Chapter 43
Chapter Forty-Three
Rome
C hrissy and I haven’t spoken in two days. A brutal combination of emotions is warring inside me. I’m angry at Malik for suggesting such a ridiculous idea, and I’m upset at Chrissy for getting upset at me. I was doing the right thing. I was protecting her. If she were to go to Malik, he would know she’s where I’m vulnerable. He can use her to get to me. He can use me all he wants, but he can’t touch her. She’s off limits.
I have a one-on-one with her this afternoon after practice. I’m sure we can clear all this up and get back on track. My heart aches as I walk toward the stadium. I constantly check my phone to see if she messaged or called me. Not that I would miss it; my hand is practically glued to my phone, waiting for her to make the first move.
Dropping my bag on the floor in the locker room, I look at my phone one last time before giving up. I take a seat on the worn wooden bench and text the one person who will know what’s going on with Chrissy.
Hey Gwen, have you heard from Chrissy recently?
I spoke with her this morning before she went to talk to her professor.
Which professor?
Clastis, I believe that was her name.
Did she say why she was going to talk to her?
She said she would tell me today during my shift at the café. Will I see you then? I wanted to talk to you about something anyway.
Yes, I’ll see you there. Thank you.
Chrissy, what the hell did you do?
My question was answered the second Malik threw me the ball, and I wanted nothing more than to wipe that smug look off his face and for practice to be over. I didn’t give anyone the time of day once Coach dismissed us. I got showered and changed in a hurry, ignoring Malik’s faux positive energy. Faulkner knew something was up right away; he’s new, but he’s not an idiot. He didn’t press me, though, which earned him future brownie points.
After running to my car, I buckle myself in and drive to Tea and Kittens. As I park the car along the curb, I consider taking a moment to compose myself, but fuck that.
Careful not to scare the cats, I enter the café, but I don’t see her. She said she was going to meet me, where is she?
“Gwen?” I call out, and something in the back room tumbles to the ground.
A bang of metal clatters on the floor, jarring the room full of cats and kittens.
“Shit,” a familiar voice grunts. “Sorry, be out in a sec!”
I pace the room, looking out the window every now and then for a certain blonde to dance through the door. Instead, Gwen appears from the back room, holding a particular white cat in her arms.
“Thank goodness you’re here.” Gwen sighs in relief.
“Is everything okay?”
Gwen looks like she’s been through hell and back. Her hair is tied back, but flyaways are sticking up in all directions. Her white shirt is drenched in what I hope is water, and a new kitten just flung itself at her shoes. Korra chirps when she sees me, her lime eyes almost sparkling in reaction.
“I know you’re looking for Chrissy, but I have to ask you the biggest favor.”
“Okay . . .”
“Would you consider fostering or adopting Korra? I know it’s a lot to ask. You’re rarely home, and you’re busy with school and football. But when I tell you that this cat doesn’t calm down unless you’re here, I mean it. I mean, look at her?—”
Gwen holds Korra out toward me. The cat tilts her head, and she meows while reaching out.
I take her in my arms, and her body slumps against mine as she rubs her face on my collarbone.
“Not even two minutes ago, she chased me into the back, and I spilled my water bottle all over me. The moment she heard your voice, she relaxed. Ryan and I will do anything. We’ll give you all the supplies you’ll need. Give it a few days to a week, and if it’s not working, we’ll take her back. I just... I don’t want to see her go to another shelter. She didn’t do well in the last one she was at, hence why she’s here.”
Gwen is on the verge of tears. She cares so much about these animals. It’s no wonder Ash was drawn to her; her energy is warm and loving, just like Chrissy’s.
“I don’t know how to take care of a cat,” I say quietly.
“I can teach you. A week, that’s all I’m asking.”
Running my fingers through Korra’s velvet white fur, the tension in my muscles eases, and the weight on my shoulders starts to lessen. Maybe it’s not a bad idea. I mean, it’s seven days, right?
“Okay,” I say with a smile.
“Really?” Gwen squeals.
“Really. I’ll give it a shot.”
“Thank you!” Gwen looks like she wants to jump in my arms, but she doesn’t want to disturb Korra, who has fallen asleep cradled against my chest. “You’re going to do amazing. I just know it.”
With a small nod, I continue petting the cat as Gwen gathers the supplies. I walk over to a chair and sit down, being cautious not to wake the furball in my arms.
“Why do I get the feeling you’re going to be a diva?” I whisper on the top of her head.
With a long puff of air out of her nose, she yawns and snuggles closer. Yeah, she’s going to walk all over me. And I’m going to let her.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I almost leap out of the chair. With the amount of care I’m taking with Korra, you would think I was holding a newborn baby. But something tells me she deserves it. She seems like she’s had a rough go of things.
