“But, Joel, there are no guarantees. Not for you. Not for me. What she did was unfathomable, but do you really want to spend the rest of your life not trusting anyone enough to let them close? You deserve so much more. And I do too.”

A knock at the door breaks the moment and Katrina goes to answer it while I stand and try to erase all the emotions Kitty has brought out in me. I gotta get out of here. I move to the door and the man walking inside eyes me carefully. Katrina looks between us.

“Victor, this is Joel. Joel, this is Christian’s father, Victor.”

Christian cries out and Katrina steps toward his room. “I’ll be right back.”

I offer my hand to Victor. “It’s good to meet you. You’ve got a great son.”

“Yeah, I do,” he says, not letting go of my hand past the point of polite. I release, letting him have the upper hand.

“Well, I should get going.” I motion in the direction Katrina went. “Tell them I said goodbye.”

“Sure, man.”

I step toward the door and then turn back. “Take care of them. And, uh, I know it’s not my place, but Katrina is the type of girl who won’t ask for help even when she needs it. And she needs it – they need you. You should have been here already, but you know that.”

Knowing I’ve overstepped my boundaries, I give him a curt nod and leave.

37

KATRINA

All of campus is talking about the game tonight. Blue and yellow floods University Hall. The café has been busy, students and professors alike getting their caffeine in anticipation to a late night watching the first round of the tournament.

One week. Seven days. Long, excruciatingly empty days without Joel. He hasn’t texted, not that I expected him to. The fantasy is officially over.

It’s the first Thursday, outside of holidays and school breaks, that Joel has missed, and I can’t help but wonder if he’d have come even if he weren’t in Salt Lake City.

Gabby appears at the back of the line and waves. I’m so happy to see her I focus and get the four orders in front of her done quickly.

“Hey!” I say when she’s finally at the counter. “What are you doing here?”

She’s not taking classes on campus, so her presence means she’s come to see me.

“I wanted to invite you to The Hideout tonight. It’s my first night working all on my own and Blair, Vanessa, and some of the baseball guys are coming to watch the game.” She looks at me hopefully. “And for moral support. Please? I need at least one table that I know won’t yell at me.”

Gabby has a way of pulling smiles from people without even meaning to and I feel the first crack of a real honest to God smile since Joel broke my heart.

“Of course, I’ll be there. Christian is with Victor this weekend.”