Chapter 29 Royce
TWENTY-NINE
ROYCE
I parked directly in front of the Hollow, uncaring that I’d always been told not to. No one heading into the bookstore was going to mind that me or my dad was in front, parking our bikes there, and if they did, then they could go fuck themselves.
I unzipped my leather jacket as I hiked the steps leading into the space, but was stopped by Heather, one of the baristas who ran the bookstore and coffee shop.
“Royce, oh my gosh!” She rushed over, panic stamped all over her round face. Her reddish-brown hair was tied into a knot on top of her head.
“Hey, Heather.”
She frantically explored my face, then flicked her gaze to my father, where her eyes went huge. “Uh…” She cleared her throat, and, stepped closer, whispering, “Who is that extremely hot man behind you?”
“That’s my dad, Heather.” I rolled my eyes, moving to the stairs leading down to the club.
“Sorry, I was distracted.” She shut her eyes, then walked close with me, talking quietly.
“Rodney was found dead, Royce. I wasn’t sure if you heard or not, but you were gone this week, and I assumed maybe you did.
We’re all freaking out over here. Bernie said he was going to reach out to you about taking things over.
Nick said he couldn’t get in touch with you. ”
That’s because I had turned off my phone. I’d met the owner, Bernie Hatfield, a few times throughout the years that I had worked at the Hollow, but he typically dealt with Rodney over everything related to the club.
“Yeah, I came to check in on everything. I didn’t know Bernie had tried getting in touch with me.”
“He’s actually downstairs right now, trying to sort out Rodney’s files.”
“Perfect,” I said, but Heather wrapped her hand around my wrist, stopping me. “I’m so sorry about Rodney, I know you guys were close.”
It took all my strength not to scoff. Instead, I let Heather hug me, and then I turned away, feeling numb as I descended the stairs.
Dad was directly behind me as we passed by a few stickers of Mom’s that she’d put up on the wall.
My father’s fingers traced them as we walked, and my heart lurched at the familiarity of it.
The lights were all on as I trailed deeper into the house until I was on the bottom floor, seeing Charlie behind the bar, organizing bottles.
Nick was on the stage, fixing a few electrical wires.
I waved as he lifted his head. He waved back, then froze as he watched my father follow me inside.
“They’re still not big fans of our club, huh?” Dad mumbled behind me.
“No. We’re not.” I snapped in reply.
I moved across the floor, heading toward the office, and paused at the open door, seeing an elderly man wearing a pair of Wranglers and a snap-button, checkered shirt inside. He was seated at the desk, rubbing his brow.
Once I filled the doorway, he lifted his head, and visible relief cut across his pale face.
“Oh, Royce, thank goodness. I’m so lost on what all this means… Rodney wasn’t being entirely truthful with me about our profit, or who he was dealing with.”
I dropped my chin, disgusted that Rodney would steal from such a sweet man.
“Can you make any sense of this?” Bernie handed me the binder. I gently accepted it, but then I closed the plastic flaps. “I’m so sorry that Rodney wasn’t being honest with you, Bernie. Sadly, I think his choices caught up with him.”
Bernie watched me carefully before giving me a knowing nod. The quiet in the room was tense until Bernie let out a heavy sigh, covering his eyes with his hand. “Royce, you’ve been here for years…you wouldn’t be interested in running this place, would you?”
I wasn’t sure where the bout of bravery came from, but I straightened my spine and looked this elderly man in his face. “No, sir. I’m interested in owning it.”
His garbled laugh had me glancing back at my father who stood slightly behind me, watching the space that led into the hall.
“I like your fire, girl. I’ve been wanting to get rid of this place for years…and the Stone Riders recently informed me they’re not interested in buying anymore. I feel a little out of sorts, and at a loss of what to do.”
Humiliation pricked at my sternum, making me wish my father wasn’t right behind me to witness it.
The Stone Riders had plans to buy? Of course they did…
but did that mean Ford had called it off?
“Uh…well, I don’t have…I haven’t talked to a bank yet, so I’m not sure if I have the funds. What would you sell it for?”
Something told me he wasn’t going to sell it for anything within my range of affordability, but it didn’t stop me from hoping he would. He considered me for a moment. His back had a slight hunch to it, making me consider he might be much older than I realized.
