Page 163 of Lucky Bounce: Game On: Part Two

He twisted the napkin in his hands, then gestured for her to take a seat. Penn had to know everything that had transpired between him and Holly. They told each other everything.

Penn pulled her curly blonde hair back into a ponytail, then glanced across the table at him. "I know you guys haven't talked in a while."

He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "No, we haven't."

"Well, she's been job hunting. After what happened with Lyla, she needs a new job. I know she negotiated for some of the money she was promised for the feature, but she's hell-bent on finding work as soon as possible because it's not going to last long."

"I knew she was looking for work. Is she short on cash or something? Does she need help?"

"No, no," Penn said, shaking her head. "It's nothing like that. It's just that she's been through a round of interviews at this one magazine, and in a few days, she's doing a final interview. If it goes well, she's going to get the job."

"That's good news, isn't it?"

"No. The job is in California, Eli. If she gets it, she's moving."

His heart leaped into his throat. "California? She can't move."

"Yeah, well, tell her that," Penn muttered. "Lyla got her blackballed from working at any publications here and a few neighboring states. You know her dad is some big publishing mogul. She's got connections. Holly feels like she doesn't have any choice but to move. And now with the baby coming..."

"She can't fucking move," he repeated.

"I don't want her to go. This is crazy. I know you guys are going through some rough stuff, but she'll do it, Eli. She'll leave. I know Holly. And you know her, too. She's headstrong and independent. She'll go if she feels there's nothing here for her."

"Even if we aren't on the same page right now, you're her best friend. You're like her sister. Why would she leave you?"

"I don't know. Until she met you, I was the only person she was really close to. Please, Eli. You have to talk to her."

"She's not going to listen to me."

"Do you want her to move to California? You'll never see her again. And I'm not sure how you feel about everything, but that also means that you'll never see your child."

He was sure that the sweeping panic and anxiety he'd felt for weeks would come roaring back after hearing that. Instead, he felt numb.

What the fuck was happening to him? What was with all of these extreme highs and lows? None of it made sense anymore.

"I'll talk to her," he told Penn. "I don't know if it will make a difference, but I'll try."

She reached across the table and squeezed his hand. "Thank you, Eli."

"Don't thank me yet."

"Maybe between the two of us, we can get her to stay." She looked down at her watch. "I better get going. I have to let the dog out. West can grab a ride home with one of you guys."

"Okay. See you later."

After Penn left, the waitress came and processed his card, and he headed downstairs.

Suddenly, he felt the overwhelming urge to talk to his mother. It was only a little after 5:00 pm, so she should be awake. It was time to tell her what he'd been putting off for weeks.

Even if she didn't remember tomorrow, he would. And he had to hope that it would be enough to hold on to when things got rough.

* * *

Eli unlocked his mother's front door and saw his father standing in the hallway, looking at the photographs on the wall.

"Eli?" Troy's eyebrows rose. "How are you doing?"

"Been better," he replied, closing the door. "Thanks for taking care of things here lately. I didn't realize how much I needed a break."

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