Page 112 of Catch You


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Walking over, I pull my aunt into my arms. “Thank you,” I whisper in her hair.

“You’re welcome. If you ever need anything, you know where I am. Your mother would never forgive me if I weren’t here for you.”

As always at the mention of my family, guilt twists my gut. I probably should have called my mum for advice, but the thought of putting more on her plate puts me off, so when we do talk, I skim the surface of my issues.

After she hands me the key to the camper and I get my uncle’s speech once again about looking after his baby, I climb inside and head towards the place I want to be more than anything but am equally terrified of.

I sit out on the street outside Harlow’s for long minutes. I’ve had a message from Brooke to say that they’re home, but nothing more.

After giving myself a pep talk, I climb from the car before collecting the doughnuts I stopped to pick up on the way over. I wanted to buy more flowers, but after seeing her living room the other day, I already know she’s got enough of those.

With the box in hand, I make my way over. I don’t get a chance to knock on the front door, because it’s pulled open before I even come to a stop.

“I didn’t think you were going to come in.” I look back at the camper, my cheeks heating.

“Sorry, I … uh … had a call?” I don’t mean it to come out as a question, but it does nonetheless. She quirks an eyebrow at me, clearly not believing a word.

“Come in. Harlow’s asleep on the sofa. She’s not in a good place. I hope that seeing you will help. She keeps telling me she doesn’t want to, but I know her better than she realizes I do.” The box of doughnuts is lifted from my hand, and I can’t help wondering if I’m going to see them again with the way she’s staring down at them.

“If I didn’t freak out, then none of this would have happened.”

Brooke reaches out, and I still when her hand lands on my forearm. She stares up at me, and I’m unable to react. I’m too desperate for the insight that I sense is on the tip of her tongue.

“My best friend is complicated, but her heart is always in the right place. She keeps a lot of stuff about her life hidden, although I think really she’s just trying to hide it from herself. All of it reminds her too much of her parents. But there would have been no ulterior motive behind what she did. She genuinely just wants to help.”

I nod at her, because although I lost my shit when I found out about the money, I knew deep down that there wasn’t anything malicious about it. Harlow doesn’t have a malicious bone in her body.

“I’ll make myself scarce, but holler if you need me.”

“Thank you, Brooke. I really appreciate it.”

She nods before heading up the stairs, taking the doughnuts with her.

She didn’t give me a great impression when I first met her, but I fear I might have Brooke all wrong. Maybe her friendship with Harlow’s makes more sense than first appeared.

Rolling my shoulders back, I walk through into their living room.

I scan the mass of flowers and sympathy cards covering every surface before I find her curled up on the end of the sofa.

Dropping to my haunches in front of her, I allow myself a couple of seconds to take her in. Her red hair hangs in curls around her shoulders, and her makeup is smudged around her eyes from where she’s been crying today, but her complexion is paler than I remember, the circles under her eyes darker.

My heart aches for what she’s been going through for the past week or so, and I kick myself for not being more forceful and making her see me so I could look after her.

She shifts in her sleep, and I can’t help wondering if she’s uncomfortable with her head at such a weird angle.

Making a snap decision, I stand and slide my arms under her slight body. It takes hardly any effort to lift her. The second she’s against my chest, she nuzzles her cheek against me and moans lightly.

Does she know I’m here? That she’s in my arms?

“Corey,” she mumbles. Every muscle in my body freezes, but when I look down, I find her eyes are still closed with sleep.

As smoothly as I can, I walk us up the stairs and to her bedroom. I manage to pull her sheets back before lowering her to the bed.

She immediately curls onto her side and stays asleep.

Unable to keep the distance between us now that I’ve touched her, I toe my shoes off and pull my hoodie from my body before crawling in behind her.

I close the space between us until her back is pressed up against my front, and I wrap my arm around her waist. After a few seconds, her hand finds mine and she tangles our fingers together.