Page 26 of Overtime Goal
“Count me in,” I said. “No way we’re letting this bullshit stand.”
“I was hoping you’d come.”
“Who else should we ask? We need someone Holky listens to, or at least who’s big enough to sit on him while we talk.”
Logan smirked. “Only one choice.”
“Abby,” we said together.
After Logan sent him a text, Abby took his time responding. Two hours later, we were packed into Logan’s car, heading to Holky’s place with a loose plan and cautious optimism.
In the back seat, I kept thinking about what had happened during the night. The nightmare was still vivid in my mind, but stronger than that was how Logan had taken care of me. He’d made me feel safer than I’d ever been.
As we turned onto Holky’s street, Logan broke the silence. “The most important things will be to figure out what the hell he’s thinking, and remind him of how much he and Dog love each other. Someone who cares about you should be treasured, not dismissed.”
I stared out the window as his words hit close to home. Logan and I cared about each other, and that was something I couldn’t risk losing.
At Holky’s, Logan rang the bell, and after a moment with no response, he started pounding on it like he wanted to break it down. A few seconds later, Holky jerked the door open and shouted, “Go away. I’m not in the mood.”
Logan didn’t flinch. “Too fucking bad. We have things to discuss.”
“The hell we do. I’m not talking to anyone.” Holky’s face was beet red, with a vein pulsing at his temple. His hands shook, and the bags under his eyes made me wonder if he’d slept at all. As angry as he seemed, his eyes gave him away: raw and grief-stricken, barely holding it together. Whatever was about to happen, I wouldn’t let him pretend he was fine.
Abby stepped up beside Logan and glared at Holky. “Move your ass, or I move it for you.”
Holky glared at him like he wanted to fight, then stepped back.
Abby moved aside to let Logan and me go first. We went straight to the living room and sat in two chairs side by side.
“Better get comfortable,” Logan whispered. “This could take a while.”
I nodded. “That’s fucking fine with me. We can out-stubborn Holky all day.”
“Have fun, guys,” Holky said, turning to walk away.
Abby wrapped both arms around Holky from behind. He picked him up like he weighed nothing, and when Holky’s feet left the floor, I nearly choked trying to bite back a laugh.
“Okay,” Holky said, kicking the air like an angry kid until Abby set him down. He gave Abby a murderous look. “I can walk. You don’t have to manhandle me.”
Holky grumbled while he shuffled to the loveseat across from Logan and me and flopped down. He immediately crossed his arms and set his face into a scowl.
Abby wedged himself next to Holky, leaving him no room to escape. Holky’s scowl almost made me laugh again.
“Fine.” He spat out the word, then mumbled, “I’m sitting, but that doesn’t mean I’ll listen to a damn thing you say.”
Logan told him to stop acting like a toddler, and before Holky could snap at him, I asked, “Why the fuck would you throw Dog out?”
“Have you lost your goddamn mind?” Logan asked. “I know you’re goofy, but I never thought you were crazy.”
Holky looked like he couldn’t decide whether to cry or beat us up. “You don’t know anything. Get the fuck out.”
“No.” Abby’s harsh refusal earned him another angry look from Holky.
Holky shifted his gaze to Logan. “I told Dog to stay with you because I thought you’d take care of him, not so you could barge in and lecture me.”
“He isn’t at my place,” Logan said. “I haven’t seen him, but I’ve heard things. Tell us what’s going on, Holky.”
“Fuck off.” Holky punctuated his words by shooting two birds at Logan.
