Catalyst Read Free

the photo on his phone, he shows me the selfie he took. I have my eyes closed and am making a scrunchy face and he’s cheesing to the camera with love and adoration in his eyes.
    “How’d you—”
    “I had help.”
    “But when?”
    “For the past two months. Any free time I had, it was here, getting it all ready. For the furnishings, if you pay a moving company enough money, they can be in and out in four hours. This is our home, our future. I love you, baby.” The kiss I get is one of those that leads to everything else. His hands are everywhere, and minutes later, I’m thrown onto his, scratch that, our bed.
    “I’m the luckiest girl alive.”
     
    That picture has been my screensaver on my phone for years now. I know every freckle by memory because I’ve stared at it so long. It’s ingrained in my brain so well I couldn’t forget it even if I wanted to.
    I miss being happy. I miss him.
    After probably way too long, I finally get up off the floor and walk through the house one last time before leaving. Mr. Rhodes is long gone, and a note on the front door says to leave through the garage and that the new owners move in in two days.
    I lock the place up and stare at the garage door a minute before working up the nerve to leave. When he said leave through the garage, I forgot I didn’t have a garage door opener with me anymore. I have to run and jump over the sensor after I push the button to get out of the garage before it closes on me. As a kid, I was a pro at this feat. Now, I feel like an out of shape burglar who just about got caught.
    Three hours later, I’m effectively drunk at my own bar, thanks to my trusty best friend, Noah. We’ve been friends since sixth grade when some kids dared him to kiss me under the bleachers at a middle school soccer game. Noah and I have been through everything together; he knows I need another eighteen drinks before he closes up shop. He’ll take me home, where he’ll tuck me in bed and then sleep on my couch to make sure I don’t die before sunrise.
    It works.
    “You know, if you were a regular customer, the owner would have sent you home in a cab, oh, forty-five minutes ago. You’re giving our best customers the wrong impression, Tinsley. Old man Hodges over there has been watching you and adjusting his pants every few minutes,” Noah calmly states without looking at me. He just continues to wipe down the bar, even though it’s spotless.
    Girls at the bar are always eye-fucking him. He’s clueless about it, but that’s not to say he doesn’t have game. He likes the girls who fly under the radar—he doesn’t like the girls who throw themselves at any cute guy. He likes the one who stays in the back, watching and listening quietly. The girl who pretends to be calm and quiet, even when she’s up against her more willing friends. He likes the challenge, the underdog.
    He has this charm to him with his light scruff and slightly too long hair. Athletic but with some love to him. The kicker is that he cares. This boy goes out of his way to do good without ever questioning it.
    This is why he’s my best friend. He gets me and I get him.
    Right now, he’s calling a cab for old man Hodges while getting him a to-go cup of cranberry juice. As they both pass behind me, a weak hand grabs my ass and gives it an awkward squeeze. Noah slaps the old guy’s hand away, but the damage is done.
    “Ugh,” I say when Noah’s back behind the bar. “At least I don’t have to worry about getting assaulted when I leave. What time is it, anyway?” I rub my eyes, feeling the effects of not sleeping well. Without Liam by my side at night, it’s been a rough few months.
    “Almost one in the morning. Rodney said he’d close for me tonight.” He nods over to the side where Rodney is distracted on his phone. Noah’s cough effectively pulls him back to the real world and he gives us both a head nod. When his eyes meet mine, they’re filled with pity.
    Oh, right. Everyone around