by Jayne Rylon
“What happened?” Holden nudged her, his curiosity overwhelming.
“They rejected the show.” Another sob accompanied her bad news.
“No. For real?” Eli looked as surprised as any of them. “Are they nuts? I wasn’t sure at first, Sabra, I’m not going to lie. But the pilot rocked. I’ve seen the shit they put on TV. It’s no contest.”
“I think it’s more to do with me than the concept.” She closed her eyes. “Maybe I should talk to some of the guys at the station. Hand off the work to them. You shouldn’t lose out because of me.”
“No.” Holden spit the refusal. “We work with you or no one. Why wouldn’t they want you?”
“My old boss got promoted. Looks like he’s in charge of programming now. He convinced the panel that the station’s sponsors wouldn’t back a show produced by me after losing money on their news advertising. I guess ratings are down since I walked.”
“Of course they are. The only reason anyone watched the broadcast was to see you. Duh.” Holden rolled his eyes, hoping to make her laugh. No go. Fuck.
“That might have boosted my pride after being out on my ass if it didn’t mean that this project, which I care so much about, is a flop. Killed before it’s off the ground. The message in Hot Rods—the value of the family you build—is so much more important than the crapstorm of negativity I reported on day after day. I can’t give up. But there’s no way…”
She trailed off.
“What aren’t you telling us, chica?” Alanso peered at Sabra.
She bit her lip and shook her head. “Nothing.”
“You seriously have got to be the world’s worst liar, Sabster.” Carver groaned. “You might as well spill. Holden’s going to be worse than Buster with one of those ratty old sneakers he loves.”
“Fine.” She shoved out of Holden’s grasp and climbed to her feet in a single graceful move. Pacing the lawn, heat began to replace defeat in her features. A major improvement. “They said they’d only consider the show if I made it juicier. They’ve heard the rumors around Middletown too. About you guys. They had pictures of me and Holden making out behind the pizza shop. They—”
“Get to the part where some asshole dared to touch you.” Holden thought he could see where this might be going. “Your old boss? Is that who I need to bury in the basement?”
Sabra went pale. He reached out, but she evaded him, as if the thought of contact with him made her sick. Could she be afraid of him? He’d thought she knew him better than that, but that was before someone had hurt her, because of them. Him. He made a conscious effort to bury his rage.
“Let’s just say he offered a Plan B that involved me on my knees.” She looked away, her pretty smile nowhere to be seen, a flat line in place of her curved, luscious lips. Her fingers wandered to the darkening shadows on her throat. “I told him to fuck off, but he snagged me by Kae’s necklace. If it hadn’t given way…”
Sabra shuddered.
“Then I stand by what I said before.” Kaelyn smiled softly. “It really was lucky, and I’m so glad you wore it today.”
The women clasped hands.
Fuck control of his temper. If Kaige hadn’t grabbed Holden in a bear hug, he might have torn out of the lot in a hurry. When he’d settled enough that the other guy let him loose, he huffed as if he’d run around the block a dozen times at full blast. Nova spoke into his ear, “Focus on her, not that jerkwad.”
“Violence won’t solve this.” Tom must have heard the commotion and joined them, along with Ms. Brown. It figured he’d say that.
Holden hated that he had to hear the voice of reason. Pounding someone would have been so much more satisfying than this helplessness poisoning him. He concentrated on what he could do to make the situation better while Sally, Nola and Kaelyn rallied around Sabra, offering to go on a nut-cracking mission. Somehow she seemed to accept the feminine comfort more easily.
Holden did what Tom had taught him to do in times like these. He shifted away from emotion and engaged his logical side. “Can you rewind some? Before you almost made my head explode. And by you, I mean that fucking dickhead whose face I will likely rearrange sometime. Or at least dream about pummeling.”
This time Sabra did giggle. It was weak, but she came through for him.
If she could laugh, they’d survive.
“Did you say they’d do the show if we gave them personal dirt?” He wondered if he could expose the most private parts of himself. The most important ones too. Where before he’d ruled it out, he considered it for Sabra.