I free my phone from my shorts pocket and see a number pop up that I’m not familiar with.
Hey Rome, this is Raina. You met me in the conference room on the first day. Are you at the cat café?
I am. Why?
Chrissy and I will be there shortly.
Why is Raina accompanying Chrissy to our session? Why hasn’t Chrissy texted or called me? Nothing is making sense, and it’s causing a pit the size of a meteor to form in my stomach.
Gwen finished gathering the items and brought them to me. An assortment of cat food, toys, a cat bed, and a box of litter are ready for me. With Korra still snuggled against my chest, I fill out the paperwork in order to take her home. I don’t know if I want to adopt her or not, pretty sure I’m not going to have a say in the matter. But Gwen has been completing the foster form just in case.
The bell above the café door chimes, and I feel her presence before I see her. She’s warm like sunshine, but something is off. I don’t have to turn around to guess that her nose is crinkled upward and that her brow is wrinkled. Chrissy is preparing herself to face the storm, and I wish I could say that storm wasn’t me.
“Rome?” Raina asks as she comes into my line of sight.
Glancing up at her, I give her a small smirk and nod. “That’s me. Are you going to say hi as well, Chrissy?”
And there’s the eye roll. I can feel it like a soldering iron.
“You don’t have to be so snarky about it.” She sighs, and my heart shatters into a million tiny pieces.
Her eyes are tired, subtle, deep bags resting underneath them. Her hair is pulled back and free from frizz. Even her complexion is off; her normally rosy cheeks are nowhere to be found. What happened within these last two days? Do I look the same way she does? Because I can safely say I’ve missed her.
“Care to explain why Malik threw the ball to me during practice today?” But that doesn’t mean she didn’t cross a line.
“Raina and I are switching partners. You will be working with her, and I will be mentoring Malik Chen” is all she says.
With an irritated click of my tongue, I drop the pen I was holding and look at her head-on. “I told you it was out of the question.”
“And I told you I wasn’t going to let you ruin your future for me. It’s an easy solution?—”
“You fed the snake, and now he won’t stop. He knows you’re my weakness, you just gave him fuel. You think this will be his first demand? You’re wrong?—”
“Rome, let’s just take a moment,” Raina interjects.
“No, I won’t take a moment. Chrissy, there was more than one reason why his demand was out of the question. And you just gave him everything he wanted.”
Raina’s shoulders drop in defeat. She’s been working with Malik, so I’m sure she knows what he’s capable of.
“I’m doing this for you?—”
“I didn’t ask you to!” My voice raises, and Korra stirs in my arms and leaps onto the floor.
“I’m doing this on my own volition. I’m doing this to secure your future. I will do anything for you because I love you. Why can’t you understand that?”
“Because you love falling in love!” I shout and slam my hand on the table. “How many hearts have you broken? How many times have you fallen only to run away? Love isn’t enough, Chrissy. It doesn’t stop people from leaving others behind. You don’t love me; you just don’t want to be alone.”
The words sting when they leave my mouth, but it feels good. They’ve been corrosive in my throat for far longer than I realized. And now that they’re free, I don’t bother sugarcoating it.
Chrissy stares at me like she’s trying to dissect my brain. Her cheeks are bright red, and she presses her lips together while taking a step back. Raina observes us, probably wondering if we need couple’s therapy.
It was bound to happen. Chrissy and I are both energetic, stand-by-our-beliefs, hardheaded people. An argument was unavoidable, whether we wanted it or not.
“Don’t say things you don’t mean, Rome,” Chrissy tells me, sounding a little too calm. “I know things too, and I’d rather not have this conversation here.”
“Then why have you been avoiding me?”
“I could ask you the same question. The phone works both ways.”
Silent tension fills the space. I never want to disrespect Chrissy, even if she is pissing me off.
“Fine, we can talk about this later,” I say as I stand.
“Okay.” Her tone turns meek, and I know I’m the bad guy in her eyes—as she is in mine.
“There you are,” Gwen chirps as she pops back into the room, completely unaware of the situation. “Chrissy, you’re not going to believe what Rome just did.”
“Oh?” She crosses her arms over her chest and quirks a brow in my direction.
She’s holding back. That girl wants to slam my face into the ground and smear it with gravel.
“He’s going to foster Korra!”
Chrissy side-eyes me, curiosity settling in her expression. “Really?”
“Yeah, I was about to take her home. Will you join me? So we can talk.”
Chrissy huffs and nods. “Okay, let’s go.”