My jaw is ajar, and he just stands there like he’d honestly rather be elsewhere. “Okay, I get you’re not a morning person, but you don’t have to be so mean.” I turn back around. “I can find a ride home since you clearly don’t want to help.”
He doesn’t answer me, but I don’t hear him walking away. Either way, I don’t care anymore.
I stand there for a few seconds, but I can’t help myself, so I turn back to him.
“You know, I canreallysee those anger issues that got you into trouble with your coach. You should work on it.”
He blinks twice before taking a step back. “Find a ride home, Sage,” he practically spits out.
“I was already planning on it!” I turn around, but he grabs my arm and turns me back to him just as fast.
“Yell at me again.” His eyes bore into my soul, and if he was angry before, he’sfuriousnow. I know he just told me to yell but I can no longer find my voice with the way he watches me. “Go ahead.”
I swallow slowly, and he doesn’t even blink as he watches me.
“You should go to anger management or something.”
He pulls in a deep breath, but it looks like he can no longer breathe.
“You’re turning red.” My voice falls into a whisper, and he takes a few steps away from me.
Before either of us can say anything else, the back door opens again. I turn to find the worker with three baby kittens. I feel my previous annoyance fade as my eyes land on them. He places them on the counter, and I take a step closer but make sure not to touch them.
“They are so perfect.” I feel a knot form in my throat but force it down.
The smallest one just lays there like she’s falling asleep, and her brothers climb over her. I smile when she yawns and catches the other's tail in her mouth. Her brother turns like he’s about to hit her, so I grab him, and he barely misses her small face.
I stroke his white fur, and the bigger one of the three walks over to me, greedy for attention. I pick him up next, and when they purr against my chest, I almost lose it, but I keep my tears at bay.
“Can I pay you to keep them a bit longer?”
The worker watches me carefully but shakes his head no.
“Name any price. Please?”
He looks intrigued now, but before he can tell me how much it’s going to cost to let them live, Liam speaks up from behind us.
“How do you know he won’t take your money and kill them anyway?”
My eyes widen when I notice the guilty look on his face, but he only lets out a sigh as he shoves his hands in his pocket. “I’m just doing my job.”
I want to tell him he has a cruel job, but I keep my thoughts to myself and turn to Liam. He has his eyes on his phone when he speaks before I do. “Do not ask me again, Sage.”
I look back down at the cats in my hands and hug them a bit closer.
“You want them so bad, you take them.”
“Don’t you think I would if I could?”
Liam doesn’t even look up from whatever is so important on his phone.
“My complex doesn’t allow pets and either way, I’m allergic to cats.”
Liam’s head snaps up to me now and a weird look crosses his face. “Put them down.”
“No.” I hold them closer, and Liam takes a step forward, his eyes slightly widened.
“Your face is breaking out, Sage. Put. Them.Down.”
