CHAPTER 18
CARTER
Jail is no fun. Well, technically it’s a holding cell but same thing right? It’s cold and gross and the bright lights serve only one purpose: to give people migraines. But, I don’t say a thing because I promised Officer Cooke that I wouldn’t make anything worse for myself. Brandon Cooke is a buddy of mine, he's been a client for a long time and I could tell he was shocked to see that it was me he was there to arrest. I already knew I was going to admit what I did and take full responsibility for my actions. There really isn't any excuse for me to act like a feral animal. I’m ashamed of myself but at the same time I don't regret ramming my fist into that asshole's face. I do regret putting my friends through this though. I never want them to think I can't control myself and I already know that Roman is going to blame himself.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Banks. My name is Eric Smith and I will be your get-out-of-jail-free card today.” Lifting my eyes from the filthy jail cell floor I look up through the bars and see a suave-looking character standing on the other side. My eyebrows raise as I sit up straighter.
“There is no way a public defender can afford a suit like that, my dude, I think you have the wrong cell.” I laugh, standing up to approach the guy and give him the respect I am sure he has earned in his career.
“You are correct. There are no public defenders shopping at Marc Jacobs, but regardless of that I am indeed here for you. Drew Cliffer is a very good friend so when he calls, I come.” Surely he can’t expect me to ignore that. He set himself up and even if I am in jail right now, I'm not not going to knock it out of the park.
“Damn, does Ryan know about that little arrangement? I can’t say I’ve ever had a call from Drew to know if his superpower works on everybody, I'm willing to try though.” I shrug, then beam as he bursts out laughing.
“I can see that it’s going to be fun working with you. Let's get you out of here and back home.”
My interview isn’t as bad or as long as I thought it would be. Eric is a fucking shark though. If I wasn’t already in love with Roman I would totally be hitting on him. Competence is hot as fuck. So is honesty. Which is why I tell as much of the truth as I can. There is no way I'm going to betray Roman’s trust by speaking for him about his story, so I just tell them that fucking Terry had hurt somebody I love in the past and when I saw him I saw red. I take full accountability.
Eric points out how I’ve never even had so much as a speeding ticket. How much work I do for the community and how the police officers themselves are able to provide character witnesses for me. He's damn impressive. The detective informs me of Terry’s injuries and I have to bite back my initial response which is ‘I should have hit the bastard harder.’ That would not help my case.
Thankfully, Eric seems confident that they can swing this as a misdemeanor given my clean record. My bail is set at a thousand dollars which I immediately agree to pay. I do not want to be here any longer than I have to.
“I owe you big time, man, don’t suppose you take ink as payment?” I offer and add a playful nudge. But joke’s on me as he undoes a cufflink and rolls up his shirt sleeve exposing an absolute badass realism piece of a World War II USS Missouri battleship. The details are immaculate, down to the very rivets on the hull. I need to meet the artist who did this.
“I have an idea for a pretty badass back piece if you are up to it?” he says, holding out his hand to shake on this deal.
“Hell yeah. Please tell me we are sticking to the war theme because realism is my specialty and I would be honored to add to this work.” Yeah, I am totally geeking out right now over this guy's tattoos when I should be more concerned by my current situation, but life is too short to pass up opportunities to make new friends and discuss great art.
“Absolutely we are. First though, let's get you out of here.” Slapping my back he exits the room to complete my paperwork and now all I can do is pace the small interview room and get my apology slash proclamation of love right in my head. Roman better be out there waiting for me.
Having the handcuffs removed and being led back out to the waiting area has me blowing out a nervous breath. I shocked my friends, not to mention Roman. He is bound to know by now that it was Terry I attacked and who knows how he feels about having that asshole back in his life, so to speak.
Officer Cooke opens the door to the waiting area for me and pats me on the back warning me to keep out of trouble until the judge signs off on community service. I thank him and step out, ready to be engulfed in hugs from all of my friends, instead I’m met with an empty room.
I don’t understand. Eric told me they were all here, that Roman was here. So where the hell is everybody? My shoulders drop and my chin rests on my chest for a few moments before I gather myself and turn to the doors to leave.
“Mr. Banks, I have your things here,” the lady behind the reception desk calls out to me holding up a clear ziplock bag with my phone and wallet. I barely even remember them taking that stuff off me. I reach out and smile softly at her, it's as much as I can muster. I really thought they would have waited for me. Shit, maybe they just stayed to give their statements then left because they don’t want to be associated with me. My chest constricts and I absentmindedly rub at it.
“Oh, your attorney asked that I inform you he has stepped into another interview with…” She starts sifting through the paperwork. “Ronan Hillside.” My brows furrow for a moment and I just stare at her in confusion before it hits me.
“Do you mean Roman Hilson?” Surely not, why would Roman be giving a statement when he wasn't there. I take out my phone to try and call Ryan but of course the battery is dead.
Dropping down into one of the plastic chairs in the waiting room and laying my head back on the wall behind me, I close my eyes trying to process everything that has happened today. I know I am always the positive one. I purposely try to find the silver lining in every cloud. At this moment right now, I don’t have it in me. I’ve let everybody down. I keep thinking that if I reacted differently I wouldn’t have to wonder if I still have any friends left. Regrets creep in on me at that thought but then I remember the look in Roman’s eyes when he told me what happened and I know that there was no other way. I will always stand up for him. Maybe he didn’t have anyone back then but he sure has me now.
My name being called by several different people has my eyes springing open and my hands wiping traitorous tears as I stand up in shock. I have to blink a few times to make sure that I’m not imagining things. They came back. All of them.
Pete is the first to reach me, throwing himself at me and burying his face in my chest. I’m almost knocked off my feet when Ryan barrels into my side throwing his arms around me and trapping me in place. Nyx’s arms slide around my waist and Gavin's hand lands heavy on my shoulder. Sobs wrack my body as I allow my friends to hold me up and let all the tension go.
“We got you, Car-Car,” Pete mumbles against my chest and rubs my back. Movement out of the corner of my eye draws my attention to the door as Drew walks in carrying multiple pizza boxes and a bag of drinks. I watch him hand a pizza box over to the cops behind the desk before joining us.
“If we are gonna hang out here for a while we need food.” Drew smiles, offering me an encouraging nod as we all break apart and settle back onto the chairs to wait for Roman. I still have no idea what is happening with him. I want to ask the group but at the same time I don’t want to bring anything up that might make the guys question what I did to Terry and how it relates to Roman. So I say nothing and silently thank these guys for not asking any questions. I make eye contact with Ryan a few times, sure that he is feeling even more nervous than I am with this whole thing. This is his brother. They have only just got to a place of peace and forgiveness together. He gives nothing away, just offers me a reassuring smile. I cling to the hope that means everything is okay.
As the hours pass and the sun starts to come up, energies wane and one by one everyone starts to fall asleep. Both Ryan and I have told them numerous times that they can go home but they aren’t hearing it and I know that we both appreciate it so much.
When the interview room door finally opens around seven a.m. and an exhausted Roman steps out, followed by Eric and a guy I don’t know, I jump up and run to him. I wrap myself around him as he picks me up off the floor, pressing his face into my neck, breathing me in.
I have so many questions but right now is not the time for words.