CHAPTER 16
CARTER
There is something about domestic bliss that just puts a pep in my step and has me skipping into work.
This weekend is proof of that. Friday night, after his shift at the center, Roman met me and the guys for a few beers at JACKS. He was hesitant at first about going back there but quickly decided that he wasn’t going to let a few assholes prevent him from living his life and now he walks in with his head held high. It’s sexy as fuck watching his confidence grow and flourish around my friends. His relationship with Ryan though is a thing of beauty.
We spent Saturday taking the dogs to the dog park with Ryan and Drew, watching Hulk, Thor and Loki recreate a scene from End Game like proud papas. Then heading to lunch and laughing with them about stories from their childhood. It’s obvious that they were close growing up and Ryan idolized his big brother. It’s easy to understand why Ryan was so hurt that Roman cut him off from his life when he was in prison. Which makes their reconciliation even more incredible to watch.
Sunday we invited Mama Joyce to come up to our place for lunch. I’ve met her many times before, as Ryan’s bestest bestie, but meeting her now as Roman’s inevitable husband made me kind of nervous. Not that I told her my plans for us to get married next year, but we held hands on the couch and he kissed my head to thank me for cooking lunch. The soft smile on her face watching us together felt like she was accepting me and our relationship, as new as it is.
So I guess it's no wonder there is a little extra sway to my hips as I set up my station for my first client. The bell above the door has me pulling my earpods out and straightening up, assuming it’s my client, but when I approach the desk I see the guy from last week, the mathematical tattoo guy.
“Hey, man, are you here to see Nyx?” I ask as she rounds the corner and offers her hand for him to shake. Nyx is one of those women that are so uniquely beautiful that it often takes guys a second to register that she will be the one to touch them. Her black hair is shaved on one side to show off the flower vine tattoo on her head. I mean that should say it all. The girl got her skull tattooed and rocks the shit out of it.
“You must be Terry. It's great to finally meet you, I’m excited to get started.” I bristle at that name but quickly control my snarling lip. It’s not that guy’s fault his name elicits a vicious response from me. I wave at them both and step back letting them get to know each other. Tattooing somebody is a very personal thing. There needs to be a high level of trust, so they don't need me hanging around them while they build it.
“So you're a math teacher right? High school kids are feral, if you can handle them you can certainly handle a few hours under the needle.” Now that has me skidding to a stop and whirling around to face them again. This town is too fucking small for there to be two math teachers named Terry. I feel a rage ignite inside me like I've never experienced before.
“Hey, buddy, what did you say your last name was?” I ask, using every bit of control I have in my body to keep myself in check until I can confirm this is the same guy who fucking ruined Roman’s life. He looks at me a little unsure but answers my question anyway.
“Um, Hobbs.” He shrugs and smiles awkwardly, playing that nervous card that I had found adorable the last time he was here. I sat beside this fucking asshole and reassured him. I’m not sure I could have controlled my fist if I tried. I may look like a brute but I'm not a fighter by nature. Everybody knows that, but what this guy did to Roman has a side of me I never knew existed, bursting to the forefront as I slam my fist into his face.
Everything sounds like it's underwater. I can hear my friends yelling at me and Terry coughing out a plea for me to stop as I kneel over him pounding my fist over and over against his body until all the sounds around me are drowned out by the beating of my heart. Maybe I blacked out or something because it's not until Gavin and Ryan are pinning me to the floor while Pete sits on my chest begging me to calm down, that my breathing evens out, and the reality of what I did hits me. It was like a red mist descended and I just lost my shit.
“Please, Carter, calm down, what the fuck happened? You realize that guy will call the cops on you, man,” Ryan says, letting go of my arm now that Hobbs is gone, so is Nyx. She probably took him to the emergency room. Scrubbing my hand down my face, I feel wetness. I didn’t even realize I was crying. “Why the fuck did you attack that guy? What the hell has gotten into you?” Ryan yells at me as he paces in front of me. I get it, he’s worried, he just got his brother back and now I’ve gone and done something that could get me locked up. I’m not sorry about it though.
“That was Terry. Fucking Terry,” I say, holding his gaze, hoping that he connects the dots. I watch as his face morphs from confusion to anger. I’m not the only one to notice it because Pete quickly jumps up and grabs his arms.
