Page 66 of Catch Me

He holds me like a man clinging to life. Like a man who will try everything in this life not to let me go.

I don’t let him say anything more, I just kiss him. We kiss and kiss until Jules clears her throat. Actually, we kiss through that one too, but eventually, Lex clears his throat, and we finally break apart.

“Reid,” Lex says. “This is Mr. Chapman. He’s from Warner’s.”

Reid turns, almost dropping me on my ass. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Reid’s face turn red before, but I see it now. Mr. Chapman holds his hand out, so Reid shakes it. “Nice to meet you.”

Coach is there, too, smiling. My whole body buzzes. “You got quite the team here, Coach Jackson,” Mr. Chapman says, looking at all three of my friends.

“That I do.”

“I think I’d like to talk to you about a few of your boys.” He nods at Cade, Lex, and Reid in turn, calling them by their names.

Holy shit. This is happening. He must wantallof them.

Coach says, “I think we can arrange that.” They head back toward the front entrance to the school. To Coach’s office, not the locker room. That has to be a good sign.

“Fucker,” Cade says, punching him in the arm. “Chapman was looking for you.”

Reid puts his arm around me. “I had to see my girl.”

I don’t know what else happens after that because all I see is Reid. His green eyes. The sweat still dripping from the tips of his hair. The quirk of his lips, and the way he looks at me like there’s no chance on this earth there could ever be any other person for him than me.

And I happen to agree.

“I guess we’re going to Warner’s,” he says, his eyes lighting.

“I guess we are,” I mimic back.

He leans over, brushing his lips against my ear. “Forever.”

“Forever,” I say softly.

He puts his hand in mine, and we walk toward SHH. The place I tried like hell to get away from, only to find out it was the place that would change my life forever.

It turns out I don’t have the Spring Hill blues anymore. Reid took care of that.

Epilogue

I walk out of Reid’s parents’ kitchen with two cups of hot chocolate, taking them to Reid in the informal living room while wearing just his shirt and nothing else. His parents are away on a business trip again, so we have the whole place to ourselves. These are my favorite times.

When I get closer, the reporter talking on the TV gets louder. “Dr. Campbell’s Medical Associates office building was searched today after a subpoena was filed for medical records pertaining to one patient. The police haven’t released particulars as the patient is a minor, but it seems to be a related case to the Mitch and Clare Pontine case we’ve been reporting about over the last several weeks. We don’t yet know how the malpractice suit is related in conjunction with the Pontine’s alleged money laundering schemes and falsifying documents accusations. More tonight on the six o’clock news after the press conference with Sheriff Mills.”

When the report cuts back to two news anchors sitting at a desk, I walk in. “What are you watching that for?” I ask, handing him the mug of cocoa I made him.

He smiles. “Because…it makes me feel like maybe there is a bit of justice in this world. By the way, Cade texted me this morning. Hayley told him the Pontine’s are moving away from Spring Hill. There was a moving truck outside their place this morning.”

“They can’t leave the state, can they?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “I guess they’re heading to Mrs. Pontine’s sister who lives a couple of hours away. Up north.”

I still can’t believe how this thing blew up. Reid definitely did get his justice.

“Sooo,” he says, patting the cushion next to him. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you about something.”

I just look at him. I don’t know if I can take any more surprises. I’ve had to talk to the police more than a few times, and Jules and I will definitely be called as witnesses in Dr. Campbell’s case. At least, that’s what the detectives tell us. They may not need us if they find enough evidence that he lied about Reid’s condition at the behest of the Pontine’s.

“It’s not bad,” he assures me.

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