Page 7 of Hollywood

The smell of sizzling meat made my mouth water. “What’s on the grill?”

“Chicken,” Ghost said. “The kid brought it.”

Joyride had become our meat supplier, regularly raiding his parents’ freezer. Knight kept asking if he was sure it was okay, and he’d just shrug and say his parents wouldn’t miss it. I sure hoped not, because the last thing any of us needed was trouble with a rich prick like his father.

I collapsed into the chair next to Knight. “Where’s Angel?”

“He’s Aiden to you,” he said firmly.

I smirked. It was easy to get under his skin when it came to his pretty boyfriend. “Sorry. Where’s Dr. Donovan?” I said in a pretentious tone.

Knight rolled his eyes as Joyride snickered. “He’s working late tonight. He wanted to go check on some rural patients, so he’s got to put in a few extra hours at his official job.”

“Still researching depressing medical shit?” Joyride asked.

“That’s the one,” Knight said. “But it’s just as important to him. He cares so damn much about people.”

“Uh-oh,” I teased. “I forgot my box of tissues.”

“For what?” he asked blankly.

“To wipe away your sappy tears.”

Joyride and Ghost busted into laughter, while Knight scowled. “Fuck you. You’re all just jealous.”

I tried not to think about just how true that was. Knight falling for Aiden—and Aiden returning his love—had pressed on my bruised ego, reminding me of the void Tex left in my life.

I was happy for them. Just a little sad for me.

Knight’s phone rang and he tugged it out, checking the screen. His grin widened as he accepted the call. “Hey, Angel, we were just talking about—oh. Um, yeah, Hollywood just got here. Why?”

His features shifted, mouth going tight, forehead creasing with worry. Without another word, he held out his phone. “He needs to talk to you.”

“What is it?” I asked, uneasy.

He shook his head. “He wouldn’t say anything except it’s urgent.”

I took the phone, raising it to my ear as my mind raced. I couldn’t think of what Aiden could be callingmeabout. My parents lived out of state. I had no one here except?—

My heart stuttered.

“Is it Ruby?” I asked, voice gone hoarse.

“Ruby’s okay,” Aiden said immediately, and my chest loosened a fraction. “But she is here, and Carrie’s…not okay.”

My hand tightened around the phone. I had no love left for my ex, but I’d once planned to marry her. She was the mother of my child. “What happened?”

“Car accident. Paramedics said it was out on the highway between here and Granville. I don’t know all the details, but it sounds like she lost control and rolled the car.”

“Jesus.”

“She’s in emergency surgery. I saw her come through and recognized her.”

Aiden had met her at a clinic visit a few months ago. He’d told me how sweet and adorable Ruby was. He’d been trying to cheer me up, but it’d only brought home just how much of my daughter’s life I was missing. I’d met with a lawyer, but I couldn’t afford the legal fees to fight for custody.

I wasn’t even sure I should. Because Carrie was right. I’d ruined our family, not her.

“She’s going to be okay, right?” I asked. “Carrie, I mean. The surgery will fix her?”