering look with Hollywood.