Blue (The Spectrum Series: #3)

Chapter Forty-Five

 The moment I wake up the next day, Saturday, I get dressed in my workout clothes and sprint out of the building. With each mile I run, my mind reassures me that things will go back to how they were... before Blue. In my head I'm convinced he and I are through. I messed up worse than I expected, and he's already moved on with Evie. Disbelief and battles in my mind. He would never be with her, I tell myself. But doesn't he have to be? He told me she is actually pregnant. He has to be there for her, more than he could ever be with me. I won't stop him for supporting the child. But even though I know this deep down, I can't get rid of this ache in my chest. It grows and grows every corner I turn and every time I push myself to run faster.

After an hour of running on emotional fumes, I just stop. I'm a few feet away from Central Park. I slowly drag my sore feet to a bench and sit and try to control my shallow breathing. A few minutes pass by, and a young mother pushing a stroller with a little girl sits on the other end. I watch her from the corner of my eye. She's making silly faces and waggling her fingers under her daughter's chin. My heart leaps and warms at the sound of the baby giggling and voicing her love for her mother. I should really just stay away from Blue and Evie. This is their situation and I have no business being a part of it. The realization brings a tear to my eyes and I have to look at the ground to not appear insane and scare the loving mother away.

I'm finishing off my bottled water when my phone buzzes in my sweater pocket. I get up to toss the empty bottle in a trash can before pulling out my phone. It's an unknown number. I usually hit ignore and go on about my day, but something is telling me to pick it up.

"Hello?" I answer.

"Hi, Lily. It's me... Catherine."

I go still and silent. A hundred questions fill my head, but the most important one is: How did she get my number? Nonetheless, she's on the other end of this call and waiting for an answer. I clear my throat and sit back on the bench before I pass out from exhaustion and uncertainty.

"Hey, Catherine." I sound awkward. "How are you?" I manage to sound politer this time.

"I'm fine, and you?"

I inhale. "Not the best at the moment, but I won't bore you with any details."

There's a slight pause. While I'm assuming she's gathering the courage to go through with saying what she called for, I wonder why she's calling me right now. I'm not trying to sound rude, I just haven't talked to her in two weeks.

After a while, she chuckles softly. "You must be wondering why I would dare call you after Thanksgiving... but I was hoping you could stop by the house. I know it's silly, but I want to explain everything to you."

"You don't need to, though," I assure her. None of what was revealed is any of my business.

"Yes, I know. But I don't want you to think any less of me."

"I don't," I say and mean it. I'm just still bit baffled about the affair. I never thought Catherine would be the type to be involved in such a scandalous thing. "But I will come over anyway."

"That'd be amazing. Do you think you can bring Blue with you? I understand if you say no, he is pretty pissed." I can sense her squeezing her phone, hoping that I'll bring her stepson who dislikes her even more than before.

"No, I can't. We aren't on the best foot right now"—That's putting it lightly— "but I will be there soon."

* * *

Two hours later, I arrive at the beautiful townhouse. I ring the door bell and Catherine opens the door a few seconds after. She looks flawless as ever; a flowing white dress adorns her slim body, and her blonde hair is wrapped up in a bun with two locks spilling down the sides of her perfectly painted face.