Page 41 of The Catch

“No, that sounds nice. You can show me the neighborhood.”

“Sure.”

After gathering her things, Cat followed him out of the house and waited while he locked up. When he turned around, she pulled him into another kiss.

He suddenly regretted the rush. Maybe they could just show up late, after…No. Slow down, Josh.

They had all night, and he was going to take his time.

The water and the scent of beach roses perfumed the air as they walked down the quiet, tree-lined roads of the peninsula. Josh pointed out some of the more historic homes on the walk with an exuberance that Cat found infectious. Who knew architecture could be so interesting?

He told her that the shore was just past the rolling green lawns of the clapboard-sided estates that they passed, and she marveled alongside him at the stately mansions, all the while holding his hand. He seemed to be ready and willing to accept her increased affection. She glanced in his direction and was met with a happy smile. Of course, they were still alone and not in a group of his best guy friends, one of whom appeared to be a serial bachelor. She would see how things changed when they got to the party. For now, she would just enjoy the way he was stroking her hand with his thumb as they walked.

He looked extra handsome today. Not that he didn’t always, but she’d seen him dressed for the beach and dressed for a date in the city, and until now she hadn’t been able to decide which she liked better. Taking a discrete, sidelong look at him as they walked, and noticing the way his light grey t-shirt gave a shadowed hint at the definition of his lower abs, she decided casual Josh was a winner.

Dylan’s house really was only a short walk away, and Josh slowed as they reached a bungalow-style home with cedar siding and bright white trim. It was smaller than Josh’s, but she imagined it was similar to what Josh’s might have looked like before he added on.

She pulled in a deep breath, nervousness beginning to stir in her belly as they approached. She’d already spent time with Dylan and Shawn, but this was different. Last time, they were doing shots and playing cards on neutral territory. This felt more like an official invitation into Josh’s life, and she found herself wanting to make a good impression, despite her initial intentions. She reminded herself that worrying about his friends liking her was premature. Who knew how long this was going to last?

They walked through the front door without bothering to knock, and Josh led them through a much more cluttered living room than she’d found at his house. Josh’s home had impressed her. It wasn’t as if she was expecting some man-cave-esque flophouse, he was in his thirties after all, but she wondered if it was that clean all the time or he’d just made an extra effort for her. Additionally, her nosy self had noted that it had obviously been purged and redone since a woman had lived there, given the overtly masculine color scheme of greys and blues, and the vaguely utilitarian feel.

Dylan’s house, on the other hand, with very little hanging on the walls and piles of mail and magazines littering the dining room table, looked more like a base camp than a home. Josh had a beautiful stone fireplace in his living room and an expensive-looking leather couch. Dylan had a giant screen television and a sofa that looked as though it might have once lived in a dorm room. It was colorful, though, and what the house lacked in decor, it made up for in unique amenities: a spiral staircase, beautiful granite countertops, and modern fixtures. It was sort of frat-boy chic if she had to give it a title.

They went straight through the house and out the sliding glass doors off the kitchen, landing in a fenced-in yard. A kidney-shaped pool, sparkling blue against the white concrete patio, took up most of the space, but there was also a grassy area, large enough that a few men were tossing a football back and forth on it with no danger of a Marcia Brady incident for any of the other guests milling around.

Dylan stood behind the kind of grill men dream about, with a beer in his hand and a towel slung over his shoulder. He was speaking to a boy around seven or eight years old. Josh wrapped an arm around her shoulders, kissing the top of her head as he led her over.

That was unexpected.But it was one thing to initiate it himself. She still didn’t know how Josh would respond if the PDA were her idea.

“Hey, man,” Dylan said, giving a slight smirk at the sight of them before putting on a full grin. “Hey, Cat. Really good to see you again.”

“You too. Thanks for having me.”

“Hey, Josh!” the little boy shouted, rushing to Josh’s other side and hugging him around the waist. Cat let him go so he could receive the greeting.

“Mattie, this is Cat,” he said, grinning. “Cat, this is Shawn’s son, Matt.”

“Hi, Matt.” She smiled. “Nice to meet you.”

Shawn appeared beside them with a petite woman with pale white skin and a bright smile. Matt’s mother, quite obviously, given the round face and jet-black hair they shared. She’d have to take their word for it on Shawn’s parentage since the boy didn’t look a thing like him.

“You must be Cat,” she said, offering a hand. ”I’m Min-jung, but you can call me Minnie. I’m Shawn’s wife.”

“Hi, Minnie. It’s nice to meet you. I actually saw your picture when I met these guys. Shawn passed it around first thing.”

Minnie beamed at her husband, who puffed out his chest and wrapped an arm around her.

“Josh, have I mentioned how much I like Cat?” Shawn asked, with an appreciative smile. “Let’s get her a drink.”

Josh squeezed her hand. “Beer, wine, or cocktail?”

“It’s a full bar, and I’m mixing,” Shawn added. “Name your poison.”

She thought about the bikini in her bag and the sugary bloat of a mixed drink, but the pool and the hot sun had her pining for something tropical. “Tequila?” she asked, to a trio of smiles from the men.

“Shot or margarita?”

“It’s a little early for shots. A margarita sounds perfect.”

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