Page 191 of Catch Me
I glanced at him, trying to read the expression on his face. It was difficult, and since I didn’t want to keep staring, I looked toward the window at the front of the building.
“Also for walking away,” I went on more quietly. “Yesterday.”
“You don’t owe me anything. I shouldn’t have done that.”
I opened my mouth, but I didn’t know if I should agree or disagree. I hadn’t let myself think much about it since I’d put myself back together in that hotel room with my dad. The entire time during the plane ride, I’d been trying to convince myself that was all it’d take. Rebuild. Move on. I hated that it wasn’t simple like that.
Some things are worth being complicated, he’d once said.
Hewas fucking complicated. Roman wasn’t supposed to be here, volunteering his time to help Barbara and Summer. Not once, but twice. Did anybody know he’d been here?
“What’d you give Carl?” I asked.
“Someone’s nosey.”
I saw a smirk on his face before he turned around to go into the kitchen again. With a frown, I scanned the room. Carl was talking excitedly to his dad, and it made me happy to see him like that. I’d gotten them tickets to some of the home games, the ones that worked with Steve’s schedule. With his new job, they were doing better, and as long as he kept at it, I knew things would work out for them.
Glancing behind me, I verified that Roman was still preoccupied. I pulled off my gloves, then walked casually over to Carl. When he saw me, his eyes lit up.
“You’re here,” he said.
“Sure am.” I smiled at him and squeezed his shoulder. “You a pro yet?”
He shrugged, becoming slightly flushed. “I’m okay.”
“He’s got a good arm,” Steve added. “There’s a community team I’m looking at putting him in so he can play with other kids. When he starts middle school in a couple years, he’ll join their team.”
“That’s awesome. I’ll have to come throw the ball with you sometime. You like dogs?”
Carl nodded enthusiastically. “Can I meet Tessa?”
“Of course. She’s feral, but in a loveable way.” Glancing at the picture tucked under his arm, I nodded toward it. “What’s that?”
He pulled it out and passed it to me. I figured it would be the one of me and him or maybe just him, but it wasn’t. There was a woman staring back at me, and when I looked at Carl, I recognized the similar shape of their eyes. It was just a sketch, but it was beautiful, as always.
“She gets out in a few weeks,” Steve explained. “Your friend asked if he could make something to help the days pass more quickly, so I gave him a picture of her.”
I handed the frame back to Carl and cleared my throat. “I think you’ll all be really happy. Make sure you show her that throwing arm.”
“I will. Do you want to meet her?”
I smiled. “Sure. Just have your dad text me, alright?” I heard someone open the doors, then there were multiple voices that reached us. “I gotta get up there.”
“We’re actually here to volunteer,” Steve said. He walked beside me with Carl on my other side. “This place kept us afloat when we were in the dumps.”
I clapped him on the shoulder. “See, Steve? I told you things were going to change for you.
Carl planted himself between me and Roman. I looked over his head, meeting dark eyes. The way he smiled made my heart pick up speed, and I wondered about what he’d said to Tilian.
That smile spoke of hope, but did that exist anymore? At what point would he decide enough was enough? More importantly, could I handle figuring it out?
Chapter 63
Travis
As I drove down the freeway away from my house, I blasted some new-style country music that was on the radio. It was cold out and the clouds blocked most of the sun, but I was determined to keep my mood up as I headed into our second to last game of the series.
“The hell is this crap?” Dad asked, looking at the stereo like it had offended him.
