Page 134 of The Catalyst

“How has Aimee been doing?” Judy presses, and I groan.

“No clue. She’s cut all communication with me. She’s butthurt over the Ollie situation. Did she seriously think he was going to be a monk for the past ten years?” I roll my eyes as Judy and I leave the house, heading for the truck Nigel insisted on giving me so I could have a safe vehicle to transport me to and from school.

I have just as much of a reason to be nasty to her, but Aimee hasn’t received any ire from me.

“Maybe she did. She came across to me as a bit immature. It’s hard to believe she’s older than us.”

“Well, she’s important to people who are important to me, so I have to tolerate her and her glares.”

As we climb into the truck, Judy gives me a puzzled look, tilting her head as if she’s trying to figure out some mystery. She doesn’t press or anything like that.

“Did you ever pick up your Sociology textbook from your mom’s place?” she asks.

I curse under my breath. Usually, we don’t need it, but on Friday, Mr. Curtis warned us that we would need it on Monday, and that’s today.

Fuck my life straight to hell with a sandpaper condom and no lubrication.

“It’s okay. We can just stop at the house on the way to school. I need to pick up my car anyway.”

Judy spent the night with Ronan last night under the ruse that we were having a girl’s night at Arely’s house, and I picked her up since her dad was doing an oil change on her car.

“Sounds good.”

We listen to Kelly Clarkson’s latest song,Miss Independent, and move along to the catchy beat as we drive the two blocks to our houses, but there’s one odd thing that catches my attention.

Oliver’s black Mustang is in the driveway.

“What’s Oliver doing here?” Judy asks, looking just as perplexed as I do while she grabs her bag.

“Probably just checking in on Aimee. They used to be pretty close.” I still have no clue how close they were or what has transitioned to the present time.

I have suspicions but no confirmations.

She shrugs and doesn’t think much of it, but my spidey senses tingle as I climb out of the truck. The fear is creeping in because I have a feeling I know exactly why Oliver is here, and deep down, I don’t want it to be true.

I shouldn’t have any expectations of him. We’ve talked about this. Though we have something going on, I’m not his and he’s not mine. We have no claim over each other.

Not until either Nigel decides he’s done with me or he breaks one of the rules.

Only then will things change.

My heart rate picks up as I hurry over to the door. I need to get this over with. So what if Ollie came to see Aimee? She’s obviously still nuts about him, and he’s made it clear the feeling is mutual.

Throwing open the door, I instantly hear it, and the strong woman facade I always build up drops to the floor and crumbles. Her moans cut me to the bone as I step inside, tears filling my eyes.

All I needed to do was take two steps in the door to grab my textbook off the entry table, but with one step, I see them…on the kitchen table. Well, Aimee is naked on the table, and Ollie…he’s fucking her, lost in his head.

My tears fall, and I know I have no right to be upset or angry. Nigel and I fuck all the time, and Oliver knows that, but he’s never seen it. Standing here, watching this, is destroying the muscle in my chest, but I can’t look away. My heart feels like it's a betrayal, and that’s valid simply because I can’t control how I feel.

I’m close to breaking down when Oliver must sense me because his head snaps up, and his eyes meet mine, icy blue clashing with my fairy green irises, tears clouding my vision.

“Beth!” Oliver exclaims, and the curse breaks, letting me look away from him, but before I have the chance to run, I see Aimee’s face.

She’s clearly pissed that not only I’m inmyhouse but that I walked in on them.

“I—Sorry.” My voice breaks, and I snatch my book off the entry table and race out the door.

“Beth, wait!”

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