Page 84 of The Catalyst

Martin stares at me with confusion as I get out of the car, grab my duffle bag from the backseat, and close the door behind me. I walk up to the front door, pull my keys out of my back pocket, and unlock the door. Slipping inside the house that used to smell like clean laundry and rose water but just smells stale now, I drop my bag and quickly take off my jeans, stripping away my panties. I re-dress before walking out the door, the panties balled up in my palm. As I approach Martin’s sleek gray car, he rolls down the window, looking at me with the same confusion as he had before I went inside.

I lean down before saying, “The next time you see Nigel or Oliver, can you give these to them?” I hold out my underwear and his gaze shifts between my face and the fabric in my hand.

“You do realize that they’ll think we hooked up if I do that?”

I shrug. “Let them think what they want. That’s kind of the point.” Teigan didn’t just name me The Queen of Petty for no reason. I will hit any motherfucker where it hurts if they give me a reason to. Exhibit A: Screwing Nigel’s best friend while he was screwing around on me.

After all, Oliver already thinks I’m easy. What’s wrong with enforcing that belief?

The confusion melts from Martin’s face and a look of devious intentions cover his face before he tucks the underwear into his pocket.

“Thanks,” I say before standing up.

“No problem. Listen, if you need anything, just let me know and I’ll do what I can to help.”

I really appreciate the sentiment, but I have a hundred bucks in my wallet, which should last me until I get a job and get my first paycheck as long as I’m smart. Granted, I’ll be without electricity and running water until then as well, but I’ll survive.

“Thanks,” I mutter, knowing I won’t ask him for anything. This will probably be the last time I ever see him and that leaves a bitter taste on my tongue.

CHAPTER 34

OLIVER

Acigarette sits nestled between my lips as I stare at the trees, trying to find some way to distract myself without massacring half the town. I’m out of ideas though, so what do I do? I disassociate by staring at the fucking trees.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

I don’t even hear the door open. The only thing that pulls me out of my daze is when someone sits down beside me.

My head snaps around and my eyes settle on Ro as he pulls out a joint and lights it.

“What are you doing?” I groan before sucking on the cancer stick and looking back at the trees.

“You’ve been out here for hours. I figured you were probably beating yourself up over what happened,” he explains directly.

I roll my eyes. I’m not beating myself up. I’m not even thinking about it. If I was, Charlie would be dead and probably a dozen other people as well. That’s the point of disassociating. It doesn’t bother me.

I don’t respond, though I know he is expecting me to. He didn’t ask a question and I don’t feel like talking.

I remove the cigarette from my lips and blow out the smoke before putting it back in its previous spot.

“Charlie is a dick. If we could get rid of him, we would. He’ll be gone in a few months. At least Perla will take him off our hands,” he adds dryly.

I’ve been counting down the days since he said he was moving in with her. This place will be a lot more peaceful with him gone.

“The others may have been blind, but I’m not. Beth wasn’t just a good time to you and vice versa. I know that was her with you in the kitchen a week and a half ago. You could’ve just staked your claim on her and told Nigel to kick rocks.”

Why is he bringing this up? Beth is fucking gone. Sheleft. I don’t fucking have her and neither does Nigel. She made it clear she wants nothing to do with either of us.

I know part of that is my fault. I lost my shit because I’m a fucking nut case and can’t handle a handful of people coming at me, demanding answers. I probably would’ve been able to hold my cool if Charlie hadn’t pulled the stunt of trying to walk into my room while I was already spiraling.

Like Beth said, Nigel was never going to let her go. That’s what she said at the carnival to Gunderson. There’s only so much I can do without putting myself on the chopping block and…I can’t kill Nigel.

I want her to be safe, to be happy, to be mine.

However, that’s a wishlist at this point.

“I know to some extent I’m supposed to be on Nigel’s side of this, but that’s not logical. I pay attention to shit and no one can deny that women fall at Nigel’s feet every fucking day. He isn’t what would be considered an acquired taste, but you? I’ve seen the amount of people that run from you and how scared the general public is of you. Beth isn’t though. I saw the way she looked at you, like you hung the moon and created the stars. You don’t come across that very often. Neither do I. Judy is it for me and I think Beth might be it for you, too.”

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