Page 38 of The Goalie in Room 1

“So this is normal for you?”

“Helping people?”

“Spending this kind of money on people you barely know.”

I considered the question. “I don’t think of it that way. I have something I can give that makes a difference, so I give it.”

His eyes came back to mine.

“And the patron thing?”

“What about it?”

“Who picks them?”

“You do. Nobody gets assigned to you. Nobody gets to walk into Phoenix’s office, write a check, and purchase themselves a person.”

His mouth twitched again.

“That’s a fucked-up way to put it, Doc.”

“It’s the way you’re thinking about it.”

He didn’t deny it, and it made me wonder just what sort of childhood this kid suffered through.

“And you expect me to believe people just do that?”

“I don’t expect you to believe anything. Not tonight. Maybe never. It’s not my job to change the way you think of the world. That’s up to you.”

He fell silent.

“All I’m doing is explaining how it works. What you do with the information is up to you.”

His gaze dropped to the papers again. His thumb strummed over the corner of the file while he chewed the inside of his mouth.

“Cash…” He looked at me, and I responded, “You don’t need to choose a patron today. You don’t have to choose one next week. Hell, you never have to choose one if you don’t want to.”

“What happens if I don’t?”

“What do you mean, what happens?”

“Do I just stay here forever?”

“You stay as long as you feel you need to stay. And if you don’t choose a patron, everyone at Halo House will work with you to help you find your way.”

“Then why are you telling me?”

“Because you asked what the price was.”

His eyes met mine.

“There isn’t one.”

Cash fell silent, his gaze landing back on the report. Picking up his fork again, he took another bite of his food while reading through the pages in the accountant’s file. All the patient names had been removed, but the case details remained.

“I’ll leave you to think. My card is in the binder. I’ve added my cell number on the back. Call or text if you have questions.”

He nodded without looking up. His teeth worried the tender flesh inside his mouth. The urge to pull his lips from between his teeth…hell, to touch him at all…yanked at me. Hard. Like a living, breathing being determined to force me into action. I locked myself down, so I didn’t overstep.