Page 73 of Finding a Melody
That got a giggle out of me. “Are you into that stuff?”
“I do watch a lot of true crime. I’m always interested in how a killer’s mind works, how they think.”
I thought that over. “Want to go into criminal psychology?”
That got a big smile out of him. “Definitely an option. Depends on soccer.”
“Getting a scholarship.”
“I have a few options, but it all depends on what I want to do, right?”
“And what do you want to do?” I asked.
“Study psychopaths and learn what makes them tick.”
That got a laugh out of me.
“But for real, I love soccer, but I’m not driven like some of the other players. I’ve done all the right things, talked to all the right people, made the right contacts. I have offers, but what does it mean for me if I take them? And do I need them to go to college? Is it really something I want to continue with?”
I frowned as I got new insight into Paxon. I thought he was soccer obsessed, and I knew what others at school thought of him. He wasn’t the best of the best, but he was good enough, and from what others said, he had a lot of potential to be the best if he was driven enough, which didn’t seem to be the case.
“I have until November eleventh to decide, but if I take too long to sign the letter of intent, I could lose it.”
“Well, it sounds to me like you still have time. Keep playing. Have fun. And decide if this is something you want to commit to in the future. It seems to me you have a good opportunity, and you yourself know you don’t want to waste it.”
“Thanks, Cadence.”
Feeling like we talked enough about personal things, and feeling a bit mentally exhausted, I curled up on the couch and watched the show. I had to admit, it was very interesting. But it wasn’t enough to keep my eyes open. Eventually, I dozed off.
I woke up to someone’s phone ringing. I knew it wasn’t mine since that was up in my room still.
“Yeah?” Paxon’s groggy voice brought me closer to the surface of wakefulness.
A large hand was wrapped around my ankle, and I realized I had stretched out and my feet were in his lap. I froze at his touch, wondering how that happened without me realizing it.
“Shit, I’m sorry, Dad. Yeah, I’m coming back.” Paxon sounded upset enough that I got over my predicament and sat up, claiming my feet back. Paxon didn’t seem to notice as he listened to his dad on the phone. “I’m sorry. Seriously. No, everything’s fine. I understand.”
He kept going on like that as a deeper male voice yelled at him from the other side. His gaze met mine and he grimaced.
Someone was in a whole lot of trouble. I glanced at the clock by the TV. It was well after one in the morning and if I remembered correctly, he had a curfew. Midnight, I think.
“I dozed off and lost track of time. I’m coming back now.” Paxon jumped up and went over to the door, shoving his feet into his shoes. “Well if you keep talking to me, it’ll only take me longer. Unless you want me talking on the phone while I drive?”
That seemed to quiet his dad down enough so I could no longer hear him yelling.
“I’ll be back in twenty.” Paxon grimaced as he finally hung up the phone. “I’m sorry, Cadence. I forgot to contact Seth and my dad beat me to it, so he knows I’m not there. I need to go.”
“Where does he think you are then?” I asked.
Paxon shrugged. “I’ll find out when I get home. Are you okay? Seth’s home now. He can come over or you can go over.”
“I’m fine. I’m just going to go to bed when you leave.”
Paxon didn’t seem to believe me.
“Seriously. It’s late enough and I’m still tired.”
That seemed to work as he relaxed. “Okay. But you know how to contact us if anything happens. And I’m serious, Seth will always welcome you over at his place. Don’t feel like you can’t go over there. Ever.”