I stare down at her face and seeing her so happy makes my chest feel warm. I never thought doing something for someone else would make me so happy. It’s here in this moment that I know Holly appreciates me as a person. Unlike most of the women I sleep with, she doesn’t know me as the famous rock star that has lots of money and could be her meal ticket. This girl seems to like me for me, not what I can give to her. What is a simple gesture to me—asking my friends for a favor—seems to mean the world to her. It’s then I decide once I make her see I’m a good man, despite my crazy past and celebrity status, I’m going to spoil her with a whole lot more. “You’re most welcome.”
Chapter 13
Same Old Trip
Trip
Holly and I sit at the countertop in the front office, cuddling next to each other as she jots down a list of things we’ll need for the event. We already have the basics down, like contacting sponsors and riders, but there is so much more to this business than I even knew. It’s going to take me a while to learn everything. Thank God I have Holly here to help me with everything.
She pulls a Rolodex from under the counter and begins flipping through it. “Who are you calling?”
“We need riders for the event. The bigger the names in the sport we attract, the more money major sponsors will throw our way. We’ll need prize money.”
I scratch the back of my head. “How much do you think we’ll actually need? Maybe I can get the band to donate.”
She shakes her head. “We can’t ask them to do that. They’re giving enough already just by coming here and performing.”
“I know they would contribute. It’s not like they don’t need the tax write-off, anyhow.”
Holly bites her lower lip to try and contain her smile. “That would make things so much easier.” The smile on her face turns into a frown as her line of sight trails off into the distance like she’s lost in thought. “Trying to get money off larger companies is like pulling teeth. It’s one of the main reasons Dad stopped holding events here. Once the attendance dwindled the sponsorships stopped too. There is no way the track can fund something like that on its own, and Dad doesn’t have a penny saved up because Grace always figures out a way to take it.”
It kills me to see her hurting like this. I wish there was a way to take the pain that she feels when she thinks about her mother away, but the past isn’t something we can change. God knows how many times I wish I could go back and convince myself to not marry Jessica. She put me through pure hell, and I can tell Holly’s mother has done the same to her.
What makes it worse is that I know Grace’s fault Bill is ill. Eventually, Bill’s secret will come out, and when it does Holly will hate her mother even more. Not saying that I blame her. From what I’ve gathered, Grace is a selfish woman. Holly is the complete opposite. Instead of always taking from people for her own personal gain, she gives. She quit school to help her father, and stopped riding dirt bikes because that fucker Jackson told her he didn’t like her doing it. Giving up those two things alone proves she isn’t a selfish person.
I take the pen out of her hand and lay it on the counter before threading my fingers through hers. “I think things are going to start getting better for you and Bill now.”
Her eyes search my face. “How can you be so sure?”
I open my mouth to tell her everything—to tell her I have enough money to take care of her and Bill and turn this place into a Mecca for motocross. But the fear of rejection won’t allow me to. If I tell her, and she hates me, I’m not sure I can recover.
I tuck a lock of her blonde hair behind her ear. “I’m going to take care of you, Holly. Anything you want, it’s now my job to make sure you have it.”
She smiles and leans her cheek into my hand. “You shouldn’t promise me the world because when you say stuff like that, I feel like you can actually make that happen.”
“It is the truth. I’ll always find a way.”
The sound of the office door opening startles me and I pull away from Holly just as Bill shuffles in. His shoulders sag as he makes his way towards his office, before plopping down in the chair at the desk. I know he doesn’t want Holly to know just how sick he actually is, but by the looks of him, I don’t know how much longer he can keep up the pretense his fatal illness will go away.
Holly stands up and slides the stool back under the counter as she leans against the doorframe of Bill’s office. “You don’t look so good, Dad. I think it’s time you let me to take you to the hospital.”
Bill busies himself with stacking a few loose papers on his desk. “I’m fine, honey. This will pass.”
She folds her arms over her chest. “No, Dad. You’ve been saying that since I got home at the beginning of the summer. It’s time to get checked out.”
“No!” Bill yells and slams his fist onto the desk. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Holly flinches and her face twists. Bill scrubs his hands down his face and then stares up at his daughter. Things would be so much easier if he would only tell her the truth. She’ll understand—I know she will—then they can cherish the time they have left together. It’s not fair that he’s keeping something so huge from her.
“Bill…” I feel like outing him in front of her, but I quickly stop myself, knowing I’m keeping something from her too—something that her father has promised to keep secret as long as I keep his.