Page 65 of The Catalyst

We spend most nights at her relatively empty house and I blame that mostly on how I can’t seem to sleep unless she’s right there. Sometimes, we stay up half the night talking. The rest of the time, we just go there and pass out.

I’m not sure if she realizes that she cries in the night when I’m not holding her. She’ll pass out on her part of the couch and within minutes, she’s begging for someone to help her. The first time it happened, I wanted to hunt down Nigel and kill him because I know that’s what makes her distressed, begging for protection.

If I had witnessed anyone else do that, I probably would’ve told them to shut up so I could sleep, but not her. Never fucking her.

I moved over to her and tried to calm her, but the second my arms were around her, she relaxed.

No one has ever been soothed by me being near them, ever. Quite the opposite actually.

People don’t like me. A lot of people run away when they see me coming, but her face brightens up like I made her day better just by being here.

She has to be mental, right? What sane person would be happy to see someone like me? I’ve done everything in my power to scare her away and none of it has worked.

Today is my day off though. I’m not sitting in bed or watching TV or doing anything domestic like that. No, no, no. I am busy stalking my princess because for some unknown reason, I need to know where she is and that she’s safe. Oddly enough, I don’t trust Gunderson to keep her safe. I barely trust Shanti more than I do Beth’s other friend.

The fact that they are driving across town in the middle of the night is enough reason for concern when Dumb and Dumber have such precious cargo with them.

Where the fuck are they going anyway?

They don’t know anyone on this side of town, do they?

They turn off the main road and I switch off my headlights before following behind them. They take a few random turns, but the realization of where they’re going hits.

The carnival grounds.

They’re in the middle of nowhere with nothing around for at least a mile in all directions, but going there doesn’t make sense. The carnival closes at five and it’s past eight. No one is there.

I slow down my car as they approach the locked gate. Shanti pulls her car into the trees next to the gate before all three women file out. I pull my car off the road and watch them under the cover of darkness.

They can’t see me, but due to the light from the street lamp above the gate, I can see them.

Shanti and Beth are laughing and smiling, but as always, Gunderson looks worried.

Such a scaredy cat.

My princess pulls a flask out of her purse and takes a long swig. I climb out of my car, so I can get close enough to find out what the hell they are doing here.

“Okay, okay! We came, we saw. Now, can we leave? This place is creepy after closing time,” Gunderson mutters while rubbing her arms.

“Don’t be such a killjoy, Judy!” Shanti groans, her voice thick with her Creole accent. “Beth has never been to a carnival before. We have to show her a good time.”

The princess laughs. “Really, though, what can we do with everything closed?”

“Do you think I don’t have a few tricks up my sleeve? We’ve got this, country girl. You can trust us to keep you distracted,” Shanti offers before slapping her shoulder.

Distracted from what?

“Have you heard from Nigel?”

My jaw grinds and honestly, I don’t know why Gunderson asking her that pisses me off. It should be an expected question, but I know things they don’t.

“Hey! Distraction, remember?”

Beth rolls her eyes. “You don’t need to distract me from anything. I’m fine and, no, I haven’t heard from him. Come on. Let’s get this show on the road.” Beth walks out of the tall grass and adjusts her impressively short skirt. It barely covers her ass and I’m enjoying the show of her long legs and the way she sashays her hips with every step she takes.

It’s no surprise that my cock is a steel rod in my jeans as they walk over to the gate. Shanti pulls back the chain links on the gate as Beth and Gunderson slip in. Shanti quickly follows them and Beth laughs while linking her arm with Shanti’s.

Well, well, well.

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