Page 44 of The Catcher
“Not reported so far,” Callie answered, her expression grave as she met Noah’s gaze.
Noah let out a frustrated sigh. Exhaustion overwhelmed him as he downed another glass of water, the liquid doing little to quench the desert-like dryness in his throat.
“Listen, I’m just relaying the information,” Callie said,her voice softening as she turned down the volume on her radio.
He nodded, acknowledging her words, before changing the subject. “How’s it going? You know, being back on the beat full-time?”
Callie shrugged, a wry smile playing at the corners of her lips. “Not much different from before, except McKenzie now gets to boss me around another way.”
Noah smirked and brushed past her, only then realizing he was still clad in nothing but a towel.
“Is that your usual house attire?” she teased with a hint of amusement.
“It lets everything breathe,” he quipped, hurrying down the corridor to get dressed. Callie remained in the living room, her presence comforting amidst the chaos of his thoughts.
Returning a few minutes later, Noah felt marginally more composed, the familiar weight of clothes lending him a sense of normalcy.
“Where are the kids?” Callie inquired, her gaze scanning the room.
“At Gretchen’s until Sunday evening,” he replied, grateful for his aunt’s help.
“Convenient,” Callie remarked casually, picking up a bottle and setting it on the coffee table.
Noah bristled slightly at the implication in her words, but he forced himself to remain calm. “Look, if you’re here to rake me over the coals, forget it. I do that enough to myself.”
“I’m not,” Callie assured him, meeting his gaze sincerely.
He studied her momentarily, searching for any hint of deception in her expression. Finding none, he let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. “Good. You want coffee?”
She raised an eyebrow, considering his offer. “I’ll pass, but you go ahead.”
Noah turned toward the kitchen, only to realize again the power was out. “Shit.” He groaned. “Of course.”
“There’s power on my side of town. If you want, you can stay there. McKenzie doesn’t want to see you until the morning. Something to do with getting his beauty sleep and whatnot.” She snorted, shaking her head. “Anyway, it’s not exactly warm here,” Callie said.
Noah hesitated for a moment, weighing his options.
It wasn’t what he had planned.
Despite his reluctance to rely on others, he couldn’t deny the appeal of a warm, well-lit space in the storm.
“All right,” he conceded, offering her a grateful nod. “Just let me grab a few things.”
13
Noah sat nestled on the couch at Callie’s one-bedroom apartment, cradling a cup of hot coffee in his hands. The warmth seeped into his chilled bones, offering a welcome reprieve from the harshness of the storm raging outside. The caffeine was quick to alleviate the pounding headache from too much alcohol, along with the Tylenol he’d knocked back. A small grandfather clock ticked away the seconds, its rhythmic sound comforting in the otherwise quiet room.
Callie returned from the back of the apartment, her arms laden with bedding — a sheet, a duvet, and a pillow. She arranged them on the couch with practiced efficiency, ensuring Noah would be as comfortable as possible for the night.
“That should do. Listen, if the power goes out here and it gets colder, there are more blankets in the cupboard,” she informed him, tucking a loose strand of her dark, curly hair behind her ear. Her icy blue eyes sparkled withwarmth and kindness in the soft glow of the lampstand nearby. She was attractive. Dressed in a cream long-sleeve shirt and comfortable pants, she exuded an aura of calm.
She folded her arms and offered him a gentle smile before moving to draw the curtains closed, shutting out the wild storm raging beyond the window.
“I hope this lets up soon,” she remarked, her voice full of weariness.
Noah observed her with gratitude. Despite the chaos of the night, Callie remained composed.
He had visited her apartment several times over the past year, occasionally sharing dinner with her, but he had never stayed the night. Yet now, in the aftermath of a harrowing ordeal, the barriers between them seemed to fade away, washed clean by the raw vulnerability of the moment.
