Page 75 of Nitro

“I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” Scar admits.

“We don’t know what’s going to happen once everyone knows what Blackstone’s really talking about in that video.”

“Politicians have slithered out of worse scandals.”

“He might try to use the ‘boys will be boys’ defense. That’s what they usually do.” Just the thought has my stomach rolling.

“No. Blackstone’s too smart for that. He’ll have some bullshit explanation about how this was all taken out of context.”

“Maybe. Probably. Fuck.”

“Yeah.” We’re silent for several minutes before he asks, “Have you heard from Holly?”

“Not yet. Did the girls say when they’re coming home?”

“Nope. I told Julia not to worry about it. To finish shopping. But damn, I wish she was here right now.”

“Same with Holly.”

“How is everything going with her?” Scar asks.

“Good. I think.”

“You think?”

“Hell, I don’t know. I care about her. A lot.”

“Do you love her?”

“Yeah.” I nod.

“Have you told her?”

“No.”

“Well, why the fuck not?” Scar asks, exasperated.

“I don’t know how she’ll respond.”

“But you want to tell her, right?”

“I do. I miss her every second she’s gone. I can’t imagine spending a single day without her. It hurts when she’s not around. I miss the shit out of her.”

“All that longing will kill you if you let it. Sitting around waiting for something to change isn’t how we do things. Nothing’s going to happen unless you make it happen.”

“She might not feel the same way.”

“Or she might. You won’t know until you tell her how you feel. If she won’t make the first move, it’s probably because she’s scared.”

“Of me?”

“No, of getting hurt again. When she married her husband, she thought it would be forever. She didn’t see the red flags. The life she thought she was going to have didn’t pan out. She needed time to grieve that. She might even want more time than she’s already had. It’s only been a few months since she filed for divorce. But you know what? You can’t wait forever. You can’t let her get away. She’s yours, and if you don’t get off your ass and make her see that, then someone else will come along and snatch her up.”

“Fuck that.”

“Exactly.”

“I should tell her when she gets home from the market.” The confidence in my voice isn’t a good reflection of what’s going on inside me. My heart’s beating wildly and my palms are sweaty as hell. I don’t know why I can face down an entire motorcyclegang without flinching, but when it comes to Holly, I’m fucking terrified. It’s because I want her too much. I love her too much.