Page 53 of Hollywood

I knew what he was getting at and that this conversation was inevitable. It never even occurred to me to hold back when Maverick and Gio carried Hollywood out of that godforsaken warehouse. He was bleeding like crazy and his eyes were firmly closed, my heart plummeted, and I rushed to him. I held him and kissed him and made him promise not to die on me, and I’d done it all before I realized my dad was there too. So, instead of an answer, I turned to him. “How did you get to the warehouse?”

He shrugged. “I drove. I helped Slate figure out where they were holding you both based on the photo and the metadata from it, and the minute we had a location I went to get you. And him.”

“What am I, chopped liver?”

“I didn’t know you were there until Hollywood showed up at my house.” He reached out and wrapped a hand around Lu’s. “I’m glad you both are all right.” He turned back to me. “Your turn.”

This was it, the big moment. The only problem? I didn’t know what to say to him. I was in love with Hollywood. I loved him and all I wanted was a chance to see if we could have a future together. He said he loved me too, but he was hesitant to tell my dad and I now understood why. “I’m in love with him.”

Dad processed the news as he always did, with that blank expression on his face. He removed his glasses andpinched the bridge of his nose, inhaling and exhaling as if this news caused him physical pain. “I see,” he finally offered with another sigh. “Does he love you back?”

“I think so, but I think he’s worried your friendship won’t survive this particular storm.”

“That was something both of you should have worried aboutbeforeanything happened.” He used his angry dad tone that usually had me shrinking into myself but not this time.

“Yeah, maybe you’re right. But maybe if you hadn’t vanished for years of my life none of this would have happened and we never would’ve gotten this chance.” I didn’t want to fight with him. “Look Dad, you trusted him with my life, and he risked his own safety multiple times just to keep me safe. If you can trust him to do that you can trust him with my heart. I do.”

I could tell by the stubborn set of his shoulders that this wasn’t going to be easy. “It’s too much to process after everything else, Winter.” He stood and covered his face with both hands. “I need some fresh air.”

I stood to go after him, but Lu grabbed my arm. “Give him a few minutes. Even though you’re right, it’s still a lot for a dad.”

I dropped back down in the chair and grunted my displeasure. “Dad picked up a gun and shot them just to save Hollywood, but he has a problem with us being together?”

“Winter, he’d have a problem with any person with a penis taking his little girl from him.”

“Except he barely noticed any of the other guys I’ve gone out with.”Because he’s mostly been checked out of my lifeuntil recently,was the part I didn’t say. Not because it wasn’t true but because I was tired of reminding everyone that he wasn’t there for me like he should’ve been. We both grieved Mom’s death, but I also lost my dad for most of my childhood. “It doesn’t matter to me and if it matters to Hollywood then it doesn’t matter, does it?” My heart ached at the thought that his friendship with my dad might matter more to him than my love. Our love.

“I’ll work out. I have a good feeling.”

A good feeling. I wasn’t sure where Lu found her positive outlook, but it was always one of my favorite things about her. “I’m sorry that you got mixed up in all of this.”

She waved off my apology like she’d been doing all night. “It’s nothing a shit ton of therapy won’t fix. Maybe some retail and dick therapy too.” She flashed her saucy smile, and in that moment, I knew she would be okay. “And I’m sorry too, for giving you so much shit about Hollywood. Any man who would brave a dozen gun-toting gangsters for you is all right in my book. It’s clear how he feels about you and if you really love him, then I’m happy as shit for you.”

“I really do.” My smile grew as I thought about Hollywood and all the fun we had together, both in and out of bed. “He’s so much more than a crush. He’s everything. He’smyeverything.”

And I was deathly afraid that he might never wake up, never recover from the wounds he suffered because of me.

And I was more afraid that he’d wake up and want no part of me or what we could’ve had.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Hollywood

“Hey beautiful.” My lips were dry and cracked as fuck, but I managed a smile at the first face I saw. I’d been up for a few minutes, but the room was dark and empty, or so I thought. The next time my eyes opened there was Winter, smiling down at me with her heart in her eyes. “It’s so good to see you.”

She let out a shaky sigh as tears pooled in her eyes and her lower lip trembled. “I’m so happy you’re awake. I was terrified I might lose you.”

My heart skipped at those words. It had been so long since I felt anything like this for a woman that before this beautiful woman, I wasn’t sure it was possible to feel that way again. And then she stormed into my life and knocked down all the bricks around my long cold, long dead heart. “You can’t rid of me that easily, babe.”

“Good.” She leaned in closer and pressed her lips to mine. The kiss was hot but too short. “Because I plan on keeping you for a while.” Tears still fell down her cheeks, but she smiled through her tears, looking so gorgeous my chest ached.

My brows quirked up. “Just a while?”

She lifted one shoulder and nodded, both of her hands continued to dance over my body as if she had to touch me justto make sure I was really here. “Well I didn’t want to be too presumptuous.”

“Presume away, babe.” Every damn time she hit me with that smile I turned me into a greedy fucker who wanted another. And another. “How are Lu and Winston doing?” I shook my head. “I can’t believe Win was the one who came through for me.”

“Mostly fine. Lu is going to be fine eventually. I hope. Dad is well, I think. You know how he is.” She looked away but it didn’t take a genius to figure out what was on her mind.

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