Page 55 of Hollywood

She flashed me a smile. “Good. I was so afraid you were going to get yourself sent back to prison. I didn’t want that for you.”

“Luke was dangerous. He could have hurt you. I’d risk prison anytime to prevent that.”

She sighed and rolled her eyes a little. “You’re the little brother. I should be protecting you, not the other way around.”

“Yeah, well, we’re not kids anymore.”

“No, we’re not.” She tilted her head. “So, you’re going back to Redemption Road, where you belong. I take it Dad wasn’t happy?”

I hadn’t ever thought of Redemption Road as the place Ibelonged. But when she said it, it sounded right.

“Dad’s not happy. He’s got all these ideas about this landscape business.”

“Oh, I’ve heard,” she said. “Dad loves a good idea. It’s the follow-through that’s the problem.”

“I’m supposed to be the follow-through, and I’m bailing on him. I can’t go back to Riverton and work for him. I’ve got people there counting on me…but Dad was counting on me, too. I fuck up no matter what I do.”

“What do youwantto do?”

“Go back to Hollywood and Ruby,” I said without even having to consider. “I don’t want to run out on him again.”

“Again?”

“Long story.”

My sister gave me a speculative look. My stomach flipped. Had I given too much of my feelings away?

“I didn’t consider that I’d be bailing on you and the kids too, though,” I said quickly. “Maybe I should?—”

“Nope. Nuh-uh. Not happening. I will boot you out of this house myself if I have to.”

I paused. “You want me to go?”

“You dropped everything and ran to my rescue once. Now it’s time to go live your life. You’ve tried working with Dad before. Look where that got you.”

I hadn’t ever told my sister explicitly that I was dealing weed to keep the business in the red, but she had obviously read between the lines. I chewed my inner cheek. “You don’t think I owe Dad something?”

“Respect, maybe. A son’s love. But you’re the one who pointed out we’re not kids anymore. You need to live for you, Tex. If that’s in Riverton, then get gone.”

I chuckled and drew her in for a hug, resting my chin on the top of her head. “Who made you so smart?”

“Must’ve been Mom,” she murmured. “You Larsen men are stupid as rocks.”

I laughed and pushed her away. “Just for that I’m eating a second bowl of chili.”

“Good thing you’re leaving soon,” she deadpanned. “I could never afford to feed you.”

I smiled, not fooled for a second by her teasing. My sister wanted what was best for me. Out of everyone I knew, she would never steer me wrong.

“Thanks, Chas. I was spun up. I just hate letting people down, you know?”

“Well, it’s not your job to pull them up, hon. It’s hard enough to keep ourselves afloat, much less everyone else.”

I nodded. “Guess so.”

“Dad’s tried to live vicariously through you for a long time. When he’s disappointed, it’s not about you. It’s about everything he never got to achieve. He shouldn’t put that on you.”

Maybe that was true with the football. I wasn’t so sure it applied now. “I wish I could have been what he needed.”