Page 31 of Catch You

I blow out a breath, making the piece of paper stuck to my mirror flutter. I stare at the drawing I did so long ago.

“Today could be the day, you know.” I didn’t hear her join me, so the sound of Brooke’s voice startles me.

I look over at her to find her resting her hip against the doorframe with her arms over her chest.

“Maybe,” I say, but it’s sarcastic at best.

“You should go and see Snake.”

“Who the fuck is Snake?”

“The guy who inked Fletch and Reese. A few of the others, too.”

“You are aware that they’re going to take a restraining order out on you soon, right?”

“Ha ha, you’re funny. I wasn’t at the window watching or anything. Reese was telling me about it at work one day. I’ll message you the address in case you get brave.”

“Thank you.” I’m not sure if I’m actually grateful or not. I know that I should either pluck up the courage and do it or just forget about it. Maybe having this address sitting on my cell will be the kick up the ass I need.

Deciding against lazing in bed all day, I pull my hoodie off, remove my leggings, and open my closet. I grab the first thing I put my hand on, a black T-shirt dress, and pull it over my head.

After running my fingers through my now-dry hair, I grab my purse from the dresser and slip my feet into my flip-flops. At the last minute, I turn and pull my sketch from the mirror, just in case Brooke is right.

“I’m going out,” I say as I pass Brooke’s door.

“Do you want company?”

“No, I need to clear my head.”

“Okay, have fun.”

I climb into my car and start the engine. The music is still on low after my devastating drive home from my aunt’s yesterday.

Jesus, how was that only yesterday?

Grabbing my cell, I quickly shoot my aunt a text to check in with her before turning the volume up. I back off the driveway and press my foot on the accelerator.

I don’t have a destination in mind—I just intend to drive until I feel the need to return home once again, but I’m not surprised when I pull up to a parking lot that I’ve become very familiar with over the years.

Ignoring the benches, I walk up to the top of the hill and drop onto the grass.

This is my happy place. The spot I come to when things in the town below get too much. All I can hear is the sound of birdsong and the very faint crashing of waves in the distance.

Lying back, I close my eyes and allow the afternoon sun to warm my skin.

I think back to last night and how easily I followed Corey to that hotel and cringe at my behavior. One suggestion of a good night and I follow his lead like he’s the fucking pied piper.

My stomach clenches uncomfortably. I’ve spent years finding other outlets to help me deal with everything that happened, but one threat of losing another person I love, and I fall straight back into old ways.

I hate myself for it. It doesn’t matter how many times Brooke tells me that it’s different, that I’m different. I still feel the same as I used to back then after making yet another bad decision.

Children playing somewhere in the distance force me to sit up. I look down the hill slightly to see them running around and laughing. The sight is like a baseball bat to the chest.

This place is where my parents used to bring us to play. We learned to ride our bikes without training wheels here, we flew our kites, and it was where we’d spend hours chasing butterflies.

I sigh as tears burn the backs of my eyes. There are so many memories of them in this town that I’ve often wondered if I should have left, if it would have made it any easier. But then I think of Brooke and her parents, and my aunt. I could never leave them.

Without any family to take me in, I found myself being bounced around foster families and group homes after I lost them.

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