Someone Like You (10 page)

“Even if it isn’t for football?”

“Yeah, of course.”

“I thought you wouldn’t like me if I didn’t play football.”

Nick’s heart twisted in his chest. “Then you were wrong. We’ll still hang out. We can go to the shelter every week together. See each other all the time.”

Matt’s grip on the gun slackened. Should he grab for it? Somehow he knew not to.

“You’d come back to the shelter with me?”

“And more. I already signed up to volunteer there. But I didn’t have a chance to tell you.”

Tears seeped out, coursed down Matt’s cheeks. “No offense, Coach, it all sounds so good now, but this stuff…” he waved the gun around “…will start again once I’m back home.”

“How old are you, Matt?”

“Eighteen.”

“An adult according to the law. You don’t have to live with your father.”

“Where would I go?”

“You can live with me until you head off to school. And when you come back home for visits and breaks. The lake’s great in the summer.”

“You’re just saying that so I’ll give you the gun.”

“Have I ever lied to you, son? Betrayed a confidence. Anything?”

“Mrs. Gorman told the principal? Not you.”

It killed him to say it, but he did. “Yeah. She was acting on what she thought was right, though. She cares about you, too, and is feeling really bad you ran away because of something she did.”

“Why does she care about me, Coach? Why do you?”

“Because you’re worth caring about, Matt.”

The tears gushed out now.

“And because I care, I swear to God you’ll have alternatives to going back to your father, if that’s what you want.”

The boy leaned against the couch and closed his eyes. “I’m so tired.”

“I know you are, kid. Give me the gun and you can go to sleep right here for a while.”

Slowly, Matt let go of the gun.

Just as slowly, Nick reached out and pushed it beyond Matt’s reach. Then he grabbed the boy into a stronghold and held him tight against his chest.

Chapter 8

After calling Rich Barton, Nick took Matt directly to the therapist’s office. He sat in the waiting room, having promised not to leave the boy. But now that the immediate danger was over, his mind freed up from the deadly worry, Nick started to think about Brie again.

Oh, my God, are you keeping this quiet so he can play football?

He’d been leveled by her words, by the fact that she saw him as the kind of stupid jock who’d risk a boy’s life to win a few games. He wouldn’t have been surprised if the accusation came months ago—when she didn’t like him, didn’t really know him. But after the last few weeks, she knew what kind of a person he was and she sure as hell seemed to like him, in bed at least.

Still, she thought he’d be capable of that kind of behavior.

For an hour, similar thoughts about her and a million recriminations about Matt plagued him. Then, the door to the office opened.

In walked Dylan, Annie, and what the hell, hadn’t she gotten the message that he didn’t want to see her? Couldn’t bear to see her?

Dylan sat down on a chair opposite Nick. “We wanted to wait with you, see how Matt is.”

Annie stood next to him, and Brie hovered in the background. He couldn’t even look at her.

“You did good talking him down, Nick.” Dylan’s tone was forceful. “I’m not sure I could have, anyone could have who wasn’t so close to him. He believed you’d stick by him because you’d gained his trust.”

Despite Brie’s presence, Nick let out some of the emotion that had been building inside him during the long day. “It was like findin’ your way in a snowstorm. I had no idea what I was doing.”

“You went on your gut,” Dylan told him. “That’s the right thing to do in most cases.”

“I hope so.  Least he’s safe for now.”

But Nick still didn’t know if the boy could be trusted to not harm himself tonight, tomorrow, in a week? How was
that
going to be dealt with?

Brie crossed to him. “Nick, I’m so sorry.”

“I can’t talk to you,” he said.

“All right.” She went to the other side of the room.

Another hour passed with inane small talk breaking the silence, then the door opened again and two cops came in with the mayor. Oh, great.

Keller’s expression was so cold, it chilled even Nick. What could it do a young, vulnerable boy?

Keller took the lead. “I understand my son is here.”

“How’d you know?” Nick asked.

“Rich Barton called me. At least someone has the good sense to alert the person responsible for Matt.”

“About that,” Dylan began.

But the mayor turned to the cops and gestured to Nick. “I want this man arrested.”

One, the older guy, stepped forward. “Coach Corelli, could you come down to the station so we can talk to you?”

