Page 16 of Catch Me (Townsend Legacy #4)

Though I grew up in a two-parent household with two older siblings, these two are the family I didn’t know I craved until I met them.

“I just hate that I wasted my whole entire early adulthood on a loser,” Ari laments.

“You say that like you have one foot in the grave.” I laugh. “You’re only twenty-six.”

“And I’ve been with that fool since I was twenty.”

Ari met Ron in the city where they’re from in North Carolina when she went home during summer break from college.

“Which means you don’t need to spend one more minute thinking about his ass. He’s done. You can figure the rest out tomorrow or the next day. You’re welcome to stay here as long as you need,” Mya offers.

Ms. Shelby hops onto Ari’s lap, purring.

“You’re more welcome than some people,” Mya gripes, glaring at Ms. Shelby.

Ms. Shelby meows at Mya and then steps over her lap to crawl into mine and curl into a ball.

“Cats,” Mya murmurs, making me and Ari laugh.

“Man, I feel lighter after spilling all of that. There’s still so much to work out, but damn, it feels good having gotten it out.” Her eyes have a renewed spark in them.

Had my friend lost her spark and I didn’t even notice?

I contemplate that for a beat before I hear my name being called.

“Huh?” I look up to find both of my friends staring at me.

“Where’d you go?” Ari asks.

“Nowhere. Just thinking.”

Ari’s eyes narrow.

“I’ll tell you what she was thinking about. I bet you this one here hasn’t told you that she’s dating Andreas Knight,” Mya blurts out.

Ari gasps, then clasps her hands over her mouth. “Shut the front door. How do you come out to Hollywood and in less than three months not only did you find the job of your dreams but you’re dating one of the most gorgeous stars of our generation?”

“ One of ?” The question spills out of me without me thinking about it.

“See?” Mya points. “Look at her ass being defensive already.”

I dip my head to cover my smirk.

“We’re not dating,” I murmur. “I can’t date him.”

“Why not?” Mya’s eyes narrow. “This better not be about you thinking you’re not good enough.”

I hold up my hands. “No,” I say quickly.

“Oh, I was about to say.”

“It’s against company policy,” I tell them.

Mya’s eyes narrow even farther. “Since when? Hollywood actors date one another all of the time. And I know they date crew from time to time. Shoot, you wouldn’t believe who’s hooked up with who. It doesn’t get out because we write some iron-clad non-disclosure agreements.”

“Alright. It might not be against official policy, but apparently, it’s highly frowned upon.” Rebecca’s words from my first day on the set come to mind.

But then the call I was on right before Ari showed up overshadows my boss’ comments. The deep rumble of Andreas’ voice on the other end of the line has tingles pushing down my spine.

“I mean, what does he see in me anyway?”

“What the hell did you just say?”

I close my eyes upon realizing I’ve spoken my doubt out loud. I don’t have to see them to know that both Ari and Mya are glaring at me. It’s been a long time since I’ve spoken like this about myself in front of them. They hate it.

And for the most part, I’ve gotten out of the habit.

Yet, with the recent changes in my life, that voice manages to rise more frequently these days.

I push out a heavy breath. “I don’t want to make tonight about me. It’s about you, Ari.”

“Oh no. Absolutely not.” She shakes her head. “We’re done talking about me. That man dragging me down is in the past. I’ll figure out what happens next on another day. Right now, we’re talking about your insecurities rising up when a beautiful man is interested in you.”

“Yes,” I say. “Okay, since I’ve met Andreas, that voice has come up from time to time. But it’s not just him. It’s this new job. The fact that I never completed my degree in this field and just living in a new-to-me city. Ms. Baldwin’s death.”

I shake my head.

“I had a session with Dr. King this morning and I’m feeling better after it. I just needed to be honest about how I was feeling …

“I promise, I’m good,” I tell them.

For the next few hours, we spend time talking and catching up, finishing the ice cream, and watching one of the latest crime documentaries on Netflix that Mya loves.

Ari and I laugh at our friend as she yells at the screen for her perceived incompetence of the investigators.

While watching the documentary, I reach for my phone, checking for messages. There’s one.

Andreas:

I hope everything is good with your friend. Don’t forget to send me that list.

Those butterflies are back, but guilt pummels my senses at the same time. I quickly scroll out a message.

Me:

She’s great.

I think for a moment, remembering the image of Diahann Carroll on that cover. It’s as if she’s staring at me, reminding me to reply.

It doesn’t take me long to type out the list of ten different publications that made up my collection.

Me:

This one was my favorite.

I tell him, referring to the Ebony publication I’d cherished the most out of my entire collection.

A minute later he replies with a ‘checkmark’ emoji.

Andreas:

I’ll see you tomorrow, beautiful.

“See? I knew it was him!” Mya says, tapping my knee. “Pay attention, Vee, this could save your life one day.”

I laugh and put my phone back down to continue watching.