“It doesn’t matter. That was our bargain all along. No drama. No using the group’s sexuality as a crutch. We don’t need that. That isn’t what the show is about.” Sabra put her hands on her hips. “I’m not a sellout. And I won’t let you be either.”
Holden scanned the faces ringing him. Each of the Hot Rods nodded, except Kaelyn and Bryce, who couldn’t participate in any of the filming because of the deal they’d signed with their families to buy their freedom.
“If this show is important to you, it’s important to me. All of us. We’ll do whatever it takes to make your dream a reality. Hell, I’ll fuck you on live TV if that helps ratings.” Holden shrugged then winked. “Besides, I think you’d get off on it. Showoff.”
She wandered close enough to smack his arm. This time the tears in her eyes were mixed with humor.
“Thank you.” Sabra did a slow spin so she could include everyone. “I mean that. The fact that you’re willing to compromise your privacy. Subject yourself and the shelter to the criticism of ignorant people. Damn. I don’t want to start crying again, but I know how much you prize that. I can’t tell you what it means to me that you’d do that for me. So I hope you understand that I can’t accept your offer. I would never do that to you. Any of you.”
Holden started to speak, but she cut him off by stepping closer and wrapping her arms around his neck. She drew him to her for a light kiss then whispered, “Especially not you.”
“Okay. Then what’s the plan?” He didn’t figure she’d quit.
The Sabra he knew would go down swinging.
“Maybe make some phone calls. There are other stations and markets to try. I’m not going to sugarcoat it, though. This was by far our best shot. You guys have some local notoriety. If I can’t pull it off here, the odds aren’t in our favor. Besides, I’m sure Grills has spread rumors about me to his buddies at other stations. He’s well-known enough that people will ask him about me before investing. He can’t risk my side of the story getting out. I know how he works. He’ll have covered his ass by telling his buddies to look out for me. I can’t imagine them signing the show. Hell, I don’t think I’ll even stand a chance at pitching the pilot. They’re going to write me off before I can get a foot in the door.” She sighed. The bleakness in her eyes as she lowered from her tiptoes and unwound herself from him caused his chest to ache. “Maybe I could crowd source private funding for production and online distribution, but that kind of project—even if it finds a cult following—won’t have the immediate impact of broadcasting on a major network. Everyone knows one of these local pilots is getting picked up for the mid-season replacement on the national level. I know this show has the potential. If they saw what I saw it would be a done deal. I’m sorry. I feel like I’ve let you down.”
Several of the Hot Rods grumbled at that. Sabra didn’t seem to notice, her stare planted firmly on the grass.
“I’m going home to feed Sir Clawdius Fuzzington, then I’ll see if I can brainstorm a solution.” Her shoulders sank the more she talked.
“Let me grab my jacket.” Holden jingled his car keys in his pocket.
“I don’t think I’ll be good company tonight. You should stay here, where you belong.” The crack in her voice nearly broke his heart. He didn’t care to pile tension between them onto the disastrous day she’d already had. If
she used the night alone to lick her wounds, she’d come battling back stronger in the morning. At least he expected her to.
“Let me drive you. You’re upset...” He reached for her hand but she shrank away.
“I’m better now. Just kind of…empty.” Sabra stood straighter. “Thank you, but I’ll be okay. I’ll text you when I get home so you don’t worry, okay?”
Not really. But he didn’t have much choice.
“I’m just a call away. Any time of the day or night. Change your mind and I’ll be there in a few minutes. You know that, right?” Holden tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
She nodded and surrendered a stealthy sniffle. At least it wasn’t more of those sobs that threatened to shred his soul.
The urge to say the three words he’d been choking on a lot lately burned strong. Still, he bit back the promise, sure this wasn’t the right time to tell her how he felt. Freaking her out more wasn’t part of his plan.
Sabra hugged him tight yet far too briefly.