“Now?” He glanced back at the door. “What about Matt?”

“I’ll wait for my son.” To the cops, Keller warned, “I’m not happy with how you’re handling this.”

Nick tensed. He’d made Matt a promise not to leave him. Thankfully, the inner office’s door opened and out stepped Matt and Rich. Matt looked exhausted, as if he’d run laps for an hour. When he saw his father, he eased back behind Rich. That little gesture spoke of so much fear, Nick decided he wouldn’t go to the police station unless they dragged him out of here in handcuffs.

“Come with me, young man,” the mayor said.

Matt’s gaze flew to Nick.

Moving to the boy, Nick put a hand on his shoulder. “He’s not going home. He’s staying with me.”

“That’s ridiculous. I’m his father and he’ll come with me.”

Rich stepped forward. “Actually, he’s not going with either of you. He’s being admitted to the mental health ward at Center City Hospital, which is why he agreed to let me call you, Mayor. All the arrangements are made. He’ll be on suicide watch there. He plans to stay as long as he needs to.”

The mayor’s face reddened. “I won’t stand for this.”

“You don’t have any choice, Mr. Keller. Matt’s eighteen and has made this decision for himself.”

The sheriff joined them. “You’re son’s eighteen, Mr. Mayor?”

“Yes.”

“Then this is a moot point. Matt’s legally an adult. He can do what he wants.” The sheriff seemed relieved. “And Coach Corelli is off the hook, too. With eighteen year old students, the school can’t notify parents without the young man’s permission.”

“The hell with this.”  The mayor crossed to Matt. “I order you to come home with me!”

Tears welled in Matt’s eyes. “I can’t, Dad. I need help.”

The mayor didn’t respond.

“Would…would you come with me to the hospital?” Matt pleaded.

“I’ll do no such thing.”

Visibly Matt deflated.

Nick slid his arm around the boy’s shoulder. “I’ll go to the hospital with you, Matt. Get you settled. Stay a while.”

“I won’t pay the bill,” the Mayor threatened.

“Don’t worry about that now,” Nick told Matt. “Let’s get you some help.”

The mayor stalked out, and Matt turned his face into Nick’s chest. “How can I go now? I don’t have any money.”

“I do,” Nick said. “I’ll take care of everything, buddy.”

Rich and Nick flanked the boy and the others followed them out of the office.

o0o

Brie awoke when she heard the garage door open. She’d fallen asleep on Nick’s couch in the great room of his house, waiting for him to come home. Footsteps then the jingle of his keys. Rising, she made her way to the kitchen.

“Hello, Nick.”

His face was nearly gray with fatigue. He still wore the black sweat suit he’d thrown on at school, and his shoulders slumped inside it. “What the hell are you doing here? How’d you get in?”

“You told me where you hid a spare key.”

“Yeah, well that was when I wanted you in my house.”

“I know you’d rather not see me.”

“You got that right, lady.”  He went to the fridge, yanked out a beer, and popped the top. Sitting on a stool at the center island, he took a long swig. “So, if you know I can’t stand the sight of you, why are you here?”

“To apologize.”

“For going to Dylan about Matt instead of trusting me?”

“Um, no. I still think I was right to do that. I’m apologizing for saying you might have kept Matt’s problems to yourself so he could play football.”

Nick gave her an icy glare.

“I’m sorry I said that. I have no idea where it came from and I didn’t mean it.”

“That’s the thing about knee jerk reactions, Gabrielle. They show what people are feelin’ way down deep. You really think I’m the kind of person who would sacrifice a kid’s welfare for my own gain.”

“No, I don’t. I think you’re a wonderful man. You saved Matt’s life going on gut instinct. It doesn’t matter if we disagree on how you should have handled what he told you.”

“Are you for real?”

“What do you mean?”

“It certainly does matter. You’re responsible for Matt going to the hunting cabin, getting a gun and putting it in his mouth.”

The graphic image stunned her. “I…I…he was suicidal
before
I told Dylan, wasn’t he? Otherwise, he wouldn’t be in the hospital now.”

“You aren’t to blame for his condition. But you were the one who pushed him over the edge when you reported what he was doin’. And you don’t even regret your actions. I could never be involved with someone like you now.” He took a swig of his beer, cracked it down on the counter and stood. “Let yourself out. It’s been a rough day and I’m dead on my feet.”

