Page 64 of Roaring Fork Rockstar

“I gotta go, darlin’. You call me immediately if anything changes. Anything at all.”

“I promise I will.”

Beau stepped forward. “The helicopter is ready whenever you are.”

Holt turned to Luna. “Hey, Unicorn Girl. I have to go to Crested Butte for a little while. But I’ll be here again tomorrow, okay?”

Luna’s lower lip trembled. “Promise?”

“Pinky promise,” he said solemnly, linking his little finger with hers. “And while I’m gone, maybe you can draw more pictures for our story?”

She brightened at this mission. “I will! The best pictures ever!”

I followed Holt into the hallway, where he pulled me into a fierce embrace. His kiss held everything I needed—promise, comfort, determination, and something deeper neither of us was ready to name. “We’ll be okay,” I assured him as we parted.

I watched him walk away, Beau at his side, until the elevator doors closed between us. Only then did I allow myself to acknowledge the hollow feeling his absence left—the space that, in the span of a few short days, had become his alone to fill.

18

HOLT

The helicopter flight from Denver passed in a blur of mountains and snow, my thoughts never leaving the hospital room where I’d left Keltie and Luna.

When we touched down, Cord was waiting for me at the edge of the tarmac. “Good to see you, brother,” he said as I slid into the passenger seat of his truck. “Though I wish the circumstances were better.”

I stared through the windshield at the road ahead. “Thanks for coming to get me.”

As soon as we pulled onto the highway toward Crested Butte, I fished my phone from my pocket and dialed Keltie’s number. I needed to hear her voice, to know if anything had changed in the hour since I’d left.

She answered on the second ring. “Holt?”

“Hey,” I said softly. “Just landed. How’s she doing?”

“The same,” Keltie replied, her voice heavy with fatigue. “She’s still sleeping.”

“Has the doctor been in again?”

“No. Nothing’s changed since you left.” There was a pause. “I’m glad you called, though.”

“I’ll be back as soon as I can,” I promised, meeting Cord’s understanding glance.

“I know,” she said quietly.

“Is there anything I can bring with me?”

“Just yourself,” she answered. “That’s all we need.”

“How are you holding up?” I asked, pitching my voice lower.

Her pause said more than her words. “My dad’s been great. And it’s nice to have Sam and Beau here. But… never mind, I shouldn’t say it.”

“Not what we agreed on, darlin’. Whatever it is, say it.”

“I know you just left, but I still wish you were here. I also know that isn’t fair.”

“I’ll call again after I finish up at the Goat,” I promised.

“Be safe,” she said softly before hanging up.

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