Page 159 of The Catalyst

“I’ll give you a ride,” Ollie offers, which is really sweet of him, but I don’t want to impose. I don’t want him to feel like he has to do everything for me.

“I’ve got that covered,” Judy says before gently squeezing my arm in support.

“Beth?” Ronan speaks up as he walks over to us. “I don’t want to act like a dick, but Nigel wants me to pick him up from the jail and take him to school from there. He said that he doesn’t want you or your things here when he gets home. Sorry.”

I expected as much. I guess all I really needed to do to lose Nigel’s attention was get engaged to someone who wasn’t him. Maybe if Ollie or Martin had put a ring on my finger we could’ve avoided this whole mess.

I frown. “Don’t be. It’s not your fault. I knew this would happen when I made the deal. I just thought I could tell him everything myself. I’ll talk to him at school, not that I think that will make much of a difference. You know him, Ro. He doesn’t like listening to reason or logic, especially when he’s pissed off.”

I don’t like the idea of Nigel O’Reilly hating me. I still love him and don’t want there to be any bad blood. I know that’s just wishful thinking though.

He shrugs. “Give it time. He’ll come around once he calms down.”

Oliver has been saying the same thing, but it’s hard to truly believe that. I never thought there would be a time when Nigel wouldn’t want me around, but that time has come, and my heart has never hurt so much.

* * *

Judy tookme to drop off my bags at the hotel before she drove us to school. As we arrive, she squeezes my arm, reassuring me that everything will be fine. I have no clue when Nigel will get here, but I want to make sure I get to talk to him as soon as possible. I know he’s mad, but I need to state my case, or I will go insane.

“It’s going to be fine,” she offers as we walk inside, and I head straight to Nigel’s locker, knowing the bell just rang to let people out for their classes and the halls will be filling up quickly.

“I have this overwhelming feeling of dread,” I admit as I lean against the locker beside Nigel’s, and she offers me a kind smile.

“That’s your anxiety. He might be mad and won’t want to listen, but you’ll survive. That’s the most important thing. You’re strong, Bethany Mercer, and so is your little bean.”

I groan with frustration. “Can everyone please stop talking about it as if it’s not a part of my body?” I explode but instantly regret it from the look of sadness on Judy’s face. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. You’re right. I’m stressed and shouldn’t take it out on you.” I offer her a hug, but I know she’s worried about my mental health. “I’m not used to dealing with so much stress, and there’s nothing you can do about it. I’m not ready to face my pregnancy yet, okay? Can we not talk about it at all?”

“We can do that, Bee. This is your experience. If you don’t want to talk about it, we won’t. Plain and simple. I’ve got your back, okay?”

I know I can always count on Judy to be understanding and to always be there for me. She’s the one person I know I can turn to for guidance.Well, the only one that is answering my pleas for help.

Her eyes widen as they dart over my shoulder.

“What?” I ask, panicked.

“Nigel…and he looks ready for a fight. Do you need me to stay?” Her eyes narrow, protective as ever.

I can imagine how scary a sight like that could be, especially to someone like Judy. “I can do it on my own. Go to class.”

Turning on her heels, Judy heads to class, and I spin around. My gaze instantly gravitates to him like a moth to a flame, and my heart sputters at seeing him walking around, not in the orange jumpsuit, not handcuffed to a fucking chair.

Just seeing him walking around a free man makes it all worth it.

I stand in front of his locker as he approaches, his backpack over his shoulder. The clothes he wears are clean, and he’s freshly showered. It’s not surprising for Nigel, but it is surprising for him to come from jail straight to school.

“Get out of my way,” he warns, venom sliding off his tongue, and his hard eyes are directed at me.

“We need to talk,” I state, but the fury in his eyes intensifies as he pushes me away from his locker. It’s not hard. He could’ve used a lot more strength than he did, and it would’ve caused damage to me, but he held back.

He has no intention of hurting me.

“Not interested. How about you go fuck yourself and hang all over yourfiancé?” Nigel snaps as he turns the knob on his locker, trying to ignore me. He’s angry, and I would be angry, too.I’d actually do worse than he is if the situation was reversed, but he doesn’t have the whole story.

“I just wanted you to understand?—”

“Oh, I fucking understand everything perfectly. I got arrested, and you decided to move on with one of my closest friends.”

“What?” I gape at the insinuation. “That is not at all?—”

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