I don’t live close to Cami or Vivian and Hayes. I don’t have a job that requires me to be a part of my friends' lives daily like CeCe and Luca and Phoenix. And if Phoenix and Bishop can work their problems out, he’ll be around all of the time because Anais is family.
I sigh and go back inside to grab my keys and purse. I need to get out of here. I have a lot to think about and I need advice. There’s only one person I know that can help me.
And I’m sure he could use some family, right now.
17
CATHIA
Igrab my cup of coffee and step out onto my small patio. The sun warms the crisp morning, and it’s perfect for sitting and thinking.
My fuzzy slippers keep my feet toasty and my fluffy robe is wrapped tightly around me. I sip my coffee as steam rises from it and stare at my phone that sits on the small patio table. Sunday mornings have become my favorite over the past few months.
Usually I’m stretched out on Hayes’ warm chest while his fingers comb through my tangled hair. He loves it when my nails scratch up and down the ridges of his abs. The two of us listen to music as we work together to make breakfast, Hayes pulling me away to spin me around. When our bellies were full, we’d head straight to the shower for some mutual cleaning…among other things. And on really great days, I’d go with Hayes to watch him train with Beaux.
I waited the whole week, counting minutes and hours, for Sunday to come around. And when the sun set and it was time to say goodbye to our slice of heaven, I’d fall asleep only to dream of him.
With a sigh I place my cup down and pick up my phone. I scroll through the names and tap on the one who can help me fix this mess I’ve made.
“Cat?”
“Hey Bish,” I respond with apprehension. “Are you available to talk?”
“Of course. Give me one second.” He whispers to Anais, I assume, and I hear him moving about his place. “Is everything okay?”
With a deep breath I begin. “Yes and no. Yes because I fell in love with someone, and no because I think I’ve pushed him away.”
“Well well well. Our little Cat has fallen in love. Who’s the lucky guy?”
“Um, it’s…” I gulp and wipe the bead of sweat that forms on my forehead. “It’s Hayes.”
The line goes silent and I wait for him to say something. Anything! What I don’t expect is for him to start laughing. What about this situation is funny to him?
“I’m-I’m sorry, Cat. I’m not laughing at you it’s just,” he slows his laughing and takes a few deep breaths. “I knew it. I told Vaughan, you just wait and see. Hayes is gonna end up marrying Cat.”
“What? How can you say that?” I sip my coffee and pull up my legs, tucking them close to my chest.
“Cat…c’mon. Are you serious? That boy has been hung up on you foryears. How have you not clocked that? It was bound to happen, I was just waiting around for when it actually did.”
“I…I,” I’m at a loss for words.
Was I that dense that I never saw it?I never gave Hayes a second look beyond being friends, so I supposed I never noticed him.
“So give me the deets on this. When did it start? What’s the problem? How can I help you?”
I fist one hand, rubbing my fingers on the inside of my palm, and blow out a big breath. “We first hooked up the night before Cami and Vaughan’s wedding.”
“I knew something was off!” He shouts.
“It was only supposed to be a one time thing,” I explain. “But obviously that was not the case. I thought it was just going to be a fun fling and when it ended, that would be it.”
“But that’s not what happened,” he interjects.
I shake my head. “That’s not what happened. Bish…I love him. And he loves me. This is like, life changing love.”
“I’m not understanding the problem. What have the others had to say about it?”
I sit in silence. So quiet that you can hear winter as it crawls through the air.