Right then, Josh looks over at us and smiles. He winks at me before turning back to Trevor, and I chance a look over at Lacy. She’s giving me an I told you so look, and we both bust out laughing.
“What’s so funny?” Josh asks, and I just shrug my shoulders.
“Nothing.”
Josh
Trevor is an amazing young man. I am deeply honored that he wanted to spend time with me. That little kid has gone through more than any person should in a lifetime, and he’s still a great kid that laughs, has fun, and is amazingly protective of his mom.
While Lacy and Violet are talking, I ask Trevor, “So you’re feeling better? That’s good. I bet you were sick of being in the hospital.”
He looks over at his mom and back to me. “I was. But I was more worried about my mom than anything. I could tell it killed her seeing me that way. She hasn’t laughed in a long time, so even though this visit was for me, I’m glad to see my mom smiling and laughing again.”
His mom giggles again—something that Violet said has them both holding their sides as their laughter fill the room. Their happiness is contagious, and Trevor and I smile at each other.
We spent hours with Trevor and Lacy, and when they are about to leave, I give the season ticket package to Trevor, inviting him to all the home games. His mom gives me an emotion-filled hug, and both Violet and I are speechless when they leave. We’re sitting on the couch still trying to process it all.
“You’re a good man, Josh Chambers.”
I turn sideways on the couch to look at her. She’s close enough I can reach out and touch her, but I hold myself back. I’ve given her small touches every now and then, but now that we’re alone I don’t trust myself to hold back. “You sound surprised.”
Her lips lift in an almost sad smile. “I didn’t mean it like that. And, well, I don’t know any way to be except honest. You’re a famous football player, you have a different girl on your arm every week, you—well, I just figured you were doing this for the publicity. But there weren’t any reporters around, and when I saw you with Trevor, you were genuine.”
The fact she assumed I wasn’t a good person bothers me a little. I don’t know why. I usually don’t care what people think about me, but it does with Violet. I rest my elbows on my knees and lean forward. “I’m guessing you googled me. First of all, this will probably be in the paper or magazine at some point. Only because when it does get publicized, they get even more donations and funding. But yeah, I care about these kids. They mean something to me. And well, I take a lot of pictures with women—I always have, but I’ll stop.”
I hadn’t thought about taking pictures with women either. Any time I’ve been asked, I just put my arm around them and let someone take the picture. Just another instance where I’ve never worried about what people think. Violet shakes her head in confusion, no doubt wondering what I mean by saying I’ll stop. But it’s true. It would bother me to see Violet in someone else’s arms in a photograph, so I owe her the same courtesy. The fact that we just met earlier today doesn’t seem to matter to me. I know what I want, and it’s her.
I wait for her to ask me about the women, but she doesn’t. Instead she asks me, “Well, how did you choose this charity?”
I cross my arms over my chest. I hate to talk about it. I never do, but even though it’s tough, I want to talk to her about it. “My brother. He had cancer.”
She shakes her head and holds her hand up before reaching over and squeezing my arm. “Oh Josh, I’m so sorry. I had no idea.”
I blow out a breath. “It was a long time ago. I was thirteen and my little brother was ten. It wasn’t like it is now. He didn’t make it. Didn’t really have a chance. That’s why I chose this charity.”
She holds her hands over her mouth. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry. I insinuated you did it for the publicity.” She’s holding her head down, and I can’t resist reaching over and cupping her cheek, pulling her face up to look at me.
Tears are welled up in her eyes, and with one blink, a lone one slides down her cheek. “Fuck. Don’t cry. It’s okay. You’re not the first person to think I’m some kind of selfish bastard. I’m sure you won’t be the last.”
“It’s so messed up. I’m sorry. I know you should never judge a person before you get to know them.” She lifts her shoulders in a big sigh. “I’m so sorry.”