Chapter 148: Rhoda
Kayden
"Are you sure you don’t want to call anyone?" Rhoda, Leo’s mum, asked as she walked into the room where I was lying on the bed with Starlight sleeping beside me.
I turned toward her and shook my head in response. "No," I muttered. "I don’t want to bother him. I am sure he knows I am fine. It’s been a day since I left the arena, and since Starlight is with me right now, I know that’s probably a sign that tells him that I am fine."
Rhoda stepped into the room and sat beside me on the bed. She rubbed Starlight’s head, and the Maine Coon kitten rolled over, showing her belly and waiting for it to be rubbed.
While she pampered the cat, I continued staring at the ceiling, reminiscing about what happened a day before I left the arena
~~~~~
A day ago,
I had managed to hide myself in a corner until everyone present in the arena was gone, and I was finally able to sneak out of my hiding spot.
I walked through the streets still wearing my jersey, my skates gripped in my hand. I had no idea where I was going; I just kept walking, thinking about going back to Rhys’s apartment and crying in his arms, but I couldn’t.
Even though I was sure that he believed me—that he trusted that I would never do that—I still couldn’t bring myself to face him.
I needed someone else, and when the name popped into my head, I hurriedly walked through the streets searching for a phone booth.
Luckily for me, I had coins in my pocket, and it was enough to make two calls. I dialed Rhoda’s number, hoping that she or perhaps her wife, Gabriella, would pick .
It rang thrice, and just as I was about to give up, thinking she wouldn’t pick up, her voice sounded after the fourth ring.
"Hello, Rhoda Ackerman speaking. May I know who is on the line?"
"Mum..." I cried out the instant I heard her.
My hand found its way to Rhys’s mother’s necklace, and I rubbed the metal as tears streamed down my face.
Rhoda didn’t speak at first, as she was trying to process what was happening. Scam calls were rampant nowadays, and I knew she found it surprising that I was calling her from a phone booth.
"Mum," I repeated, sniffling.
"Is... is that Kayden? Is that you, son?"
"Yes."
Rhoda paused again, but not for too long, then she slowly muttered, "Kayden, why are you calling me through this number? What happened, son? Were you kidnapped? You and Leo never listen to me when I say you should hire bodyguards. You are a hockey star. Now I am supposed to bail you out. Is that why you called, son?"
I almost laughed listening to Rhoda’s "crashout." She had always been like this, thinking Leo and I were perpetually about to get in trouble. In any other situation, I would have teased her, but not now.
"I came to Oak City for a friend’s wedding and planned on watching your games. We are at Gabriella’s home. I haven’t told Leo yet; it’s supposed to be a surprise, and now that you’ve been kidnapped, I guess the surprise is ruined. So, how much is the ransom? Can I talk to the kidnapper?"
"No," I said quickly. "That’s not why I called. I..." I couldn’t finish my words as I burst into tears. It went on for several seconds while Rhoda patiently waited until I was done before she spoke up.
"Where are you, baby? Tell me where you are. Gabriella and I will come pick you up in a few minutes."
I looked around for any sign that might fit a perfect description. Then, my eyes landed on the bus stop’s name at the side of the phone booth, written on a paper pasted to the glass.
"I am at Adiol Street. I will be standing in front of the phone booth. Please don’t take too long."
"Alright, wait there for me, baby. I will be right there in a few minutes."
I sniffled and then quickly muttered a few words before the call ended. "Don’t tell Leo, please."
"Of course, baby," she responded. "See you."
~~~
Present
Rhoda’s hand on my hair brought me out of my thoughts, and I turned around to face her. She lay on the bed beside me with Starlight in between us and grabbed my hand.
"It’s been a day since I picked you up, Kayden, and yet you haven’t told me anything—even though I already know. Gabriella showed me the video circulating about you online. Is that why you left, baby?"
I nodded.
"It’s fine if you don’t feel comfortable talking about it. I mean, there is a reason why you didn’t tell Leo. But if you feel burdened, I want you to always know that I am right here with you."
I sniffled.
Tears welled up in my eyes again, but I blinked them away. I had been on the bed ever since I arrived at Gabriella’s home and had barely spoken to anyone.
The main reason I had turned to Rhoda and called her that night was because I needed a mother I could talk to.
"I think Rhys might dislike me now that the video is up," I began, smacking my lips together.
Rhoda didn’t ask who Rhys was; she just stared at me with rapt attention. "Rhys..." I paused, swallowing hard before continuing. "He is my captain, and we are in love."
"So, from Captain to boyfriends. I get it!" Rhoda clapped her hands excitedly.
I rolled my eyes at her comment, and she quickly raised her hands in defense. "Sorry, baby, I was just excited to hear that you’ve got a boyfriend," she chuckled lightly.
Typical Rhoda.
She was the polar opposite of Leo, who took everything too seriously and pinpointed every error. Rhoda was always excited whenever she heard something new.
"I ran away from Rhys that night because I was too ashamed of myself," I continued, rubbing my hands over my face. "I know I shouldn’t have done it, but I couldn’t bring myself to face him after that terrible video was released. Maybe he hates me now. Maybe he sees me as a bully. Maybe he doesn’t love me anymore. I don’t..." I burst into tears. "Do you think he hates me?"