Page 230 of Catch Me
“I know. It just... All of that, and it was over so fast. What do I do now?”
“Let’s go out.”
“Out? I don’t want to do that.”
“Brooks told me about a rage room, and it sounds like the perfect way to spend our evening.”
I considered it, weighing our options. Staying in sounded like a good idea, but I’d probably just wallow if we did that. I’d sink into depression, which would probably happen regardless, but an outlet was a logical move. He was here for five days, and I wanted to enjoy all of them the best I could.
“Fine, but I might need to do it a few times. Or I’ll end up hitting you with a bat or something.”
“That’s just rude. I’m the face of the Braves, you know. Threatening me could turn a whole state against you.”
“Don’t let it go to your head.” I stopped, pulling out my phone. “How do you feel about inviting the guys?”
He smiled and shrugged. “I like you when you’re all codependent.”
“Shut up,” I muttered as I shot off a text.
I knew that all of us could use a good outlet. We were happy, every single one of us, but goddamn, we all had our share of fucked up shit that needed to be purged. At this point in my life, I was starting to understand that those things were better done together.
Chapter 74
Travis
I wasn’t supposed to be here. It was probably unhealthy, and if Roman knew, he’d be angry. I wasn’t good at letting sleeping dogs lie, though, and I’d recently learned that doing nothing might just prolong the inevitable.
It was unlikely to do any good, yet it was necessary. Something told me that if I didn’t try, I’d regret it until the day I died. For Roman, I was willing to do anything.
I knocked on the door, then pushed my hands into my pockets. Although I may have been an extroverted person, I felt nervous. Standing here, waiting for him to answer, I was thrust back to those years in my dad’s house when it had been silent aside from his pleas for me to talk to him. Dinners were quiet and awkward, and every time he opened his mouth, I thought he was going to tell me that he’d changed his mind, that he was sending me back.
We’d healed, but I’d never forget how it felt to think my own dad hated the sight of me. I’d always remember not just telling him I hated him, butfeelingit. When I looked at him now, all I felt was love and acceptance. That was how I knew it didn’t have to be like this for Roman. There washope, just like I told my followers. If I didn’t believe that, I wouldn’t say it to millions of people online.
The door opened, and Mr. Valdez immediately narrowed his eyes. “How do you know where I’m staying?”
Without invitation, I stepped into the hotel room, angling past him. He tried to say something about it, but he must’ve seen that it was pointless. When I turned around, he had his arms crossed over his chest. The angry expression on his face looked a lot like Roman’s, and though I didn’t need it confirmed, it was clear that it’d come from him.
“We need to talk.”
“I asked you a question,” he said.
“Ross loves your son, so when I asked, he told me where you were. Did you really think Rachel would come talk to you?”
“At one time, she would’ve seen reason. A long time ago, maybe.” With the words, he seemed to deflate a little. In a matter of seconds, he shifted from the man Roman had feared to one who was small, burdened by something he was too proud to admit.
“You love your son too. I can see that, so what good does it do to cut him out of your life?”
“I haven’t cut him out. He’s choosing this.”
I shook my head, digging my nails into my palms. “Look, Mr. Valdez—”
“Just call me Oscar.” He dropped into a chair and leaned his elbows on his knees, but he didn’t look at me.
“Oscar, my dad tried to change me too. I don’t know if you’re aware of my story, but he sent me to conversion camp when I was fifteen.”
“I assume you flunked out.”
I snorted a laugh, which made him look up at me. Leaning against the wall, I shook my head a little. “You can say what you want. It won’t hurt me. But it hurts him. And I’m sure you know that, but you’re convincing yourself that you’re in the right. You think you’re being righteous, carrying out God’s will and trying to save his soul. It’s bullshit, and you know it.”