“No, Ry. Don’t fucking do it. I called Drew. He’s on the way. He’s bringing a lawyer from his firm for Carter. I need you to keep it together until he gets here.” Hearing the nerves and the panic in his voice has me keeping my ass on the floor. I may as well sit here until the cops come to arrest me. At least this time he doesn't need to lie about who beat his ass.
ROMAN
My Monday starts like any other. I arrive at the center at six a.m. as usual. I pop in my earpods and get to work. The routine soothes my soul and keeps me calm. The hours fly by and before I realize it the doors are opening but to my shock it's James that comes inside. Taking my earpods out I smile at him. “Hey, man, you’re early today,” I say, stepping up to him thinking maybe this is the time to grab him for a coffee. I try not to take offense when his entire body tenses up as I approach. His eyes seem to dart around like he is looking for the closest exit.
“Oh, uh, yeah. Derek called me, he isn’t feeling good so I needed to open up this morning.” He can’t even meet my gaze when he talks to me.
“James, can I ask if everything is ok? I understand if me working here makes you uncomfortable given my past but I just want you to know that I would never hurt you or anybody else. You’re from around here so I’m sure you’ve heard rumors about me, but that's all in my past. I just want to move on with my life, you know?” The silence that follows my words is so loud that it has me taking a step back and sighing. I can’t control how others react to me, I can’t expect everybody to be cool with my past. I’ve said my piece and can only hope that in time he can feel more comfortable around me. “Okay, well you have a great day.” I lift a hand and start to walk away. I feel deflated, maybe I should visit Carter at the shop before heading home. If anything can shift my mood he can. I’ll even stop and grab the guys some coffee and donuts.
My steps falter when I hear sniffling behind me. Turning to check on James I’m shocked to see tears falling freely down his face. I rush toward him with my hands up so he knows I’m not trying to hurt him. “Jesus, James. What's wrong? What do you need? Let me help you.” Dropping to my knees in front of him I try to encourage him to sit with me so we can get his breathing under control. The guy is hyperventilating.
His body practically crumples to the floor but he scrambles away from me, pushing his hands into his hair and shaking his head. He's muttering something under his breath and I’m starting to kinda freak out. I don’t know what to do. Maybe I should call Derek and find out who his emergency contact is, what if he’s struggling to breathe? Not wanting to get closer to him and freak him out more I stay back but stay at his level on the floor.
“I’m going to call 911 okay? Try to take a few deep breaths.” His hand flies up to grip my forearm and he shakes his head again, trying to suck in air.
“No, just… just… I’m so fucking sorry, Roman. I was a fucked-up kid. He fed me so much bullshit. Then I found out about you and lost it. I didn’t know any better. I’m so fucking sorry.” His hands are back in his hair as he rocks back and forth. I have no idea what he's talking about. Why is he saying sorry to me? Who fed him bullshit? I keep staring at him, listening to him continue to beg for my forgiveness and then it hits me.
“The prosecution calls James Chesterfield to the stand. Please raise your right hand Mr. Chesterfield. Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?”
“I do.”
“Mr. Chesterfield, can you please recount the events that you witnessed on September 13th 2008?” He shifts on his seat before clearing his throat and leaning forward to the mic.
I watch this kid who I have never seen before in my life weave a story that just isn’t true. By the time he steps down from the witness stand I know my fate is sealed.
This time I am the one scrambling away from him, not for my safety but for his. I can’t offer comfort to him now and even though I’m struggling to draw in a full breath, I’m not about to mince my words. I have waited a long fucking time to face this guy.
“Why? Why would you lie? Your bullshit testimony had me convicted of second-degree felony aggravated assault. I spent fifteen years in prison because of you.” I manage to keep my voice down and my tone even. The last thing I need is to catch another charge while on probation. As much as I want to lose my shit on this guy, I can’t afford to.
Me keeping my distance and keeping my cool seems to have calmed him down. We are both sitting on the floor at the entrance of the center with six feet of space and thick tension between us. I give him a moment to wipe off his face and get his words right. A part of me can appreciate that this has to be hard for him to admit, but the rest of me doesn’t give a fuck how hard it is for him. This guy ruined my whole life, he ruined my family's life and I’m not going to just let him off the hook so easily.
The loud ringing of my phone breaks the silence and I curse under my breath, prepared to silence it, but seeing my brother's name has me putting the phone to my ear.
“Ry? Is everythi—” He cuts off my question and his words have me forgetting all about James Chesterfield.
“Carter’s been arrested.”