Page 16 of Catch Me If You Can

“Thanks,” I say with a smile that doesn’t quite reach my eyes. I adjust in my chair, subtly leaning away. James’s hand landson my shoulder in a squeeze that lingers a second too long. I swallow hard, my smile freezing in place.

The tightness in my chest doesn’t ease until he finally walks off, whispering, “Yeah. Good job.”

What the hell was that?

I pull out my phone, needing the distraction. Lunch break’s coming up, and I already know where I’m going—and who I’m hoping to see.

Her story is the first one at the top of my feed. A quick tap and there she is: Sarah. Sitting on a café patio with sunlight dancing across her blonde hair, spooning tiramisu into her mouth like she’s in some indie rom-com. She's so damn cute. And just like that, my mood shifts.

“No, no, no.” Before I can react, Theo, Chief Investment Officer, partner to our boss, and, I guess, my best friend, snatches the phone right out of my hand.

“Dude—” I lunge for it. “I was looking at something!”

“Oh, I know.” He raises an eyebrow. “It’s the same old routine: 1. Stalk Sarah. 2. Call Sarah. 3. See Sarah. 4. Cry. Then repeat.”

I groan, scrubbing a hand over my face. “Just give it back.”

“I’m doing you a favor.” He folds his arms like he’s some moral authority. “You’ve been stuck in this loop with her forfour years. Four.”

I hate that he’s right. I hate it even more that Iknowhe’s right.

Anyone with a logical brain would probably think that I’m being crazy for still being hung up on Sarah. I know people think I should hate her. But I don’t. I can’t. Not even after everything.

Prom night was brutal. Her cheating on me with Caleb, my so-called best friend at the time messed with my head. Yeah, that sucked. That betrayal cut deep, especially coming from him. But over the years, I’ve made peace with most of it. After all, it’s notcompletelyher fault. Caleb knew exactly what he was doing. He crossed a line that I never imagined he would. She? She gotcaught up in...him. TheCalebof it all. It’s what he does. He’s the kind of guy people get lost in. It doesn’t make it okay, but I can’t completely blame her.

Back then, Sarah wasn’t just my girlfriend. She became my best friend. Besides Caleb, she went out of her way to make me feel seen. Wanted. Important. And somehow, even after the breakup, that connection never fully broke. After she profusely apologized for what she did, she visited me in college. She constantly checked in on me to make sure I was okay. We stayed close. Of course, hooking up only made sense. She was my girlfriend after all. I’m happy to say she was my first. And maybe, in a weird way, I kind of assumed she’d be my last.

“It’s none of your business,” I mutter.

Theo shakes his head. “Itbecamemy business after you vented to me over at O'Riley’s and almost cried toDrake. That was a low point for both of us.”

“Wow. Noted. Remind me to never vent to you again.”

Note to self: Don’t go drinking with Theo after one too many unanswered texts from Sarah.

He softens. “I’m just saying... you’re worth more than this, man. You deserve someone who sees the value in you.Fully.”

His words sting more than I want to admit. Because someone else said something similar once—someone who claimed to care about me before stabbing me in the back.

Theo reads the change in my face and sighs, handing me back my phone. I check the time. Still got a bit before I have to be back.

“Thanks,” I mumble, already dialing Sarah’s number as I pass him.

He doesn’t try to stop me this time.

***

“Come on, youhaveto try it.” She giggles as she brings the spoon to my mouth, teasing me with the bite of tiramisu. I roll my eyes but open up.

“It’s delicious,” I admit, mouth full.

“I told you!” She claps, then does a little happy wiggle in her seat. God, she’s infectious. I dip my finger in the whipped cream on the edge of her plate and dab it on her nose. She gasps, then tries to lick it off like a cat, making me laugh out loud.

She’s always been this playful. Light. Easy. Like everything in the world could be good if she just stayed in it a little longer.

That’s when I feel it. She sits back in her chair and sighs a little longer than normal. My eyebrows pinch together as I watch her stare off into the distance.

“Everything okay?” I ask, wiping my fingers and leaning in. The patio is warm, the breeze soft. Perfect day.

---