Page 13 of Four Money (Ever and Always 1)

“Take our limo,” Ford offered.

“At this time of night it could take a while, even for VIP service.” Owen shook his head.

“You two go.” Brady winced when Owen slapped the button on the service elevator. “We’ll find Reed, Andi, Simon, and Cooper, wait for the limo, and bring them to the hospital so you have some support.”

“That’s not necessary.” Trent lifted his hands, palms out, but Holly could see them trembling. He was going to need as many friends as he could find before the night was through.

“Of course it is.” She hugged him tight.

More people started to gather around them as they caught wind of their urgency and worried expressions. Trent seemed to get more uncomfortable with every ounce of attention and the sympathetic whispers swirling around them.

“Don’t ruin everyone’s good time. Certainly not because of that bastard…” His passion faded and his fear evaporated as something darker took up residence in his eyes.

Andi cut through the throng milling around with Cooper, Reed, and Simon right behind.

“Is it true?” Cooper asked.

Trent nodded once right before the elevator dinged and the doors slid open. “Holly and I are about to catch a cab to the hospital. Sorry to ruin the party. Congratulations. We’ve got to go.”

Fortunately, he didn’t try to stop Holly from leaving with him.

They stepped onto the elevator together.

Owen looked to Ford. “Still want me to get your car?”

“Yes, thanks.” He nodded.

“Can we come too in case we can help?” Andi asked, confirming Ford’s instincts.

“Please don’t.” Trent winced. “Enjoy yourselves.”

Holly saw the group exchange glances as Owen stepped into the elevator too and kept holding the door. A buzzer sounded since they’d taken too long already.

Brady said what they all were thinking: “Love is about a lot more than the good times. We’ll have plenty of those in our lives. It’s more important to stick together when things are rough.”

“We’ll be right behind you,” Andi promised. “Go.”

Lorenzo joined them right before Owen took his hand off the doors and they clanged closed.

Though it was a long way down from the heights they’d been at so recently, they dropped fast and stopped with a jolt. Then they were running, Trent clasping her hand so tightly that she knew even if she stumbled, he wouldn’t let her fall.

Hopefully she could do the same for him.

6

Holly clutched Trent’s fingers as the cab rushed them toward the hospital. Although his roommates knew Trent far better than she did, he hadn’t let go of her hand for one moment, so she’d held on to him too, hoping the others would be close behind,

There they were, her praying for his father as he sat stock still and ramrod stiff beside her.

Was he in shock?

Why was he so damn quiet?

What should she say?

Holly didn’t have long to worry about it because they made it to the hospital in record time. Trent pressed way more cash than it would take to cover their fare into her hand and hopped out before the car had stopped moving. She paid the driver, then raced after Trent through the automatic doors of the emergency room.

When she caught up to him, he was bent over the counter. “I don’t care what he said or how he feels about me, he’s my father. If he’s going to die, I should be able to see him before it’s too damn late.”

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