Page 3 of Catch and Release

“You are such a beautiful couple,” Willa plastered on a big smile, willing herself not to gag on the words. “How long have you been together?”

“Oh, thank you!” his wife said sincerely, turning to Leo. “How long’s it been, darling? Ten… no, eleven years together total, nine years married.”

Eleven years together.

Nine years married.

Willa was itching to grab her phone and block him in every way possible, but she forced herself to continue giving her best smile as she shifted her eyes to Leo.

“Nine years married to this gorgeous woman!” Willa said, knowing she was being reckless now. “You must feel so lucky.”

Leo gazed between Willa and his wife, who was looking at him with a lazy, expectant grin. He cleared his throat.

“I do,” he practically grunted. “I feel very lucky.”

He attempted to smile, but he looked like he’d swallowed something sour. His wife’s brows began to furrow, and Willa took that as her cue to back off.

“I’ll let the rest of the staff know you’re celebrating a birthday,” Willa told them with a wink.

“Thank you,” his wife gave her a dazzling smile.

Willa turned on her heel and walked back to the hostess stand, where José and Becky were watching her with wide eyes. She handed José the tray.

“Thank you guys,” Willa said, her voice wavering for the first time.

“You gonna be okay?” Becky asked, her brows furrowing.

Willa closed her eyes and shook her head.

“I don’t know.”

She swallowed a lump in her throat and opened her eyes back up. José and Becky were staring at her with wide eyes, and she took a deep breath.

“I’ll be okay,” she finally said. “I’ll bounce back. I always do.”

The concern in their faces didn’t waver, but they nodded.

“I’ll tell the cooks to spit in his food,” Becky said, her lips quirking in a slight grin.

Willa let out a half-laugh, half-sob.

“Thanks, Becky,” she said. “Oh, and it’s their daughter’s birthday. I told them I’d let you know. In case you can do anything special.”

Becky’s face looked torn between fury and compassion. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but closed it and simply nodded.

Willa gave her a weak smile. Then she took a deep breath, and without turning back for a final glance at Leo, she left.

1

TWO WEEKS LATER

Willa had forgotten about humidity.

Well, not forgotten about it, but she just never really thought much about humidity living in the temperate state of California. But it was hot, and so fucking humid. She felt damp with sweat ever since her plane landed in Pensacola. She’d rolled down the windows in her Uber, but it did little to help.

After getting over the initial shock of the Leo incident—and releasing throaty sobs into her pillow for what felt like hours—Willa came up with a plan.

She was going to get a fresh start somewhere familiar: her childhood home on Perdido Bay.

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