Page 124 of The Catch

I find her behind the island. The line of her shoulders pulls down, weighed by invisible anchors. Her brow wrinkles. Her lids are red.

She hasn't looked like this in weeks.

I take a few steps to her and jolt to a stop. "What happened?"

She blinks a few times, like she's trying to make up her mind.

"Ames. Please. Something happened. Tell me what it is so I can make it better."

"But you have to leave soon, and I don't want to wreck your concentration. And the food— it's going to go cold—"

I briefly glance behind her. A beautiful spread waits on the counter.

The way my stomach twists, I don't think I can do the meal justice.

"What's going on?" I insist.

I don't move, beyond grabbing the edge of the stool in front of me.

Ames shakes her head. "It should wait. We can talk after."

"Please. Nothing is more important than finding out why you look like you've been crying."

She holds herself up with hands firmly planted on the counter stone. My knuckles go white.

She sighs. "Aidan showed up outside of the building a while ago."

"What?!"

Sudden anger resounds in my voice. Buzzing fills my ears and power bolts through my limbs, as if I have to fight a wild animal. It's the rage that Aidan could wreck our bliss once more, and the sudden urge to protect Ames from whatever he caused her.

She shakes her head. "He wanted the notebook where he wrote his songs and a few poems. He left it inside the piano bench."

She makes a small gesture to the instrument behind me.

I keep my eyes on her. "Did you burn it and tell him to go to hell?"

She smirks. "No. I got some anger out and told him to get lost. Again."

"So… we get to burn the notebook together when I'm back?"

"Undecided, but you tempt me."

I purse my lips. Clench my jaw. He probably planned the whole thing. I can see it— Aidan leaving the notebook in the bench, biding his time. He didn't seem to believe Ames the first time… or the second time. This gave him one last chance.

Not what matters now.

"Are you okay?" is all I ask.

She nods. "I'll be okay. It just got me thinking."

Anger turns into fear. My stomach turns once more.

"What's going on?" I ask. "Talk to me."

"This time with you has been great in so many ways…"

Something inside me cracks. I sit on an island stool. Things are caving in.