Chapter Twenty-Six
Hollie
Since AJ seems so eager to earn my forgiveness by doing something, I send a message to his phone with a suggestion. It involves the four of them: AJ, Chase, Balthazar and Nicole. Their chance to clean the slate. A way for us all to reset. To forget the sins of high school.
AJ sends me a message back. On it.
‘What’d you have him do?’ Aubri asks me from behind her desk in the reception area of Sunset Pines, wearing a headset. She’s eating a red Twizzler curled around her fingers. I’ve filled them in on the relevant history.
‘I told them to come here. That we had some jobs needed doing.’
Next to her, Nabila blinks at me. ‘You didn’t ask for a foot rub? Or a back massage? A buy-me-anything trip to the mall? An Hermès clutch? Are you insane? Girl, you could have had anything.’
‘You should have asked for a house,’ Aubri says in her signature monotone. ‘A big one. In Electric Hills. With a pool. Like that Amber chick.’
I laugh and shake my head at her suggestion.
‘No! You remember that night when the police came here? They trampled all over the grounds. Well, now all the flowers are dead and the whole place looks a mess outside. And Mrs Kowolski. She’s been desperate to have her hair done for months.
And Chase is a good repair man apparently.
I’ve drawn up a list of everything that needs fixing around here. ’
‘And AJ agreed to this proposal?’
‘He said on it.’
They both stare at me. ‘You don’t think this is another one of their pranks?’ Nabila asks.
‘I’m confident they’ll be here. What time is it now?’
Aubri checks her phone. ‘It’s ten. What time did you tell them?’
‘I said ten.’
I bite my lip and look at the door.
Aubri stops chewing on her Twizzler. ‘Do y’all hear that?’ she asks.
Nabila frowns.
I listen. Somewhere in the near distance, there’s a low rumble, but the sound is moving closer.
‘How many people did you say were coming?’ Aubri says.
I’m still listening. Only AJ and Balthazar ride bikes. I go to the Sunset Pines front windows and peer out.
I don’t quite believe my eyes when I see the twenty or so motorcycles coming down Greenbow Avenue from the east. About a minute later, they’re all rolling into the Sunset Pines parking lot, engines grumbling and spluttering.
A van and two trucks follow, one of which I recognize as belonging to Chase.
Nicole waves at me from her own truck, which is spray-painted baby pink.
Tawny appears in the lobby. ‘What in the good Lord’s name is happenin’ out there?’ she asks with her hands on her hips.
‘Hollie invited them,’ Aubri says.
‘Hollie? You wanna explain why a bunch of goddamned Hell’s Angels are in my parking lot?’
‘Hell’s Venom,’ Nabila corrects her with a grin.
‘Umm,’ I begin. ‘I can explain.’
‘Her hot boyfriend is earning her forgiveness,’ Aubri chips in.
‘Not by taking any residents for a ride on the back of a Harley, I hope.’
I give an awkward laugh. ‘It’s not that.’
Before I can say anything else, Aubri is opening the main entrance doors from her desk. Echo saunters in clutching his helmet and wearing a studded leather vest over a plain white T-shirt. AJ follows in his leather jacket and a pair of aviator sunglasses. Inwardly, I swoon.
‘Good morning, ladies,’ Echo booms in a friendly tone. He gives me a little bow. ‘Hollie.’
‘What are you doing here?’ I say, though it comes out as barely a whisper.
‘AJ told me about the jobs you need doin’ round here. Thought you could use a few extra pairs of hands.’
I look at Tawny and feel like I’ve gone pale. ‘Uh. They’re going to fix the state of the yard. And do some jobs around the home if that’s all right? Like fill the hole in the wall on the upstairs corridor.’
Tawny frowns. She points a finger toward AJ. ‘You were here two days ago.’
AJ steps forward, removes his sunglasses and shakes her hand. ‘Yes, ma’am. AJ Callahan. After today, I’m hoping I’m still Hollie’s boyfriend.’
Tawny looks him over with hungry eyes and pouty lips, then looks at me and gives a wink. ‘Oh, honey. He’s way too cute to kick to the curb.’ Then she raises her voice as she asks them, ‘Y’all want some peach iced tea while you work? We can get everybody to vacate their rooms.’
My cheeks burn. The next person to saunter through the double entry doors is Chase Brennan.
He’s carrying a large workman’s bag slung over his broad shoulders, stuffed full of tools and equipment, a beige-gray T-shirt stretched over his frame.
I stiffen at the sight of him. AJ was right.
