Page 56 of The Catch

Josh’s hands were warm against the back of her thighs. His mouth was soft and comforting, and she focused on the feel of him until her heartbeat began to settle into a more sustainable rhythm. She let her muscles relax and thought of all of the happiness he’d brought to her life over the past few months. His quiet intelligence and playful energy—the way one minute he looked at her like a man who had so much to teach her, and the next like a boy with a crush. It made her feel safe and hopeful, and nothing like the angry person she was before. He was being honest with her now, vulnerable. He always was. She could do it too. She leaned on her elbows to look at him. “I love you too, Josh.”

“But you’re also afraid,” he said, his lips on the inside of her knee. “You don’t have to be.”

“It feels dangerous to love you like this so quickly.”

Against her wishes, he paused, picking up his head up to look at her. “I was with Sarah for years and look what happened. Maybe it doesn’t make sense on paper, how quickly I knew what you were going to be to me, but it feels more right than anything ever has.” She settled her head back into the pillow and closed her eyes, letting him convince her. “We’ll go at whatever pace you want, Cat. I know where we’re heading. We’ll get there when you say.”

Twenty-one

Dani flagged down the bartenderas she and Cat took a seat at the bar at Bruno’s, a little pub halfway between their office buildings. They’d been coming there on Wednesday nights for the last three years—ever since Dani got a job in the same neighborhood as Cat—and the smell of slightly-burnt nachos and hoppy beer always relieved Cat’s mid-week slump. But tonight it was the end of a short work week, and she was looking forward to an extra drink to celebrate. It was also the eve of an important milestone for her and Josh and not a single hair on her neck stood up in warning.Cheers to that.

“So, Prince Charming is going to the Roday Family Thanksgiving Extravaganza, huh?” Dani asked while she waited for service.

“Don’t call him that anymore,” Cat said. “The game is over.”

“Fine. DoesJoshknow what he’s getting into?”

“My parents are going to adore him. You know all he has to do is not be Micah and he gets a gold star.”

“I’m not talking about Carlos and Cynthia. I’m talking about the wall to wall people and the kids screaming from every room in the house.”

Dani had spent two of four Thanksgivings at Cat’s parents’ house during college when finances had made it necessary for her to choose between turkey or Christmas with her own parents who’d moved to Florida. She knew it could be overwhelming at times.

The bartender set two margaritas down in front of them, and Dani’s lips were wrapped around the straw before she could thank him.

“Ladies.” He greeted them both, leaning his elbows on the bar like a man who intended to stay awhile. “How’s the drink, Dani?”

“Perfection as always, Jay.”

“Cat?”

She took a long pull from her straw and let her eyes roll back in her head. “Exactly what I needed today.”

“You’re always coming in here stressed, Catia,” Jay said. “You work too hard.”

“No such thing.”

“Well, I hope you have someone who can work all that stress out of you at the end of a long day.”

“Do you hope she does, Jay?” Dani asked.

“Pretty girl like that shouldn’t be sitting next to you every night, Dani.”

Dani flashed him a supermodel grin. “You love me.”

“I love Cat more.”

“You’re breaking my heart, baby.”

Jay blew a kiss to her as he walked away, and Dani turned back to Cat.

“He wants that kitty, Cat.”

“Shut up. He does not, and you’re crass.”

“Yeah, all right, Catia Patron Saint of bathroom quickies.”

“Shhh!” Cat glanced nervously around the bar, though she didn’t know anyone there. “I told you that in confidence.”

---