22. Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Two
Cameron
“You did ... what? ” Dad doesn’t hold back over the phone, and I can’t blame him. I know I messed up—well, sort of, anyway. “I don’t understand. You’re supposed to be getting help there...”
“I don’t need help,” I growl, my eyes flickering to the door. “I know that I can be a hothead sometimes, but I’m not the kind of guy who starts random fights. And I’m definitely not the kind of person who needs anger management therapy.”
“I know that.” He sighs. “But what happened, Cam?”
I explain the situation to him, ending with, “I had to finish it, Dad. I had to. I can’t just stand by and let someone talk to her like that. He took a swing at me, and I swung back. I just didn’t miss.”
“I would’ve done the same if I had been in your shoes.” He chuckles and then groans. “But you’re under a lot of scrutiny right now. Is this gonna get out?”
“I don’t think so. I don’t know. I’m more worried about the way Nila reacted. She’s mad at me, and I get it ... kind of. I mean, she thinks I should’ve let the staff handle it, but...”
“Maybe she’s more concerned about her own reputation?”
“Maybe,” I grunt, rubbing my forehead. “I just needed to talk to someone on the outside. My relationship is so freaking complicated with Nila—I’m falling for her, but there’s so much hesitance on her end. I think she’s worried about the fact we work together—but her contract won’t last forever. And I really care about her...”
“Falling in love, huh?” Dad’s words nearly knock the breath out of me.
“I—I think so, yeah.”
“Why the hesitation, son?”
“I’ve just never told anyone I love them before…”
“Maybe that’s the reason why your previous relationships never worked out—you didn’t love them.”
My eyes shift to the window, peering through the open blinds. “I guess, but I don’t know if it’s possible for someone to fall in love this fast...” The sun casts a sparkle across the windowpane, and I wish more than anything that I could be out there instead of in here.
“There’s no time frame on love, Cam. But also, you’ve known her for a little while. I don’t think it’s crazy to think that the two of you have a new love blossoming.”
I frown. “That sounds weird.”
“Yeah, well, I guess I might be falling on the love train, too...” His voice trails off in a way that makes me stop my own chaotic thoughts.
“Wait, are you talking about that woman you started seeing?”
He hesitates. “Yeah. I think it’s actually going somewhere.”
“Well, at least one of us has it figured out,” I mutter, letting out a frustrated breath. “I’m happy for you though, I really am.”
“Thanks, son,” he says. “But for the record, I understand what you did on the field today. When you care about someone, you stand up for them. I don’t think you did anything wrong, but I don’t know that I’m the best guy to talk to about that. You got your hothead streak from me. Your mother could’ve told you plenty of stories.”
“I’m pretty sure she did tell me a few.” I laugh, my heart panging with grief. “You’ve calmed down.”
“Old age will do that to ya,” he jokes. “But just see what you can do to settle it there and prevent the guy from pressing charges. Hopefully, it’s the kind of place where what happens there stays there—like Las Vegas. ”
“Oh boy, okay.” I laugh. “Thanks for the pep talk.”
We hang up, and I sit for a few moments longer. I don’t want to get up and go get Dr. Shadid. I don’t want to listen to his spiels that feel more like riddles than actual help to process anything.
I know why I got mad. I know why I reacted, and if I could go back...
I still would’ve stood up for Nila, but … maybe I could’ve kept my distance from Samuel. It would’ve prevented him from being able to swing at me. Considering the alternate scenario, I stand to my feet and walk to the door. As soon as I open it, I catch sight of Dr. Shadid leaning against the wall outside.
He looks up from his phone and gives me a smile. “You feel better?”
“I guess.” I shrug, stepping back as Dr. Shadid enters the office. “I guess I could’ve handled the situation differently.”
“How so?”
I explain what I just thought of as I sit back down in the chair. “I think that keeping some space would’ve been the better solution, and maybe it would’ve avoided Samuel lashing out.”
Dr. Shadid nods. “Maybe. Maybe not. That’s the thing, there’s no way to really know how he would’ve reacted. He still might’ve gotten angry enough to swing at you, anyway. Then you would’ve still defended yourself. And we’d still be sitting here right now.”
I snort, shaking my head. “Well, okay then. ”
“In a few minutes, Samuel and Jefferson, our attorney here, will be joining us. Do you feel like you can handle the meeting?”
“Sure.”
“Okay.” He smiles and then starts clicking on his computer. “I talked with Nila.”
“Oh?” That piques my curiosity. “Did she say anything about me?”
“I can’t talk about specifics with you, Cameron.” His eyes dart over to me as his fingers continue to pound the keyboard. “But I think she’ll come around.”
“Okay...”
“Just one more thing.” He stops typing and holds my gaze.
“Yes?”