His bruises are a lot worse, and his bottom lip is still purple and swollen.
I note that Aubri gives him a once-over from her desk, and despite his obvious injuries, her gaze lingers on his inked biceps.
I also note the murderous look AJ gives Chase.
He lifts his chin toward me, indicating that Chase should come over.
Chase conceals a grimace and walks right up to me. I knock my knuckles together. My previous cool has evaporated, and sweat has broken out on my upper lip.
‘Hey,’ Chase says.
AJ moves up behind him, leaving Echo talking to Tawny.
I swallow. ‘Hi.’
I see a muscle flex in his jaw. His eyes flit to mine but he can’t hold my gaze, and he seems more comfortable staring at the carpet.
‘I… uh. So, like… I’m sorry I was such a jerk to you in high school.
I never meant to make your life miserable.
I meant it all as a joke, but I get it now, it wasn’t funny.
And I, uh… if you can find it in your heart to forgive me, it’d be nice if we could be…
’ He clears his throat. ‘You know… like, uh… friends.’
My eyes meet AJ’s over Chase’s shoulder. Chase’s performance smacks of AJ’s coaching, but it warms my heart that their relationship doesn’t appear to be broken after their altercation.
I smile at Chase. ‘I’d like that. Thank you for your apology.’
His shoulders drop a little, as though he’s relieved that I didn’t give him a hard time. ‘Okay, good. You wanna show me what needs doing around this joint, or what?’
I reach into my pocket for a crumpled piece of paper. ‘I drew up a list. I can show you.’
Sunset Pines comes alive with activity. On the second floor, Balthazar assists Chase in fixing all the various problems that have been outstanding for as long as I can remember.
Two older bikers are laying some fresh carpet, having pulled up the old layer.
In the lounge area, Nicole is making quick work of cutting some of the female residents’ hair and has brought along one of her coworkers to assist. Another biker is fixing up the furniture using a nail gun.
Echo’s girlfriend, Katerina, is painting nails while a second lady wearing tight jeans and a leather jacket gives hand massages and delights the wide-eyed residents with racy stories.
Outside, Echo and his team of bikers – AJ included – are fixing the ruined flower beds, trimming the bushes and the grass verges and mowing the lawn.
They appear to have brought with them a van full of fresh plants to put into the ground.
At one point, AJ drives a ride-on lawn mower shirtless, driving up and down the grass, covering the entire stretch of land around the home.
I can’t help but admire the way his skin glistens in the sunlight, the smooth curves of his back and rippling abs.
Aubri’s job is to ensure a constant supply of iced tea and coffee for the workers.
‘Who’s the guy upstairs?’ she asks when she catches me staring at AJ on the lawn mower out of the rear-facing window in the reception area. ‘Not the skinny one. The other one. The guy who looks like he took a beating.’
‘That’s Chase,’ I say. ‘Why’d you ask?’
‘No reason,’ Aubri says. ‘Is he single?’
‘As can be,’ I say.
‘He from Rapture?’
‘He is.’
She’s finished making another round of peach iced teas. I offer to take a couple of glasses upstairs. I wait to see if she asks me anything else, but she stays quiet.
When I reach the second floor, I hear drilling. I locate Chase and Balthazar fixing a set of drawers in Mr Cresswell’s room. Before, the drawers used to jam all the time.
‘Peach iced tea?’ I ask them both, holding out two glasses, ice cubes clinking against the sides.
Balthazar shoots to his feet. ‘Yes, please,’ he says, taking a glass. Once he’s taken a drink, he wipes his mouth and puts the glass down. He then clears his throat.
‘So, Hollie, I got somethin’ I gotta say to you,’ he says, then I note that he glances to the outward-turned palm on his right hand. ‘I’m sorry for everything we did to you in high school. I was a total dick, and a sheep for following Chase because everything we did was always his idea.’
‘Hey!’ Chase shouts over the sound of the drill. ‘Not always, Reyes.’
‘Ninety per cent of the time,’ Balthazar mouths at me.
‘Oh, and one more thing,’ he says, then glances down at his hand for a second time. He squints, like he can’t quite make out what’s written on his palm.
He cocks his head the other way. I move closer and try to assist.
‘What’s that say?’ he asks, pointing to the heel of his hand where the writing has smudged a little.
‘I think it says put in a good word for AJ,’ I say.
‘That’s it. Put in a good word for AJ,’ he repeats, smiling goofily at me.
He slides one hand around the back of his neck.
‘Uh, so, like AJ’s a really good guy. You should forgive him for all the shit we pulled.
