Page 58 of The Catch

It hits me all at once. She was leaving his place when I arrived. She was the last Bake and Bye victim.

This time, rather than jealousy, I feel a hint of heartbreak. For Rebecca, and for the brief moment I believed I could face a different ending.

He smiles at her. "I hope you're well."

Saint unobtrusively guides me up a few steps.

"I am, thanks." Her eyes follow us. "Have a lovely night."

She turns and walks into the crowd. Saint and I start our way up the stairs.

"I'm sorry." He gazes at me. "Again. It's not always like this, I promise."

"You didn't do anything but be polite." I suck on my bottom lip. "It's okay."

"Still. I'm sorry. I wish I could stop it. I don't mean to… but it's inevitable, really, since I come here so often and, well…"

He shakes his head and lets the sentence die, but I can hear what he meant anyway.

Since I've slept with so many people.

"I'm sorry, Ames."

I don't mind the fact per se, but how it reminds me yet again how different we are. One day, I'll try for my happily ever after again. Eventually, Saint will want to go back to dating. Probably as soon as I'm gone from the condo, and he can come back to the club and to his routines unencumbered.

We don't say much else until we're sitting in a booth with friends around, and we've ordered water and drinks.

"If you want to go back down and meet someone—" I start, but he shakes his head right away.

"Don't, Ames."

"If it's because of the logistics I can just… go somewhere else…"

Not that I have somewhere else. Maybe I can ask Evie to let me stay at her place, if she's staying with Logan…

"Ames. Don't you realize? If I wanted to, I could take a date to a hotel overnight."

"But you don't want to do that?"

All he does is get closer and shake his head. "I don't."

It means something. It challenges my thoughts— maybe. Maybe not, but I don't get to think it through, or let it stop the rollercoaster of emotions I'm on tonight.

"Sorry. Ames?" Evie taps my shoulder. "I don't think you've noticed who's staring at you."

"What?"

"Don't look, but over there. Near the railing, at the end of the balcony? Aidan is there."

"What?!" I harsh-whisper.

I can't help it. I glance at my ex, and he notices.

I turn to Saint. "Fuck. I think it's my turn to apologize to you."

"Don't you dare," Saint says. "This is his doing. Or did you invite him here?"

"Absolutely not, but I mentioned the club last night during the call. He knew where I would be. I never thought he would show up."