Chasin' Eight (Rough Riders #11)(140)

“Good.” Elroy hung up.
Chase returned to the bedroom and picked up his bag.
“You’re leaving? Just like that?”

“Yep.”

“No discussion. No yelling, no hashing it out?”

“What is there to hash out? You knew I’d be gone the second the PBR called me back. Getting my bull ridin’ mojo back was the only reason we were even traveling together.” Chase held out his bag. “This is my life, Ava. Not this.” He gestured to the fancy digs surrounding them.
“You told me there were more important things in life than being a bull rider.”

Chase looked her in the eye and said, “I lied.”

Although it pained him, he shouldered his equipment bag and walked out.
Chapter Twenty-Eight

Ava had been mindlessly staring out the window, crying and wallowing in self-recrimination, when her phone buzzed. Hoping it’d be Chase, she answered without checking the caller ID. “Hello.”

“Ava Cooper?”

“Yes. Who is this?”

“I’m calling on behalf of Nina Beal, senior VP of Montieth Associates. Nina is requesting an in-person meeting with you regarding a possible audition for a new sitcom slated to start production next week.”

Why were they calling her directly? “This request was approved through my agency?”

“Marnie Driscoll was contacted and gave us this number.”

This was Marnie’s way of giving Ava full responsibility for declining the audition. “What is the in-place date for the meeting?”

“Thursday. One o’clock. At the Burbank office.”

Looked like she’d be home sooner than she’d planned. “That will work.”

“Good. We look forward to seeing you then, Miss Cooper.”

A casting call. For a new sitcom. She could throw herself into familiar work for the next year and put this summer behind her. Chase had been right about one thing, they both needed to get back to their real lives. And for her, that mean a major overhaul of the way she’d been living. She intended to make changes across the board and start with a clean slate. In both her professional and personal life.
She blew her nose and hoped she didn’t sound as if she’d spent the last two hours bawling when she dialed her parent’s home number.
“And to what do I owe the pleasure of a phone call from my beautiful daughter?”

“Heya, Dad. I just wanted to talk. I know it seems like the only time I call you is when I want something.”

“Do you want something?”

“No. Well, maybe. I want to ask you a question.”

“Shoot.”

“Does it bug you that I don’t take an interest in Dumond Racing? That every time you’ve asked me in the past decade to come to a race or hang out at an event I’ve said no?”

Silence. Then, “I know you’re busy.”

“That’s not an answer. Be honest.”

“Okay, as long as you asked, yeah, it does bug the crap out of me. It’s almost like you’re embarrassed that your dad is a former grease monkey.”

“I’m not embarrassed. God, I’m embarrassed for myself for being so oblivious to anyone’s feelings but my own. You raised me better than that.”

“No kidding.” He paused again. “Ava, what is this really about?”

His voice was so soft and gentle, more tears fell. “I’ve had a lot of time to think over the past couple months. I’ve watched my…friend come to terms with family issues and I saw a lot of myself in him. I realized I haven’t been a good daughter, or a good sister, or even a halfway decent supporter of Dumond Racing. I’m so mired in my own stupid, petty problems that I’ve let important things slide. Important people.” She sniffled. “You are important to me Dad, and I love you. And I’m sorry for acting like such a brat. But I can change. I want to change.” She took a deep breath. “Can you forgive me?”