He’s changed a lot since those days. He’s more mature…
less like a total jackass. He would never dream of doing something like that now. And he really likes you, sooo…’
He gives a pronounced shrug. I sink my front teeth into my bottom lip, biting back a smile. ‘Thank you for that testimony,’ I say.
‘So, you gonna forgive him?’
‘I’m thinking about it. I have to go check on everyone else.’
Chase gets to his feet, checking the drawer moves smoothly on its runners. ‘I’m done here. What’s next?’
‘Broken floor tiles in the bathroom next door.’
‘Lead the way.’
Chase and Balthazar bring their drinks. I walk them around to the next room, pointing out the tiles. Chase roots around in his bag for something.
‘Will you guys be okay?’ I ask.
‘We’re good,’ Balthazar says.
‘Oh, and Chase,’ I say as I’m about to leave, ‘We’re friends now, right?’
Chase turns his head. ‘Sure, Jenny with the pink hair. Besties for resties.’
I frown at his sarcasm.
‘Hollie. C’mon now. I’m kidding,’ he says with a wink.
‘Okay, good, because only a friend would tell you that Aubri was asking if you’re single.’
His face lights up. ‘Who’s Aubri?’
‘She works downstairs on the front desk.’
‘Is she hot?’
‘Supremely. You should ask for her number.’
I flash him a grin. It feels oddly cathartic, letting go of the past. Making peace with my tormentors. I could hold onto the resentment forever, but what would be the point?
As I leave, Chase looks pleased with himself.
Back downstairs, Echo and his biker club have breathed life into the outside areas.
The flowerbeds pop with color. Trash bags have been filled with dead leaves and grass cuttings.
I spy AJ on the nearside through the window, wearing gloves and planting the last remaining flowers in the soil with his shirt off.
‘Damn, girl.’ I hear a voice next to me as Tawny joins me at the window.
‘I’m gonna ask you to get mad at your boyfriend more often.
These guys got done in two hours what I’ve been tryna arrange these past two years.
Did you see that hole in the wall upstairs?
Poof! It’s long gone! They even painted over it. No sign it was ever there.’
I grin at her. ‘To be fair, I didn’t think he’d show up with the entire Hell’s Venom motorcycle gang.’
‘Well, whatever it was, you’d best be forgivin’ his ass. Cuz there ain’t so many men on the planet who would go to this kinda trouble for his lady. You got yourself a keeper, Hollie Palmer.’
We both watch AJ on the other side of the windowpane. ‘Helps that he’s somewhat easy on the eyeballs too,’ she adds, nudging me in my side.
Without thinking, I tap on the glass, getting AJ’s attention, and I beckon him to come inside.
Minutes later, Aubri grants him entry through the double entry doors. He’s put his light gray T-shirt back on, much to my disappointment. He removes his gloves, shoving them into the pocket of his jeans.
‘I need a little help with something,’ I smile at him.
At first, he seems suspicious. ‘Yeah? What is it?’
‘You’ll see.’
I beckon him to follow me down the corridor. We turn the corner and when I reach our destination, I enter a door code and move inside, switching on the ceiling light. AJ follows me, and I close the door behind him.
He looks around, taking in the shelves of white linen and towels in the linen cupboard, piled high on all sides. I bite my lip as he moves closer to me, placing both hands on my hips.
‘We have a history with closets, you and I.’
‘We do,’ I respond, but I can barely get the words out as he’s bearing down on me, his gaze fixed on mine. A neat pile of towels presses into my back.
‘I should warn you,’ he says. ‘I stink.’
I slide my fingers up under his shirt, his skin warm and moist with sweat, running my fingertips over the ridges of his chest. His breathing is uneven.
Right now, I love the smell of him. I hook my fingers into the waistband of his jeans, tugging him closer, aching on the inside for him to claim me with a kiss.
I’ve ached for AJ Callahan since the day I first laid eyes on him.
Except he doesn’t kiss me. He searches my face, his gaze questioning.
‘I wanted to tell you that I forgive you,’ I tell him. ‘For everything that happened in high school. I forgive you.’
I witness his shoulders sag, and the way his eyes shut as the relief thrums through him.
‘I think it’s time we all moved on. Me included. I made peace with Chase.’
This time he doesn’t wait. The intensity of his kiss is better than in my dreams. The way his arms go around me, and he crushes my body against his.
The way he lifts me up, supporting me as I wrap my legs around his waist. The way he moans into my mouth, released from his own kind of torment as his tongue pushes against mine.
He’s everything that I want.