Page 157 of The Catalyst

Emotions flood my brain–anger, hurt, heartbreak–and make the twisting knife ten times as intense.

How would he know Casey was gone? No one else said anything. I didn’t even tell Beth until she was in the hospital and he was already arrested.

God, I’m so fucking stupid.

I fucking love that woman and she broke my heart.

This is why she said the accident was completely her fault and I…can’t deny that now.

CHAPTER 62

BETH

Martin hasn’t been answering my texts. He was until last night, but now…it’s only silence that greets me. It affects me more than I wanted it to. I wish I was stronger and could stand on my own, but I can’t. I went so long without seeing him every single day after we had that wonderful week together when I fell for him. Now that I’ve seen him and been close to him again, I can’t stand that when I reach out, he isn’t reaching back to me.

I know he’s probably dealing with a lot right now, especially with my impending marriage to his brother, but I need him. I need his understanding and the way he can find things to smile about even when the world is crumbling around him.

Warren gives me a ride to the La Quinta hotel nearby. He has a lot of questions concerning why I need a hotel room when my mom has a house, but I’m not in the mood to explain. My first instinct was to go back to the house in Hempstead, but considering that I still have school to attend in town and I bet it would make Nolan furious if I wasn’t in town, I opt for the hotel.

I have a lot of anger toward my mother. She was the one who put Nolan’s sights on me in the first place. He wouldn’t have looked at me twice the day I first stepped into that house if it wasn’t for the deal she was brokering with him. I can’t stay with her and a part of me is mindful that none of my boys would want me there, either.

I don’t want to be in a house with Aimee anyway.

“I just need to register for a room. I still have school, and I need to pick up my things from Nigel’s house before I head to school,” I explain my plan as I nervously tug on the sleeves of my sweater.

“Don’t worry about that. I’ll take you to his house and to school if you need me to. I just want to make sure you’re okay. Your dad was one of my best friends, and you’re in a crappy situation, Bethany.”

A crappy situation indeed.

I nod with a grateful smile across my face. “Thanks.”

* * *

I register for a room,and Warren drives me to the house on Mason Road, but from the look on his face, he’s not comfortable leaving me here. “Thanks for everything, Warren. I’ll be fine. Mom’s house is around the corner, and I can grab her car before heading to school.” I won’t, but the last thing I want is for him to continue worrying about me. The only things he knows have to do with the contract, nothing else. He doesn’t know about my pregnancy, why Nigel was arrested, or about my accident.

“You have my number if you need me, kiddo.”

I nod before opening the door, stepping out of the car, and closing it behind me. Turning toward the house, I walk across the lawn, onto the porch, and through the front door. What I don’t expect is for the guys, with the exception of Ollie, and the girls to be standing around the living room, talking animatedly.

“Everything okay?” I ask, a little confused by them holding court like a bunch of gossiping biddies. Everyone snaps around at my arrival, and Aimee glares at me.

“You fucking bitch!” Aimee charges at me and slaps me so hard across the face that I lose my balance and fall to the floor. The flesh on my cheek burns, and my knees ache from the impact. My body has barely recovered from the accident, so it feels like another wreck is happening, and I don’t know how to stop it. Tears assault my eyes.

“What the fuck, Aimee?” Judy yells.

“Your friend is a good-for-nothing slut, alright? She has a lot of nerve coming here after what she did to my brother.”

“Like you have any room to talk! Aren’t you tired of waiting around for her sloppy seconds, or is that where all your bitchiness is coming from? Is that it? Are you pissed at her over your brother, or is it the Oliver thing you’re mad about?” Judy pops back like a true friend, and if my face didn’t hurt like hell, I might cheer her on.

“You bitch! That has nothing to do with this. She broke my brother’s heart.”

“And your brother hasn’t broken a hundred hearts before, right? He deserves it after everything he has put her through. I won’t tarnish the perfect image you have of him, but he has been the worst boyfriend to her from day one. He can fight his own battles. He doesn’t need youattackinga pregnant woman in his honor.”

The entire room falls silent as I sit back on my rump and lean against the door, pushing my hair out of my face.

“She-she’s pregnant?” Aimee blanches, the color draining from her face.

“Geez. I don’t know. Any other women you’ve hit to defend your piece of shit brother?” Judy sasses as everyone stares at me.

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