Page 136 of The Catalyst

Very slowly, the driver’s side door opens, and my eyes snap up, Oliver’s head poking in. My heart explodes with relief at seeing his face.

“Come on, baby,” he mutters, grabbing my arm, but I still cling to the seatbelt, vigorously shaking my head.

“I can’t. I can’t. I can’t.” The words bleed together into a single breath, and I nearly curl into myself. I’m so fucking scared. I don’t want to die. I still have so many things I want to do with my life.

“Beth, look atme,” he demands, venom thick on his tongue.

My eyes meet his and understanding greets me as he carefully moves into the cab beside me, gently touching my face. “You’re not going to die today, crazy girl. If you go off this bridge, I’m going with you. This world isn’t worth being in if you’re not here. Are you with me?” His breath soothes my skin as he speaks barely an inch from my lips. My own air shakes as it leaves me.

“I’m with you.”

“Always?”

I smirk at the add-on. “Yeah.”

“Good because I’m always with you, got it?”

I slowly nod as his thumb runs along my jaw. “Got it.”

“That’s right, baby. Keep your eyes on me. Don’t look anywhere but at me,” he whispers as he puts his arm around my waist, holding me close. He pries my fingers from the seat belt and throws my arms around his throat, where I cling to him, burying my face in his neck. The calming scent of leather and cologne makes me feel safe. I hear the click of the seatbelt before it’s pulled from me, but as long as I have Oliver in my arms, I’m okay.

If he goes, I’m going with him, and I’m okay with that ending.

“I love you,” I whisper against his ear, and his arms tighten around me. I expect him to freak out from my confession, especially since he told me not to tell him until he could say I was his, but he doesn’t. He holds me against him, but I feel the way he swallows thickly.

I couldn’t hold it in. What if we don’t make it onto solid ground? I can’t let either of us die without him knowing how I feel about him.

“Me, too, baby. Me, too.”

My chest tightens at his words, and fresh tears flood my eyes. It doesn’t change anything, but knowing he feels the same way I do makes me feel less alone.

As he pulls me out of the truck, my arms tense around his neck. “Don’t look down,” he warns, and I nod.

I don’t know where he’s going, but hopefully, it’s safer than inside the truck. I don’t feel safe with it hanging off the bridge.

“I’ve got you,” Oliver mumbles as he steps down and guides my feet to the ground. My eyes shoot up, and I see that he carried me over the guardrail.

We aren’t in danger anymore.

Oliver put his own life on the line to get me to safety. He knew I would be freaking out and what my fears would be. He knew what would calm me down and let me cling to him.

Judy may be my best friend, but Ollie is my other half in many ways. He knows me in manners that others are incapable of.

“Are you okay?” Ollie asks as he touches my jaw, guiding my line of sight to his icy blue eyes and that bit of blonde hair falling into his face mixed with the nearly midnight black curls.

He’s beautiful. Devastating, soul-sucking beauty. I could look at him all day and be content with the sight.

“I…” I trail off as I touch my forehead, hissing at the contact. “I’m kind of…spinning.” My head whirls as I look around him to see a crowd, but the thing that catches my attention is the display of Nigel screaming at Martin, getting in his face with his rage. “Someone…needs to–”

“Crazy girl, you’re slurring.” His voice is sharp as he pulls my attention back to him.

What was I talking about?

“I…am?” I can barely keep my words in order, and my body feels so heavy with the adrenaline gone. My words start to mix, and my head swirls like I’m on a rollercoaster.

“Look at me,” Oliver demands, shaking me back to look up at him. My eyes feel heavy, but I meet his gaze.

“You’re beautiful,” I mutter as my knees buckle, but Oliver quickly catches me before I can hit the ground. My head lolls to the side, and my gaze flashes to Nigel as his fist reels back.

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