Page 77 of When Alec Met Evie
In the conversations I had with Devon leading up to our divorce, he always talked about fatherhood like it was some mysterious skillset he lacked and would never acquire.
But maybe it’s not so complicated. Maybe fatherhood is just a matter of paying attention, of noticing what your family needs, then stepping up to take care of that need. It’s being present. Invested.Willing.
Alec looks back and meets my eye one more time before he leaves. “I’ll see you at home?”
I nod, and he follows Summer and Nathan out the door, taking a tiny piece of my heart with him as he goes.
CHAPTER 20
ALEC
The whole timewe’re driving to the police station, I’m wishing I’d tried a little harder to get the twins to come to Felix’s. We’ve had a lot of guys join the Appies when they’re young. Fresh out of college, even high school. Last season, Dominic joined the team and didn’t get along with anyone. But he settled in. Figured out what it was to be an Appie. But I don’t remember anyone causing trouble like Theo.
Now that I have a better sense of what’s going on with him, I feel more frustrated than angry. I’m supposed to be looking out for him. But he has to help me out a little. Make choices that reflect an awareness of how seriously he could screw up his career if he messes around.
Still, the kid is only eighteen, and he’s hurting. I can’t blame him when I’m not sure I would have been able to handle what he’s handling when I was his age.
The station is a few blocks away from Felix’s place, so we only drive a couple of minutes before Nathan parks and turns off his Bronco.
“All right, let’s do this,” I say through a sigh.
“You talk to the twins, let me talk to the police,” Summer says.
I nod as we all climb out of the car, then we head inside.
Carter is sitting in a chair against the wall, his head in his hands. He looks up as we enter, and his face relaxes with relief. He stands and steps toward me. “I tried to get him to slow down on the drinks, but he just wouldn’t listen. And then the tattoo, and the girls, and…” He shakes his head and lifts the heel of his hand to his forehead. He sucks in a couple of shallow, shaky breaths, his hand trembling.
“Hey, just breathe,” I say. “You’re all right. We’ll figure this out. But let’s take it one thing at a time, okay?” I tilt my head, motioning toward the interior of the police station. “They’re holding Theo?”
He nods.
“You didn’t drink tonight?” I ask.
“No, sir. I was driving. I didn’t have a single drink.”
“Good. And your dates? Where are they now?”
“I got them an Uber. They’re home safe. They already texted to tell me.”
“Good.” I put a hand on his shoulder. “You did good.”
He sniffs and nods. “He’s never been arrested before,” he says. He takes in another hiccupy breath. “And he wasn’t really doing anything bad. Just being a little loud.”
A few paces into the police station, it looks like Summer is already talking to an officer.
“That’s him,” Carter says. “That’s the guy who picked him up.”
“Did he have alcohol on him?” Nathan asks, and Carter shakes his head.
“There was nothing on him. We’d just left the tattoo place, and he was walking down the middle of the road singingsomething stupid. I was trying to get him back on the sidewalk when the cop pulled up.”
I look over at Nathan. “Does it matter if he wasn’t in possession? If he was still visibly drunk?”
“Not sure. It might make it harder to prove, at least.”
A few days ago, I might have wanted Theo to suffer a little. To endure the consequences of his own actions. I’ve talked to him about drinking before, and clearly none of that has registered because he’s still making stupid choices—choices he can’t really afford as an athlete. But now, I can’t stop thinking about what he’s up against.
He needs compassion. Not misdemeanor charges.
