Page 136 of The Catch

Saint holds my hand tight. I squeeze back. Pablo crosses his arms but follows us.

People are still packed on the field. We find a spot nearby and make our own little group. I'm not sure what Logan's sign meant or what Saint has to do next, but there's no time for that when Pablo frowns at us.

I frown back. "Please don't get toxic now at this ripe old age of ours."

"Toxic?" he says.

"Pablo…" Saint tries for conciliatory.

I stare my brother down, never mind he's taller than me. He's notthatmuch taller.

Saint looks like he meant to keep talking, but I take over.

I raise an eyebrow at Pablo. "It would be a pity if you go pre-historic on me now and think you can disapprove. But if you do, you have to know it won't stop me. I am with Saint now."

Saint's eyes are on me. I'm too busy holding a defiant stare on Pablo to see it clearly, but I think he likes my reaction. I confirm it when he kisses my cheek.

Pablo raises both eyebrows high. "Look— I saw the way you looked at each other in college. I'm not a fool. But after all this time, I didn't think living together for a couple of months would change your mind. The Saint and Ames I knew wouldn't get into something like this. Saint— you've never had a relationship that lasted more than two weeks. And Ames, well…"

I clench my jaw. "Toxic. Medieval, at least."

My brother rethinks whatever he planned to say and closes his mouth.

Saint puts a hand on my back and adds his two cents. "You know why my parents teased me like that five minutes ago? Because I told them to not expect girlfriends, years ago. I told them I would never bring anyone home. That changed with Ames."

Saint gives me a small smile. Pablo studies him.

"Ames isn't just another short-term date," Saint tells my brother, while gazing at me. "I'm all in. And even though I haven't properly asked, the fact Ames is here says she is in, too."

"I just don't want to see you both hurt," Pablo says. "I thought you wanted different things. That's all. I love you both."

I shake my head. "We're not getting into this without thought— or without care for each other."

Saint brings me closer but gazes at my brother. "Do you need to know I agonized over this? Because I did. I've felt things for Ames since the start. Having her close these past few months showed me just how much I feel for her. I never want to hurt her, Pablo. I hope you can trust that."

I gaze at Pablo. "All you have to do is believe us. This is right for us. We're going to make this work."

My brother gazes from me to Saint. Gears turn in his brain— I see them coming up to speed behind his eyes.

I place a hand on Saint's face and make him look my way. "Kiss me again. Maybe he needs more evidence—"

"Okay!" Pablo complains. "I saw you already. I don't need to see it again."

"You better get used to it," Saint says and kisses my temple.

"Fine." Pablo stares up to the patch of sky we can see between tall gallery structures, cables, and lights. "I believe you, but please admit this is weird."

"It's not weird," Saint argues. "It's everything I wanted."

"Fuck," Pablo complains. "You look way too happy for me to fight you on this. God forbid I'm toxic now. Pre-historic, she said."

"Exactly." Saint grins. "You wouldn't want to be any of those things. But even when I thought you might be, it didn't stop me from falling for your sister."

I shrug. "I didn't even worry about it too much."

Saint laughs and steals a kiss from me.

Pablo groans. "Fine! I got it. I'll get used to it. Eventually."