Page 62 of The Naughty List

“It’s a start,” she says.

Her smile takes my breath away. I want to kiss her. But if I kiss her, I’ll convince her to come over tonight. To wake up to what Christmas morning? Me freaking out and pushing her away instead of presents with her family?

“Goodnight, Hollis,” I say, turning to get into the Rover.

She watches me climb into the vehicle then sighs. “You have plans tomorrow?”

“Nah. Probably get some work done. Check in with Miss Nancy, see if they need anything.”

“You could come have dinner with us. We always have way too much food.”

The offer is genuine because Hollis doesn’t know how to be anything else, but I’ve been invited to enough pity dinners over the years.

“I think I’ve crashed enough Rossi holidays for one year.”

As if to prove my point, her brother calls out the door again. “Hollis, Mom’s waiting.”

She ignores him. “I’m still walking the dogs Saturday right?”

I nod. “Of course.”

“Merry Christmas, Jonah.”

“Merry Christmas, Hollis.”

My eyes remain locked on her as she turns and goes inside.

My cell phone rings and I glance at the screen.

Bruce “Rock” Rockford’s name appears on my screen.

It’s been years since I’ve talked to him. I hit the button on my steering wheel to answer on speaker as I pull onto the street.

“What’s up, Rock? Calling to wish me a Merry Christmas?”

“Jonah,” he greets me. “I’m surprised you answered.”

“Am I going to regret it?”

He chuckles heartily. “I hope not.”

“So what’s going on?”

“Hear me out, son. All the way through. Believe me, you’re going to want to consider the offer on the table.”

No, I’m probably not. But I respect my former manager enough to hear him out. “Lay it on me.”

I turn on my signal to hit the freeway. I’ve just merged into traffic when Rock clears his throat and begins.

“Jones just bailed on the New Year’s Eve fight. Severe concussion from a car accident he was in last week.”

“And how does this affect me?”

“Stryker wants a rematch. It’s what he’s wanted since you left. Not only is the UFC willing to give you fifty k for the fight, Stryker says he’ll donate a quarter of a million dollars to your group home. Win or lose.”

My least favorite reporter ran the story on Joey and my childhood this morning. Clearly it’s made the rounds.

But then I remember something he said about would I be willing to return to fighting professionally if it was for a good cause. So he leaked a lot more than a story about my past.