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“Little sisters are annoying as shit,” he grumbles.
I back away from them. “I’ll be back in L.A. in a week or two. We’ll do what we can to find new representation.”
It won’t be easy, but for them I’ll grovel on my knees until I find someone else to take a chance on us.
“Are you sure you’ll be back in L.A.?” Fox asks, tilting his head.
“Yes,” I growl, irritated that they’re being so pushy. I know they like Mia, but after all this I can’t believe they’re actually encouraging me to go back. I thought they’d hate us both for fucking things up. And yeah, they’re definitely perturbed but hate doesn’t seem to be what they’re feeling at all. Maybe I’m trying to force that feeling on them? Because if I can convince myself they hate her, that my leaving is the best thing for them, then it helps lessen the guilt. “I’m not coming back here. She’s better off without me.”
“She’s not,” Rush says, almost angrily. “But keep telling yourself whatever you need to in order to feel better.”
He turns and walks away, not looking back.
Cannon gives me a concerned look. “I’m sorry.”
I sigh. “I am too.”
“We’ll see you.”
Then him and Fox are gone too.
I’m alone once more, like I deserve.
* * *
I getoff the plane in Nashville, renting a car, before making the almost two-hour drive to my hometown.
It’s just as small as I remember, smaller than Mia’s hometown.
Mia.
Why the fuck can’t I stop thinking about her?
Because you love her.
I bang the heel of my hand against the steering wheel when I’m stopped at a stoplight.
Love is a pathetic, stupid emotion that makes you lose all of your common sense.
The light changes to green and I drive through it. Within five minutes I’m parking outside the trailer I grew up in.
When I was only fourteen-years-old I vowed to buy my mom a home one day. A real one. Not one with wheels beneath it.
She did her best, she took care of me all on her own, but I hated seeing her struggle. I wanted to make it all better.
Iwillmake it better. I thought this was my chance to make good on my promises, but things change.
I hop out and haven’t even made it to the trunk when the door bangs open, and she comes running out.
“I can’t believe my eyes! Oh, Hollis, I’m so happy to see you.” She launches herself at me and I chuckle, wrapping my arms around my momma.
She smells exactly like I remember. Freshly baked pies and sugar cookies with a slight tinge of grease from the diner she works at as a waitress. It’s been too long since I’ve been home. I got so caught up in making my dream a reality, I forgot about my roots.
I set her down and look at her. She’s still young, but there are small lines around her eyes and the corners of her mouth. She had me when she was only sixteen, and at forty-one she still looks amazing. Her hair is the same color as mine, pulled back in a sloppy ponytail. Even our features are similar. My eyes are the only thing I seem to have inherited looks wise from my dad. She wears her uniform for the diner and based on the time, she’s probably only been home a few minutes. There’s still flour dusted on her cheek.
“I missed you, Ma.” I hug her again, not having realized how much I missed being able to hug my momma.
“I missed you, too.” She squeezes me in only the way a mother can. “What brings about this surprise visit? Where’s your girl?” she asks, looking behind me like Mia’s going to pop out from behind the overgrown bush by the mailbox.
