Page 74 of Catch
“Loxley!” Sam barked from the side of the stage. “Radio interview. Now.”
I followed him to a room where a local station was set up. The interviewer greeted me with a familiar smile. It was the same woman who’d interviewed me the day I met Miles and I relaxed a little in her easy-going presence.
“Geez, Loxley,” she said. “I’m so glad you’re feeling better. One second you were fine, and the next, your show was canceled.”
“Are we live?” I asked.
She shook her head. “Not yet. Just wanted to say I’m glad you’re okay. It must’ve been rough.”
“Thank you,” I replied with a small smile.
When we went live, the interview followed the scripted narrative: I’d been sick, lost my voice, and needed time to recover. She played along perfectly, though I could see in her eyes she didn’t buy it.
When we wrapped, she leaned over and touched my hand. “If you ever need anything, you let me know.”
I nodded but followed Sam out without a word.
That night, I took the stage, sang my set, thanked the crowd, and walked off. Straight out the back door.
Sliding down the wall outside, I caught my breath like I always did. Sam was gonna come get me. He was gonna insist the night wasn’t over and I cried knowing that if the threats to Miles and his family hadn’t been hanging over my head, I would have run away again. Right back into his jurisdiction.
Chapter Forty-Two
WEST
It had beena week since Loxley left, and I’d begrudgingly spent more time in Harmony Haven than I cared to. But someone had to keep Miles from jumping off the deep end.
He’d tried going back to work for a few days, but his captain ultimately suspended him “until he could calm down.” The poor guy had no idea how deep Miles had gotten himself into Loxley’s situation. If he did, he’d probably strip him of his badge altogether.
“He still has a pole in the water,” I told Easton over the phone as I sat on the other side of Miles’ boat, babysitting him. “I mean, there’s no bait on it, but the man is giving it his best shot.”
“He’s so screwed,” Easton laughed.
“Reminds me of some other idiot I know,” I shot back, referring to him. My brothers were both insane for letting themselves fall in love. All it ever led to was heartache and chaos. Sure, I liked Jesse, and I knew Loxley was amazing, but they’d turned my brothers into people I barely recognized.
“Just keep him from diving in headfirst and bring him to Sunday dinner. Maybe we can help him figure out what to do.”
“I’ve been telling him to go get his girl, but he’s not convinced it’s whatshewants.”
“It’s complicated, being in the public eye. You know how that goes.”
“I’m not in the public eye,” I scoffed. “I try not to be. They just find me anyway.”
“Exactly. Now imagine how much worse it is for Loxley.”
I shuddered, the mere thought of all the cameras and attention aimed at her making me break out in a sweat. Or maybe it was the sun beating down on me in the middle of that godforsaken lake.
“Having fun?” I called out to Miles, giving him a thumbs up.
“Fuck off,” he yelled back.
“Still having fun,” I relayed dryly to Easton.
“You’re a good brother,” he teased.
“I’m wearing khaki shorts with an elastic waist and a vented shirt, Easton. I’m the best brother that ever existed.”
His laughter was loud enough to echo through the speaker. I shouldn’t have asked Grams to find me something to wear for fishing. I should’ve just ordered something with a higher thread count from the city.