“If it were someone else that fell into Samuel, what would you have done?”
I purse my lips, trying to picture the scenario. “I don’t know. Probably nothing—unless it got physical. I’m never going to stand on the sidelines in the middle of something like that.”
He nods and, without a word, goes right back to typing.
I sit there in the chair, twiddling my thumbs and waiting. Part of me wants to get up and leave. I mean, can’t they just come find me when they’re ready? It won’t be long and I’ll be able to use my phone—and I fully intend to check up on the team. There’s only a couple more games left in the season...
And I’m still hoping to be home in time for them .
Of course, that would mean an early release—and I think the chances of that are slim to none now.
I distract myself by pouring over the bookshelf, trying to read the titles from where I’m sitting. I’m halfway in the middle of the third shelf when a knock sounds on the door.
“Come in,” Dr. Shadid says.
My gaze drifts over as the door swings open. In walks Samuel, his nose bandaged, and another man in a suit. I don’t recognize him, but he looks like he’s the kind of guy who’s never broken a rule in his entire life.
And that’s no fun.
Even my lawyer, Tucker, has a little life to him.
“Well, here they are.” Tina shuts all of us into the room, and for the first time since I got here, I start to feel like Dr. Shadid’s office is a little too cramped.
Samuel grunts as he plops down in the seat beside me and then eyes me, his expression difficult to read. “I just want to apologize.”
My brows shoot up in surprise. “What?”
“Yeah, I apologize. I shouldn’t have lost my cool like that—not over someone tripping. I get really competitive, and that was just ... yeah. It was bad,” he grumbles, his cheeks reddening. “I have a lot of work to do on bettering myself, and you did what anyone would’ve done in that situation.”
“Well, I probably could’ve backed off,” I admit, my eyes jumping between everyone. The attorney—Jefferson or whatever—looks completely unamused by the entire situation. In fact, he doesn’t even appear to be listening to anyone in the room as he zones out on his black binder in his lap.
“I think you did the honorable thing,” Samuel says with a shrug. “And honestly, I hope you’re alright with this being swept under the rug. I can’t have this get out—”
“What happens here stays here,” Jefferson’s sharp voice cuts in. “That’s part of the policy here. We handle incidents privately as much as we possibly can. If there’s no great bodily injury, we move on.”
“Okay then,” Samuel grunts, rolling his eyes.
I almost laugh at the expression but manage to stifle it. “So what? Do we just sign NDAs and move on?”
“Who have you told about the incident?” Jefferson looks at me. “We were told you made a phone call.”
“My dad. I was just talking to my dad, but he’s not going to say anything. It could mess up my reputation if it gets out. I’m already in a lot of hot water...”
“Yeah, we’re aware,” Jefferson scoffs.
“Just rumors,” I snap, my jaw growing taut. “My ex-girlfriend just wanted—”
“We don’t care,” Jefferson cuts me off. “We just want to settle this matter and move on. I’ll need your father’s contact information so I can send over the NDA. He’ll need to sign one just like Samuel’ s wife did.”
“She was not happy with me.” Samuel’s eyes drop to his hands. “Not a good phone call to have to make.”
“I know the feeling,” I mutter, feeling a pang of sympathy for him, albeit not much.
Jefferson pulls out two NDAs, passing them to each of us. Dr. Shadid hands us each a pen, and we do our due diligence by signing and dating them. It feels almost wrong, but I don’t argue. I’m just freaking relieved that this is going to go away—and I don’t have to listen to my PR team gripe about it.
“I’ll take those,” Jefferson mumbles as we hand them back to him. He stuffs them in his binder and then turns to Dr. Shadid. “My work here is done.”
“I’ll see you out,” Tina chirps to Jefferson, heading for the door. She opens it and the two of them disappear from the room.
“Well, you two.” Dr. Shadid’s eyes bounce between us. “Have we made amends? Is there anything else you’d like to say to each other?”
Samuel and I exchange a glance, and I shrug. “I don’t know. I’m sorry that I didn’t back off, but I’m not sorry for standing up for Nila.”
“I’d have done the same if it were my wife,” Samuel tells me, his smile soft and eyes sad. “Anger is a pain and has been more of a crutch to me than I’d like to admit, but I’m trying to get better. ”
I nod. “I’m trying to get better, too. I’ve just ... well, ever since I lost my mom, I feel the fierce need to protect the people I care about, and sometimes … I guess I rely on unconventional ways to do that.”
I pause at the realization.
Maybe Dr. Shadid’s methods do work…
“That’s a great observation,” Dr. Shadid says, giving me his usual terse smile. “Maybe you can work on thinking before you act. Although I have to say, in the case where someone else starts the fight, I do think you have the right to defend yourself.”
I nod, feeling a little relieved.
Now I just have to make things right with Nila.