62. Chapter 62
Cate
Present
No one spoke.
Not right away.
The silence felt intentional, like Trevor was letting the moment cool, letting me feel the weight of what I’d just done without saying a word about it.
The phone was still in my hand. Still buzzing. Still mine.
Trevor straightened slowly, smoothing the front of his shirt like he’d just stepped out of a meeting instead of nearly grabbing something out of my hand.
“Okay,” he said again, gentler this time. “Let’s all take a breath.”
Seth didn’t sit back down. “I think we should go,” Seth said calmly.
Trevor’s eyes flicked to him. “No,” he said easily. “I don’t think that’s necessary.”
The word necessary landed heavier than it should have.
Seth glanced at me. “Cate?”
I looked between them, two men who loved me. Two very different definitions of what that meant.
“I think I need some air,” I said.
Trevor turned to me, concern sliding seamlessly into place. “You don’t need to leave the house to get air.”
“I do,” I said quietly. “Right now.”
After the smallest pause, Trevor nodded once. “Okay.”
Relief hit me so hard my knees almost buckled.
“I’ll get my jacket,” I added.
Trevor stepped aside immediately, gesturing toward the hallway like this had been his idea all along. “Of course.”
I moved quickly, not running but not slow either, my pulse thudding in my ears. I grabbed my bag. My keys.
My phone buzzed again.
I didn’t answer it.
When I came back, Seth was already by the door.
Trevor stood a few feet behind him, far enough away to appear reasonable, close enough to remind us this was still his space.
“Text me when you’re settled,” Trevor said, voice soft. “I just want to know you’re okay.”
I nodded. “I will.”
He leaned in and kissed my cheek. As his lips brushed my skin, his hand lingered at my elbow, as though he were claiming me.
Seth opened the door and cool air rushed in, sharp and real and grounding.
I stepped outside, surprised at the tiny amount of freedom I felt at something so insignificant.
“We’ll talk later,” Trevor said a moment later, his voice calm. “When everyone’s had time to settle.”
The door closed behind us with a soft, final click.
Seth didn’t speak until we were halfway down the block.“You okay?” he asked.
I nodded, even though my hands were still shaking. “I didn’t think he’d let me leave,” I admitted.
Seth glanced back at the house. “Neither did he.”
That stopped me.
“What do you mean?”
“He didn’t lose control,” Seth said carefully. “He adjusted.”
My stomach sank.
We reached his truck. He opened the passenger door for me, waiting until I was inside before closing it gently.
“You didn’t imagine any of that,” he added quietly. “And you didn’t overreact.”
I stared out the windshield as he started the engine.
The house looked the same as it always had.
Perfect.
Contained.
“Cate,” Seth said softly, “whatever happens next… you can’t go back to not knowing.”
I swallowed. “I know.”
As we pulled away from the curb, my phone buzzed again in my lap.
Unknown number.
This time, I answered it.
“Cate,” Detective Marshal said, low and steady. “I’m glad you picked up.”
I closed my eyes.
Because now that I was out, now that I’d felt the door open, I wasn’t going to let anyone close it for me again.