Page 209 of Always: A Legacy Novel

“Fuck this,” Catherine muttered, getting up from the table.

Standing fast made her tipsy.

The ground moved under her feet.

She managed not to show how dizzy she was. She didn’t look anyone in the eye as she darted for the dining room’s exit in her grandparents’ home. Footsteps echoed behind her, but she kept walking.

Andino caught up with her, and grabbed her arm to spin her around. Catherine glared at her cousin. “What the hell, Andi?”

“What’s up with you?”

“Nothing,” she mumbled, brushing him off. “I’m going to head back to Manhattan.”

Her cousin stared hard at her. “Do you need a break or something? Do you want to chill out for a bit, maybe?”

“Andino, I am fine.”

“You sure? I mean, Cross mentioned getting you to back off a bit, and maybe he had a p—”

“I am fine!”

Andino took a big step back, and his hands came up in surrender. “All right. We hitting that premier party next weekend?”

Catherine nodded. “Yeah.”

When she was Catty, when she put on that mask and worked her act, she was higher than ever. She didn’t need a drink or drug to get her there, either.

She didn’t have to be a broken girl.

She didn’t need someone who wasn’t there.

She was just Catty.

Unobtainable.

Unreachable.

Un-fucking-touchable.

That rush was everything.

“Surprise, babe,” she heard murmured behind her.

Catherine stiffened, and quickly tossed the Ritalin and Xanax down her throat. She turned on her heel to find Cross leaning in the master bath doorway with a sexy grin that made her heart pick up.

Five long weeks.

He’d been gone five long fucking weeks.

“Cross,” she breathed, her smile growing.

“Come here,” he demanded.

She let her purse hit the bathroom floor, and flew into his arms. He had her picked up and turned around before she even knew what happened. His mouth was on hers, kissing and taking and waging war. His tongue darted past her parted lips to get a taste, and hers was already there to meet his.

“Fucking missed you,” he mumbled against her mouth. “I’m not going anywhere for a couple of months, so I’m all yours, Catty.”

Yes.