Page 105 of Catch You

Two more glasses appear before us, and they both take the drink Fletch offers them.

Linc swallows it down before leaning forward on his elbows, his eyes locked on mine. “So, Corey, what has us here at a bar drinking top-shelf whiskey tonight?”

“He just needed a night away from reality,” Fletch says coyly, refilling my glass.

“That we can do,” Handsy agrees before swallowing his drink.

Harlow aside, the night turns out to be one of the best I’ve had since moving here. I’ve hung out occasionally with the guysafter a win, but they’re usually too distracted. But spending time with Fletch, Linc and Handsy is just easy, relaxed. We shoot the shit, give each other shit, and just … hang.

By the time I’m back in my flat later that night with my head spinning once again, I feel lighter for the first time since walking out of that letting agent office at the beginning of the week.

Once I’m in bed, I pull my phone from my pocket and bring up an app that allows me to send her flowers. When it prompts me to upload my own message for the card, I scramble out of bed to find a pen and piece of paper. The second I write her name, I know what to add.

The need to be with her supporting her right now burns through me as I redraw a part of the tattoo she allowed me to ink on her.

I’m still angry that she went ahead and bailed me out like she did, but I’m not angry enough to ignore the fact that she’s going through a hard time. Plus, the gesture will make me feel that little bit better about the fact that I should probably do as Fletch suggested and push my pride aside and go and see her myself.

I tell myself that I will, but then I end up convincing myself that she’s probably surrounded by family right now who are supporting her through this. After the way I treated her, the last thing she needs is to see me.

25

HARLOW

“You should call him,” Brooke says as we continue staring down at the card.

“N-No, I can’t. He clearly knows what’s going on,” I wave the card in front of her as evidence. “Yet he decided to send these instead of come himself.” I fight to keep my voice strong, but the sympathy in Brooke’s eyes tells me that I don’t do a very good job.

“He doesn’t know everything, though. Does he?”

“He couldn’t cope with me giving him a few thousand dollars. You really think he’s going to take well to me following that up with a baby?”

“He’s got a right to know.”

“I know. I just … I just need to get my head around it before I attempt to figure out how I’m going to tell him.”

She wraps her arm around my shoulder. “Do what feels right. I’ll support you all the way.”

“Thank you,” I mutter into her shoulder when she pulls me in for a hug.

“I don’t know if you wanted me to or not, but I called the funeral directors when you were asleep just to get things moving.” I nod, thankful that she’s made that first step forme, because it was one of the things I was dreading the most. “Did you know your aunt had already planned and paid for her funeral?”

“What?”

“Apparently, it’s all done. You just need to confirm a date. The rest has been taken care of.”

I stare at her, totally taken aback—but then, this is my aunt we’re talking about. I’m not sure why I’m so surprised.

“I should have seen this coming,” I mutter, falling onto the couch and pulling my knees up so I can wrap my arms around them.

“I guess so. She just wanted to make all of this as easy on you as possible.”

“Did they give you a date?”

“They said they could do Wednesday. I’ve held it for you, but you need to ring and confirm.”

A sob rips up my throat.

“Shit, what’s wrong? It doesn’t have to be Wednesday if you don’t want.”

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