Page 161 of Catch Me
Chapter 53
Roman
This was already awkward as hell. I’d actually been hoping for some time to myself when I made that offer. Travis looked beat, so I’d decided it was a win-win sort of thing. I wouldn’t have minded all that much if someone else went with me, but his dad? It wasn’t my ideal outing, that was for sure.
From what I could tell, he didn’t know anything about me. I guess that was good.
While he drove, I laid my tablet on my thighs. I was tempted to go through my drawings or something just to distract myself, but I refrained.
“Mr. McKinney—”
“Just Theo,” he interrupted. “You’re my son’s friend. No need for formalities.”
“I’m kind of just everyone else’s friend, but thanks. I was just gonna say it’s really cool to meet you. I’ve heard good things.”
He chuckled a little. “Oh, yeah? Thought you just said you two weren’t friends.”
“He’s talked about you a lot online.”
“In that case, I’m surprised you would want to meet me at all.”
My brow furrowed. “I don’t understand.”
He made a dismissive sound. Reaching for the radio controls, he turned up the volume. It was already on a country station, and he seemed to be satisfied with that. The way he tapped his fingers on the wheel and sang along reminded me so much of Travis that I almost wanted to join in, but I still hated this yee-haw shit.
“You a burger or a dog person?” Theo asked as he pulled into the parking lot.
I hummed thoughtfully. “I have a feeling this is a life-defining question. I’ll go with both. One of each.”
He backed the Jeep into a spot, then unfasted his seatbelt. “A man of conviction. I like that.”
Something about his statement made my lips quirk upward. After putting the tablet in the glove compartment, I got out of the car and waited for him to come around the front. We walked next to each other, and I found myself more relaxed than before.
Once we were inside, I looked around absently. It was busy, as if everyone who had been at the stadium decided they needed to buy something in bulk tonight too. If I’d come by myself, I would’ve made a beeline for the things I needed, but Theo was browsing. I imagined it was exactly how Travis would shop in a place like this—always distracted and taking in the things around him.
“Are you in Seattle too?” he asked as we made our way toward the back.
“I moved back recently, yeah.”
“Where’d you go?”
“Chicago. I was in art school.”
His lips parted as if he’d just realized something. “You’re the kid who did the work for the Braves.”
I clenched my teeth and nodded once. “That’s me.”
“Trav sang your praises a whole lot after he got you that gig.”
“He did?”
“Mhm. And for good reason, but you don’t need me to tell you that.”
“If it weren’t for him, I probably would’ve never done something that big.”
“And if he didn’t happen to be pitching during the game that scout came out, he might not be where he is today. That doesn’t take away from his accomplishment. He coulda failed at any point along the way, but he didn’t.”
“Fair point.”