And then she was gone, walking toward the parking lot with her shoulders back and her head up. Stubbornness alone put the steel in her spine. He loved her more for it.
Tom rested his hand on Holden’s arm, as if he might run after her.
Gears spun in his mind. What could he to do give Sabra this?
Hot Rods stuck together, and whether she knew it yet or not, he was sure down to his bones that she belonged with them. But what did he know about her world?
Networks, programming, sponsors…
Well, shit. They had plenty of vendors who would piss their pants to reach an audience across the county with interest in old cars. Fixing up classics required plenty of their products. Excited, Holden decided to see if he had the gist of it right.
“Nola.” He turned toward the rest of the gang. Kaige sat on an old tire they’d hung parallel to the ground. He held his girlfriend in his lap and rocked her and their unborn child gently. The guy rubbed her back, keeping her as calm as possible despite the cloud of gloom hanging over the whole garage. They’d each come to care for Sabra. That meant something to Holden too. If they worked together…
“Nola,” he shouted again as he approached.
Nova shot him a warning glance that Holden ignored.
She lifted her head off Kaige’s shoulder and looked up to Swinger with big, glassy eyes. Before she could speak, he jumped right in. “Those vindictive fuckbuckets rejected the pilot because of a supposed lack of advertising interest, right?”
Nova’s dreads shifted around his head as he nodded in tune with his girlfriend.
“Well, then what if we were to show them they’re wrong? That it’s worth their while and then some. Do you think they’d back the program if I could assemble a list of vendors who’d promise cash if they put her in the national spot? We know a ton of people. Have great relationships with our suppliers. Kaelyn has them wrapped around her finger now that she’s handling the ordering. Plus, a ton of them are startups that one or all of us have known for years.” He tried not to get ahead of himself, but his hands flashed out as he gestured to emphasize his hypothesis. “Would that work, you think? Could we raise pledges tonight before they announce the replacement show for the hole in the Fall lineup?”
“I’m sure we could.” Nola winced. “But, Holden, do you know how much money we’re talking about? I’m guessing it’s millions.”
His heart deflated as hope leaked from it like a wilting balloon.
“Are you kidding? That much?” He rubbed his temples.
Bryce did some mental math, ticking things off on his fingers. “I think it’s doable. Nationwide coverage. An enormous audience. If we could get two hundred people to pledge ten grand each, that would get us in the ballpark. At least enough to show real potential.”
Holden gulped. It wasn’t going to be easy.
“Then I guess we shouldn’t waste any more time chitchatting.” He took a deep breath and prepared to burn up the battery on his phone.
Tom edged closer and clapped Holden on the shoulder. He fully expected to hear another speech about impulsive behavior and wishing things into reality. Instead, the only father he’d ever known squeezed him in a one-armed hug. “I like they way you’re thinking, kid. About this whole thing. Sabra included.”
“Really?” A sliver of hope crept into his heart. And if they could pull this off, maybe she would see she wasn’t an outsider anymore. As surely as her parents had adopted her, the Hot Rods had staked a claim too. She could be one of them if she wanted to be. Maybe the two of them could move forward, as an integrated part of the group.
Ms. Brown took up a place on his other side. She didn’t settle for a man hug, though. Her arms wound around him and squeezed surprisingly tightly. “You really care for her, don’t you?”
He didn’t figure he had to answer but he nodded anyway.
“Sabster is pretty cool,” Carver added.
“Hard to imagine what she sees in a jokester like you, but we won’t let you lose her, Swinger.” Roman broke his usual silence to add reassurance.
Did they feel it too? A sense of doom. If this fell through, Sabra wouldn’t be there anymore, with her camera shoved in everyone’s business, and not tied to them after hours either. She might have to move to find a better opportunity for her career if the local network kept cockblocking her.
Unacceptable.
He wanted her to be part of their family. Permanently.