“Nick, please. Don’t do this.”

“It’s already done. Goodbye, Gabrielle. Have a nice life.”

o0o

“Aren’t you having fun?” Annie asked, holding up yet another dress for Brie to try on. They were shopping for what Brie would wear to Annie’s wedding. “I was hoping this would cheer you up.”

“I’m fine. I don’t need cheering up.”

“You’re miserable and lying to your best friend about it.”

Brie sighed. “All right, I’m unhappy about not seeing Nick anymore. It’s silly because we only had a few weeks together.”

“You connected. In bed and out.”

“Don’t mention that. I still dream about us together.”

It had been two weeks since Nick had asked her to leave his house and he hadn’t spoken to her once. It wasn’t as if avoided her—whenever they saw each other in the hall, or at a meeting, he looked right through her. And if she caught sight of him on his deck or in his yard, he pretended she wasn’t even outside, thirty yards away.

“See, you do miss him.”

“Of course I miss him. But he was very clear he’s done with me. I made a mistake, I reacted badly to how he handled the situation with Matt, but he won’t forgive me. End of story.”

“What about the dreams?”

“They’ll go away. Eventually.” 

Annie shrugged. “Fine, if you’re too chicken to go after what you want…”

“I did that once with him. It didn’t work out.”

“Maybe he needs time.”

Brie stopped searching through the racks. “Annie, he accused me of pushing Matt over the edge, of putting him in danger of committing suicide.”

“What? That’s stupid. A whole host of things led up to Matt’s actions.”

“I’m trying to believe that. But Nick never will. So can we please not talk about him anymore?”

“Yes, I guess.”

“I’ll try the mauve one on.”

“A good choice. It’ll go well with your coloring.”

o0o

Nick played like the Furies were after him. The school had built two racquetball courts off the gym proper with a specified endowment by a fitness nut who’d gone to Crystal Corners High School years ago and made a lot of money as an adult. Nick had used them before, but never this viscously, and rarely alone.

Every time he whacked one of the blue rubber balls he’d collected in a bucket, he let off a little steam, got rid of some of the tension and resentment that had built up inside him for weeks.“This one’s for you, Mr. Fucking Mayor,” he spat out as he smashed the ball forward into the wall.

Even after all that had happened, the mayor hadn’t budged. True to his word, the asshole refused to give his insurance information to pay for Matt’s two week stay in the hospital. Nick had offered to foot the bill, but since Matt was eighteen and could declare himself as an emancipated minor now, he qualified for assistance.

And true to
his
word, Nick had brought Matt home with him when the boy was ready to be released. Matt was indeed calmer, less anxious, but still extremely sad. He would see Rich three times a week and return to school tomorrow.

Nick picked up another ball and slammed it into the wall. “This one’s for losing our first game.”

Without Matt, the team had floundered. But then they’d rebounded and won the next game. He knew Matt’s welfare was more important than football but he was only human and in his heart of hearts Nick had wanted an undefeated season.

“And, this,” he said tossing yet another ball in the air, arcing back his arm and whipping it forward to send the sphere into the front wall, “is definitely for you, Gabrielle Gorman.”

For her and her beautiful violet eyes that, when he did get a glimpse of them, were almost as sad a Matt’s. Trying to outrun thoughts of her, he chased after the ball this time, managed to get to it and hit the thing again.

“That’s for your skinny skirts and blouses,” which still drove him wild, “and for the memories of us in bed together” which he couldn’t seem to forget no matter how hard he tried.

When he dove for the same ball, he rammed into the side of the court and pain shot up his shoulder. So he stopped, leaned against the wall and slid to the floor. “Damn it,” he said banging his racquet on the wood. “Damn it to hell.”

“Hey, watch that, will you? You’ll scrape our newly refinished floors.”

Dylan had come into the court and stood in the doorway. They’d become friends after sharing a traumatic experience together. They’d had a few beers now and again and talked about life, a lot like he and Jared used to do. Thank God, Dylan was agreeable not to bring up Brie.

“I waited until you were done.” In a suit and dress shoes, the man walked around the outside of the floor and over to Nick. He propped a shoulder against the wall. “You were playing pretty hard there.”