Page 99 of Hollywood

Recognition lit in his eyes, followed by the downturn of his lips. “I know the name. He’s the one who damn near killed Dakota Willis.”

“Yeah,” I said. “It was an accident, though.”

“It was reckless.”

“It was,” I agreed. “He knows that.”

“Well, that’s something, I guess,” Clint said shortly.

“Clint, you’ve been great about me being an ex-con. Joey is in Redemption Road too. He’s trying to start over.”

“And what about Dakota? She can’t just start over and walk again.”

“I know. So does he. That’s why he’s still full of guilt and shame. But he’s trying to be a better person.”

He exhaled. “It’s different with you, Hendrix. You didn’t hurt anyone.”

“Oh, but I did. I hurt my girlfriend by losing everything we’d built together. I hurt my daughter by missing the first two years of her life. I hurt my family.” I shrugged. “It was emotional damage, but still damage. We all have amends to make.”

“Some of those amends are tougher than others,” Clint said, though some of the heat had left his voice. “I don’t envy that kid. He’s got a long road ahead.”

“Yeah, I guess he does.”

Longer than I’d realized, even. It hadn’t occurred to me the impact of living in a town where so many people knew you. Where they knew all your mistakes. I moved to Riverton to be close to Ruby. No one knew about my past until I chose to tell them.

But they all knew Joey’s name. Knew him as the guy who’d hurt Dakota.

No wonder the kid wasn’t having great luck getting a job or keeping it. If he was getting these kinds of reactions, he probably wanted to hide out as much as Ghost did.

A couple of guys from a construction crew came in on their lunch break, sweaty and dusty and smelling like tar.Clint and I each took one so we could get them cut and on their way with enough time to grab a bite before they had to return to work.

Another lull fell. Clint glanced over at me. “I’m sorry, Hollywood. I think I was too harsh about your friend. I don’t know his life or his hardships.”

This was why I liked Clint. He was genuinely a good man. He’d had a very natural reaction to meeting someone who’d made a terrible mistake. But he was also genuinely empathetic.

“You didn’t say anything that wasn’t true,” I said. “I just worry about how hard it must be for him to have everyone knowing and judging what he did. He’s been struggling to stay employed. I thought he was apathetic. But it makes a lot more sense now.”

Clint clucked. “It’s not easy when you get on the wrong side of a small town. Dakota was a real town darling. Everyone knew her, and everyone loved her.”

“You say that in past tense. She’s not dead.”

He looked abashed. “You’re right. She’s still lovely. Still beloved. Her brother too.”

“Kit, right?”

“That’s right. How do you know him?”

“He’s doing therapy with Carrie.”

“Ah, yes. Kit’s great. He was devastated over his sister.”

I was still curious why Kit hadn’t recognized Joyride or vice versa. “Was he not here when the accident happened?”

“Well, no. He was off at school at the time. But after what happened to Dakota, he moved back here to help her through her recovery.”

Later that night, I did a Google search. Joyride had taken a plea deal in the case, which charged him with auto theft and aggravated assault with a vehicle. Had he not stolen hisparents’ car, he might not have faced any prison time. It was the theft that made the accident a crime.

There was no splashy trial, but there were a couple of news articles. I found one photo. Joyride looked incredibly young, just a baby, really. His hair was short and much blonder—either from youth or highlights. He had the face of a spoiled rich boy. He lookedsofterthan he did now. Skinnier. More kid than man.