Eli took charge, slamming full-force into boss mode. “Kaelyn, will you divvy up the vendor files? Sort that fancy spreadsheet you made with details on who we do business with. Start with the ones we shell out the most to in an average year. Each of us will take the companies we know best. Sally’s got her paint suppliers. Holden, you take the lead with the leather manufactures. Alanso, what about that new engine outfit? Tell them we’ll feature their products—guaranteed air time, when we have appropriate projects—in addition to the standard commercial advertising.”
“I’ll check with Amber.” Ms. Brown referred to Nola’s sister, who ran an event planning business along with Kaelyn. “Maybe some of her current clients, or the ones from her consulting days, have interest in this special publicity opportunity.”
“I’ll call a board meeting at the shelter,” Tom pitched in too. “They’ll be glad to contribute when they hear about Sabra’s angle on this thing.”
“First one to twenty sponsors gets—” Bryce cut off before he got to the naughty part when he remembered Tom and Ms. Nola were there. He finished lamely, “—a nice surprise.”
Holden couldn’t help but laugh. He scratched his chin. “You know, I think we might be able to get this done.”
“So quit standing there and let’s get to work.” Eli ruffled Holden’s hair, then took off for the garage. Each of them followed. Together.
Five hours later, they had to call it quits. They’d already woken up a few people on the East Coast, which didn’t make them all that receptive to the Hot Rods’ proposal, and had exhausted the list of West Coast vendors. Kaelyn crunched the numbers from the slips they’d handed her after each conversation as they huddled around her in the garage office.
“I’m sorry, Swinger.” She looked at him with gorgeous blue eyes that couldn’t disguise her sadness. “We’re still two-hundred thousand dollars short of the goal. And that includes a large contribution from Hot Rods. Nola says we can’t justify more than that out of our advertising budget.”
His shoulders slumped. They’d gotten so close. Hell, he’d kick in the rest himself if he had it, but he’d already poured in his life savings under a phony vendor name.
“Think!” he roared at himself.
A few of his friends flinched. It wasn’t often he raised his voice.
Buster McHightops whined and flopped into the corner, resting his head on his paws. Even the puppy was exha
usted.
“Hang on. It’s a long shot, but let me try something.” Cobra lifted the receiver of the office phone and set it on the desk. He hit the speaker button.
Everyone held their breath as he punched one of their speed dial buttons.
Holden’s heart hammered. Why hadn’t he thought of this? It might not be worth it for them but…maybe…
On the second ring, Mike, the foreman of the Powertools crew, answered their call for help. “Isn’t it late for you to be hanging around the office?”
“Hey, Mike, it’s Eli. We’re still working for a reason. I’ve got the rest of the gang here too. You’re on speaker phone.”
“Figures. Since you guys do everything together these days.” The guy laughed. “And you know I’m a fan of that. Hang on, we’re actually enjoying the deck at Kayla and Dave’s house. Let me put you on speaker too. It’ll be fun.”
“Unfortunately, this isn’t a social call.” Cobra cleared his throat. The guy hated asking for help with anything. Swallowing his ego, he did it anyway.
That he would for Sabra, for Holden, meant the world.
“What’s up?” Murmuring in the background made it clear the rest of the crew and their wives were listening in.
“You know how you always tell us we have a favor to call in with you guys?” His mouth pulled into a grim slash.
“Yeah, of course,” Dave responded before anyone else could.
“We could use a hand. And by hand, I mean cash.” Eli gritted his teeth.
“I thought the business was doing great?” Joe, Eli’s cousin, asked.
“It is,” Holden jumped in. “The money isn’t for the shop. It’s for Sabra.”
“Oh.” One of the crew wives gasped. “Is she okay?”
“Yes, sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you.” He said, “The station won’t give her pilot a shot because her piece-of-shit ex-boss is fucking with her, drying up the funding by spreading rumors about her being unreliable. If she doesn’t get on there, she doesn’t have a shot at the national slot. It’s a bullshit tactic, but it’s working. We’ve been pounding the pavement all night, drumming up investors worthy of a national program, never mind screwing around at the local level. We think we’ve got almost enough for them to take her serious but…”
