Chapter 19
Only a few days go by before I’m traveling to the prison. Javier put my name on the approved list, and my credentials have been verified. The fact that I’m on sabbatical remains unknown to them, though it wouldn’t matter, as I’m still ordained.
With my collar around my neck, I follow procedure and listen to the rules and regulations before I’m being escorted to a nearby room dedicated for clergy members to meet with prisoners.
The room is small, the walls stark white. A rounded table sits in the middle, with four round stools each connected by a curved, stainless steel pipe. Everything is bolted to the concrete floor, and the room is stripped of anything that could be used as a weapon.
“I’ll be right back,” the guard tells me.
I nod and take a seat on one of the stools that faces the heavy door with a window in it. I put the Bible down on the table and wait nearly ten minutes before I hear the crank of the lock unlatching.
Lifting my head, I watch as the guard brings in Javier. He’s wearing a navy blue shirt with buttons down the middle, and matching pants. His socked feet are in a pair of rubber-looking sandals, and his wrists are cuffed in front of him.
His lips quirk at the sight of me, but his eyes drink me in in a way that makes me want to squirm.
The guard moves in front of Javier and uncuffs him. “I’ll be outside the door. You have thirty minutes.”
“Thanks, Geno.”
Javier slowly makes his way to the stool next to me, sitting down just as the door closes. He watches me for several uncomfortable seconds before I nervously reach for the Bible.
“They must trust you,” I say.
“Why do you say that?”
“You’re uncuffed.”
“Do you think I’d hurt you?” When my eyes flicker up to his, he grins. “Outside of how you want to be, I mean.”
Flustered, I sit up straight and gaze around the room.
“No cameras in here. This is confidential. Just a sinner looking for guidance from his priest.”
“I see.” I catch a glimpse of the guard at the window in the door, so I open the Bible to at least appear like I’m doing my job. “Why are you here?”
“I told you. A scuffle.”
“You got thrown in jail for a little fight?”
“There may have been a weapon involved.”
I shake my head. “And I’m here…why?”
“You tell me,” he says with a smirk.
“Maybe you actually do need guidance.”
He scoffs, but after a few seconds he says, “I didn’t want you to think I just up and disappeared after our night together.” The smile he sends me is wicked. “But I didn’t have privileges right away because I got in a little trouble as soon as I got here.”
I shake my head. “I wasn’t necessarily looking forward to seeing you again.”
“I think that’s what you want me to believe. What you want yourself to believe.” He shifts slightly, his foot sliding across the floor as his leg brushes against mine.
“It was true…at first. I had started to wonder why you hadn’t popped up again.”
“Are you ashamed? Is that why you’re taking leave from the church? You don’t think you can do your job if you get pleasure from another man?”
“I know I could, but it’s the rules.”
He makes a clicking sound with his tongue. “Rules make everything a little less fun, don’t you think? Breaking rules, however, now that’s fun.”
“Says the man in jail.”
He shrugs. “It’s not too bad.”
I let the silence stretch between us before I ask again, “Why am I here?”
“You want to see me,” he says plainly.
I don’t bother disagreeing. “Yes, but why did you invite me? You could’ve told me over the phone that you got arrested shortly after…”
“Our night,” he finishes.
“But you wanted me to come out here.”
He sighs. “Carlo, most people don’t know why I do the things I do, and sometimes I’m one of them.”
“I also think you could be a liar.”
He smiles. “I am. But so are you. So are a lot of people.”
With an exhale, I say, “Yeah, well.”
“How long are you on this sabbatical?”
“I’ve got several months.”
He nods. “I’d like for you to come back.”
“When?”
“I can get daily visits from a priest. They don’t count toward my two per week limit.”
“And what am I coming back for?”
Javier grins. “To get to know me.”
“I think I know enough to know I shouldn’t come back.”
“Yeah, but regardless, you will.”
“How’d you get my number?” I question, hoping for a real answer.
“I’ve had it for a while. I called the church, gave someone there some made-up story about needing your number for counsel. Claimed it was an emergency.”
“And they just gave it to you?”
“I’m pretty charming.”
He sends me a smile that warms my cheeks.
“And you memorized it?”
He shrugs. “I have a good memory.”
The door opens with a loud clank. “All right, time's up.”
Javier stands, and I follow suit. “Thank you, Father,” he says, opening his arms.
I glance at the guard who doesn’t move to put a stop to this goodbye hug, and stiffly wrap my arms around him.
Javier whispers in my ear, “I can’t stop thinking about the way you sound when you come.” He backs away quickly, giving me a wink. “Same time tomorrow?”
I barely nod before the guard is turning him and cuffing his wrists together.