“Tell you what, Royce…Rodney earned a bonus check that, after talking to Nick, I discovered should have gone to you. How about I let you use that as a down payment, and we work out a monthly payment schedule? I’m eager to relieve myself of the stress of this place, so it’s yours, kiddo.
Use that bonus as a way to secure it, then we’ll draw up some legal paperwork, ensuring it’s yours after a few payments. ”
Oh my God. Was this really happening? I glanced back at my dad, unsure if I were dreaming or insane. His huge smile told me that Bernie had really just offered to sell the Hollow to me.
“I’m—” I started, then cleared the excitement from my throat. “I’m not sure I’d make enough monthly to clear the payments.”
His laugh again made me freeze until his warm hand landed on my shoulder. “Darlin’, you’re going to be making Rodney’s salary, not yours. I never agreed with how little he paid you. You’ll be able to afford the monthly payments and still live comfortably off it.”
I couldn’t believe this was actually happening. My dream was literally about to land in my hands, and I wasn’t sure what to do with it.
“Are you sure?” I asked, fighting the urge to cry. This couldn’t be real.
Bernie lifted his hand and then glanced back at my dad.
“I’m as proud of you as I was of your mother, Royce.
You both know what this town needs, and this place.
I’m honored to leave it in your hands as you’ve really done a lot with it.
You might want to check a few of those messages, sounds like a few bands are eager to book a spot here. ”
His wink landed like a shooting star, making me follow his retreating form like a starry-eyed girl who had just been told all her dreams had come true. As soon as Bernie was out of the hall, my dad stepped into the room, and while I let out a hiccup, he scooped me into his arms.
“I’m so proud of you, honey. I can’t believe I was able to witness that. I wish your mom was here to have seen that, but goddamn, I’m glad I was.”
My arms were wrapped tightly around his neck, and I ignored how angry I was at him at the moment. I was so excited that he’d been here for such a big moment in my life.
“I knew you’d own this place someday, and I knew you’d do it on your own terms, in your own way.” Dad set me down, and I stepped back, tucking my hair back.
“Dad, you swear to me you had nothing to do with this.”
“I swear it, honey. I know I wasn’t honest about stepping down, but that was a one-off. I swear to you that I, nor Ford, had anything to do with this.”
My eyes found the floor as he searched my face. I wanted to believe him, but I was still so wounded over what he’d done.
He seemed to pick up on it because he stepped closer.
“I’m so sorry, Royce. I’m sorry that even for a second you had to doubt believing me.
Your mother wasn’t happy with me either, and I don’t blame either of you.
I fucked up and all I can do is tell you that as long as it keeps you safe, I won’t ever do it again. ”
“Dad, see…” I sighed. “That right there makes it seem like you will do it again.”
“If it keeps you safe, then I won’t.”
My face lowered, but my dad caught it between his hands.
“You, your sister, and your mother are my entire world. I live to protect you, and sometimes that protection doesn’t always look like honesty.
That’s maybe why you didn’t share with Ford or me about what Nova shared with you about the video, right? ”
Dammit. I stared at him, and he jostled my shoulders jokingly. “Am I right? You were keeping Nova safe by omitting really important information to Ford, and to me.”
“Fine, yes.”
“Then you get it. Deep down, you do. You know that both Ford and I love you deeply. But we’ll always work to keep you safe, no matter what it takes.”
I hated that he made me think about this from a different perspective. He was right. If there was something that would keep them safe, or even Taryn, then I’d lie. But only to protect them.
Bumping my dad’s shoulder as we exited the office, I asked, “As long as it isn’t gross, how did you get Mom to forgive you?”
The last thing I needed was an image of my parents doing anything physical as a way to stop fighting.
I’d seen and heard them plenty throughout my life, not that they meant to, in fact, they were always careful to guard us from ever experiencing them being in love like that, but the two of them were like a wildfire.
Now that I was older, it was actually something I hoped would happen for me someday.
To find someone you could be in love with for well over twenty-five years was an incredible concept.
“I told your mother the truth.”
I glanced over at him, my brows dipping as I tried to make sense of that.
“The truth about what?”
“About everything, kiddo. All the scary, terrifying details.” He walked ahead of me as we walked near the bar. Nick was waiting for me, so I knew I had to come back to this conversation, but first, I glanced up at Dad’s solemn face and asked, “Will you tell me too?”
He considered something for a second before he dipped his face. “Yeah, honey. If you give me and Ford another shot, I’ll tell you too.”