Page 15 of Down & Dirty

Sky: Don’t. That guy is the reason Ronnie was talking to Jerry in the first place. His big dreams of magazine spreads and supermodels hanging off his arm.

Dad: Hey, you used to say you were going to be the next Gatorade Girl when you werewinning races.

Sky: I was ten. And look where it got me. Wrangling my little brother and taking money from my dad.

Dad: You’re not taking money from me. You’re earning every cent of it. I should probably give you a raise.

Sky: Or just find someone else to manage your problem child.

Dad: As if there was anyone else I’d trust. Your brother needs you. And so do I.

Sky: Well, right now my son needs me more. Time for my weekly dose of Geena.

Dad: Good luck. Don’t let her get to you.

Sky: I think I used up all my aggression for the day on Ronnie, so we should be fine.

Dad: That’s my girl. Love you Sky.

Sky: Love you

“Sorry I couldn’t take him over to Tommy’s,” Elle was saying as she shoved her things into her bag.

Back when I first met Elle, she was a lowly intern for the motocross tour, now she managed two others under her. I was endlessly impressed with how much she’d accomplished.

“It’s okay, you’ve got to get to your mom. How’s she doing?” I asked, peeking into Micah’s room to see him coloring on the floor.

“Better,” Elle sighed, pausing in her rush to look up at me, a long curl catching in her eyelashes. “I think this time it’s going to stick.”

I gave her an encouraging nod, hoping she was right. Mrs.Simpson had been in and out of different rehabs since I met Elle six years ago. It had been a while since she’d fallen off the wagon, so hearing she’d had a slip this past summer was hard. But Elle never gave up on her. She never gave up on anyone.

“Micah was especially cuddly today.” She pulled on her jean jacket and slung her bag over her shoulder as she headed for the door.

“Well, he loves his auntie Elle.”

I stepped back out of her way. Our tiny hotel suite was just fine for me and my son, but the addition of even one more person had a way of making the space feel cramped.

She laughed. “And I love him. I told him I’d pick him up from Tommy’s on Thursday.”

“You’re sure you can make that work?”

She hung in the doorway, shrugging lightly. “No problem. You have the photo shoot with Ronnie, and my press conference is in the morning. So, I’ll be free and clear by then.”

“You’re amazing, Elle. Thank you.”

With a grin, she shook her head and waved her hand. “I love my Micah time. But don’t forget about dinner this weekend. Just the girls.”

“Wouldn’t miss it.”

After I’d changed and gotten Micah’s bag together, we headed for Tommy’s apartment. When I had told Tommy about Ronnie taking the OTM contract, the first thing he’d said was, “Sweet, that’s mad close to my place.” For as much as I wished Tommy was different in so many ways, he never made me wonder how much he loved spending time with our son.

Time with me, on the other hand, was a whole other story.

“Hey Micah,” Geena called from the doorway as Micah tore past her.

“Bye Micah,” I yelled after him.

He skidded to a stop before turning around. “Bye Momma, see you soon!”

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