Page 58 of Roaring Fork Rockstar

She frowned, setting the list aside. “What do you mean, ‘not what I want’? Holt, I haven’t heard from you in two days. I thought maybe you needed space after… the other night.”

“I thoughtyouneeded space. I didn’t want to crowd you, especially with everything happening with Luna.”

A small laugh escaped her. “So, we’ve both been sitting around, waiting for the other person to call?”

“Seems that way,” I admitted, reaching for her hand. “I’m sorry. I should have checked in. I missed you both.”

Her fingers interlaced with mine. “We missed you too. Luna kept asking when ‘Mr. Holt’ was coming to see us.”

Guilt washed over me. “I really am sorry.”

“No, I understand. We’re, uh, a lot.” She shook her head. “I should have reached out too. I guess I was afraid you’d been scared off.”

“You’re not a lot in a bad way. I mean… Shit, Keltie, I’d be with you every minute if you’d let me.” I squeezed her hand. “But if we’re being this cautious about calling each other, we’re gonna have communication problems. How about we agree to say what we’re thinking? If one of us needs space, we tell the other person directly.”

A small smile played at her lips. “I’d like that. And for the record, I would love if you came to Denver with us tomorrow.”

Relief washed over me. “Then, it’s settled.”

“What should I do about Sam?” Keltie asked.

“The more support you have, the better,” I assured her.

Her eyes shone with unshed tears. “Thank you. You don’t know what this means to me.”

Before I could respond, Luna got up from the sofa and her eyes lit up as soon as she saw me.

“Mr. Holt!” she exclaimed, running over and climbing up on my lap. “Where have you been? I’ve been waiting and waiting!”

“I’m sorry, Unicorn Girl,” I said, guilt intensifying at the genuine hurt in her voice. “I had some grown-up things to take care of.”

She frowned. “Grown-up things are boring. We missed you.” She fixed me with a serious look. “Did you miss us too?”

“More than you know,” I said honestly.

That seemed to appease her. “Good. Because I made something for you.” She slid off my lap and ran up the stairs, returning a couple of minutes later with a drawing clutched in her small hands.

She held it out, and on it was a small girl with wild, dark curls riding on a mystical creature with a rainbow mane streaming behind them.

“See?” Luna said, pointing. “We’re riding to the magic flower that makes people better.”

My throat tightened as I examined the drawing. “It’s beautiful, Luna. Thank you.”

“I want you to have it,” she said earnestly. “So you won’t ever forget about me.”

Her words had me close to tears. I glanced at Keltie, whose expression mirrored my own distress.

“I could never forget about you, Luna,” I promised, gathering her into a gentle hug. “Not ever.”

When I released her, she studied my face with solemn brown eyes that seemed too old for her years. “Pinky promise?”

I extended my little finger, linking it with hers. “Pinky promise.”

Satisfied, Luna turned to her mother. “Mommy, can I have ice cream? Please?”

Keltie smiled, clearly relieved by the change of subject. “Just a small bowl. It’s almost dinnertime.”

As Luna skipped off to the kitchen, Keltie turned to me. “I know we’re laying on the guilt pretty thick.”

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