Page 55 of The Catch

"Ready to go home now?" Evie asks Logan.

He nods and Evie busies herself saying goodbye, and chatting with Ames about the mate and their next get-together. Logan gives them his back to talk to me inconspicuously.

"Last year you said you'd place a bet on Evie and I," he says. "You said we'd be together within a month."

I narrow my eyes at him. "What are you up to?"

"Nothing. Just thinking I get it now."

"Get what?"

"You make this face when you look at Ames. I bet I looked at Evie the same way."

"Would I have won that bet?" I purse my lips.

"We started things that same night."

"I'm not starting anything with Ames." I shake my head. "Definitely not tonight."

"You respected it when I said not to put your bet on the Hypersquare, so I won't either." He raises an eyebrow. "But a month sounds about right."

"That would put us near the big game. I don't think she's into me that way, and I don't date. This is wishful thinking, my friend."

"Maybe," he says. "But you know I'm calling it."

"Okay," Evie takes Logan's hand again. "Let's go."

"Good night," I tell her. "And blessings. You deal with a lot, being with this guy."

"Oh, I love dealing with him." She smiles and they leave.

"Let's go home?" Ames asks.

She does not take my hand, but we leave together. Twenty-two year old me would be confused that it's happening, and overall thrilled regardless.

I focus on that on the way home.

Standing right outside her bedroom door, we say goodnight.

She smiles. "I'm looking forward to going out dancing with you tomorrow."

Despite myself, I am too.

Chapter 19

Ames

Last time I was at this club, it was when Saint invited Aidan and I to the post-season party last year. The place looks the same, with its dark cushioned benches and booths in the VIP section, tinted by the purple recessed lights hidden behind the furniture. A few scattered armchairs are strategically placed to create different sitting areas, with side tables flanking them to hold drinks and food. It's classy and luxurious and, the way the team is treated here, it's clear why they have made it their favorite place to gather.

Last year, I remember feeling like Aidan and I fit right in. Him in his suit and me in a pretty dress, with these athletes and their people all dressed to the nines. Tonight, I wear one of my favorite outfits, but my emotions don't play nice. My soft gold satin blouse drapes low on my chest, and a matte black pencil mini skirt shows off my thick thighs, yet I don't feel as confident as I usually do.

"Everything okay?" Saint leans closer to me. "You look too serious for a night out."

He sits next to me, an arm around me on the back of the booth. He wears tailored pants in a dark sage tone, and a shirt that calls for my hands. It's a darker,less saturated color than his pants, but the texture is some sort of brushed velvet, and the neck looks more like a stylish version of a robe collar, than a shirt per se.

He looks delectable. Somewhere in my body, a decision has been made to increase my core temperature. It must be why I'm slowly heating up.

He's so damn fashionable. I've always known it. I noticed it last year, too, when Aidan and I came here. It hits differently tonight, somehow. No joke, my mouth is watering.