Homebound (BoyxBoy)

Chapter 22

After a long and anxiety-ridden ride to Javi's house, we finally arrive. As soon as we step foot inside, Javi closes the door before rushing towards the living room window to draw the curtains to not let the dark clouds lurk in. I lean against the door with a sigh before looking around to see that the place is empty. I was assuming his roommates would be here... well, the roommates that I've met. 

I guess I've met the third roommate, but that was during my mental breakdown and it's not like we exchanged any words or anything. He just loomed in the doorway and did whatever when I passed out on my boyfriend's bed. "You have three roommates, right?"

Javi nods his head while he collapses onto the couch in the living room. Instead of sitting by him, I take the chance to look around at the shelves on the wall that holds multiple picture frames. "Yeah, it's me, Chris, Nathan, and Dominic, or Dom. He's usually working."

"Doesn't he work with you?"

"Yeah, but he has more jobs than that. He likes to stay busy," he explains, watching my every move while I look at the pictures. Most of them are of the roommates together in random places, like a fair or a bowling alley or even in the house, but the others are of them with their families. I recognize Chris in one of them with an older man sitting in a wheelchair and my eyes move to the next one that displays a younger Javi that seems to be only a teenager with an older woman. She's wearing short shorts that look more like spandex on her along with a top that shows off a white, lacy bra underneath a tank top. 

"Who's this?" I whisper, pointing to the picture and turning to Javi. He squints at the frame for a second before his eyes drop to look at the floor. Have I ever... seen shame on him before? Embarrassment and disappointment, yes, but never shame.

"That's my mom," he explains in a soft voice. Realization hits me as to why he got so quiet over a simple question as I walk over to him. He's never told me much about his mother, so it's obviously a sensitive subject. I drop down on the couch next to him before throwing my arm around his shoulder. I press a soft kiss to his cheek, loving when he leans into my touch before setting his head on my shoulder.

"Do you wanna tell me about her?" I whisper, kissing his forehead. His eyes flutter shut before a small sigh leaves his lips. I allow him a moment of silence to think while my hand runs through his hair like he usually does to comfort me. Don't get me wrong, I want to hear what happened to his mom because all I know is she was a prostitute, addicted to drugs, and has died – probably from an overdose. But at the same time, I want Javi to tell me when he's ready. "You don't have to, but I know that you've kept all this inside for a long time. Maybe it'll be good to let some of it out."

He nods against my shoulder before lifting his head. I give him a supportive smile and I see the adoration in his eyes blossom before it's pushed down by a passive look. He lowers his head again, looking deep in thought and I sit there silently, letting him have some time to think. After a while, he leans his head back to look at the ceiling before speaking. "Her name was Katrina."

"That's a pretty name," I whisper, trying to remain calm even though I'm shocked that he's actually going to tell me about her. "was Catalina named after her?"

"Yeah, Tío Rio really liked that his sister went by Kat, so he gave it to his daughter."

"I like that," I whisper.

"Yeah," he says, clearing his throat. "she... she was never a good mom. She would visit me at Lita and Lito's house sometimes, but she would usually be too high to be allowed in. I can't even remember a time where she wasn't high."

"When your grandmother got sick, you moved back in with your mom at 15, right?" I ask and he nods his head, turning to look at me with an exhausted expression. "But why would anyone allow a 15-year-old to go back to his mother who obviously shouldn't be allowed around her kid? I mean, wouldn't your uncle or someone else want to take you in?"