And like Knight and the Forrester family, I’d have to leave her at the end of the year.
CHAPTER 16
KNIGHT
“No Hollywood?I thought we were taking everyone on this field trip.”
Joyride’s tone dripped with sarcasm as I slid into the front seat. Ghost being Ghost, he took the back and was happy for it. He snorted with amusement at Joy’s words.
“Don’t humor him,” I shot back at Ghost. “He’s a punk.”
He shrugged and gazed out the window, unconcerned.
Joy snickered. “This punk is driving, so don’t piss me off. You all know why I went to prison.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Did you steal this Hummer?”
“No, and that’s not the real reason I went away,” he said darkly. “I fucked up and crashed.”
“Well, please don’t crash the car,” I said dryly.
“Yeah, I won’t.” He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. “Crash would have been a much cooler nickname, though.”
“Too late now, kid. You’ll always be Joy to me.”
He groaned. “I can’t decide if it’s better or worse when you shorten it like that.”
“Better than calling you Ride,” Ghost uttered.
I laughed as Joy scowled into the rearview mirror. “Nowyou speak up. I think I liked you better silent.”
I flicked his ear with a finger, making him cringe and swerve. Thankfully, we were cruising ten miles per hour down the trailer park’s quiet road. “Ow! I’m driving here!”
“Ghost is already too damn quiet. Don’t be suggesting he talk less.”
He huffed. “Fine. Whatever.”
We rolled to a stop at the exit to the park, and he flipped on a blinker. We turned onto the highway, and I was relieved to find that Joy—despite the horrific accident that sent him to prison—was a good driver.
“So, you never said why Hollywood didn’t come,” Joyride said. “And please don’t hit me again.”
“I didn’t hit you. I flicked. That’s what you do with little punks.”
“Well, don’t do that on the highway unless you really want me to wreck this car, too. Then you’ll be responsible formegoing back to prison, and we know how much you don’t want that. Right, Ghost?”
Ghost chuckled. “Kid ain’t wrong.”
He had my number. Yes, I looked out for my guys. I wasn’t ashamed of that.
“Holly’s got to work today.”
“Bullshit,” Joy said.
I nearly flicked him again. But he was right; making him flinch and swerve on the highway wasn’t a good idea.
“Fine, it’s bullshit. Holly has personal issues with Tex. He thinks we should leave well enough alone.”
“That was my vote too,” Ghost said mildly.