“My brother arranged a rooftop party downtown.” I try to glance down at him, but he moves his face so he can smother my neck. “Do you want to come?”
He shakes his head softly before pulling away to look at me. “I can’t, Dory.” He kisses me softly. “But text me when you get home, and I’ll come over to give you your gift.”
I feel a smile touch my lips, and he kisses my cheek.
“What gift? You didn’t know about my birthday until a minute ago.”
“Obviously, I’m going to get something before tomorrow, smart ass.”
I let out a laugh, and he buries his face in my neck again.
“When do you have to leave?” His voice comes out a bit muffled but I hear him just fine.
“He’s going to pick me up in an hour.”
He lets out a long breath, and I run a hand through his hair. He pulls my legs, so they’re wrapped around him but doesn’t say anything else.
“Are you okay?” I try to glance at him again, but he doesn’t move.
“I’m just tired.” He doesn’t just sound physically tired but also drained… mentally.
“What’s wrong?” I pull away more, forcing him to look at me, but he only shakes his head.
“Nothing you need to worry about.” He leans forward to kiss me, but when he pulls away, he looks… sad almost.
“You can tell me, you know.” I keep my gaze on him, and he buries his face in my neck again before letting out a sigh. I rub his back in circles, and he doesn’t say anything for a while.
“It’s just family stuff. I don’t want to talk about it.”
I nod in return and continue rubbing his back. “I'm here if you ever want to talk about it.” I lean to kiss his hair. “You know that, right?”
He nods before pulling in a breath. “Yes, Dory.” He kisses my neck before his entire body relaxes on top of me.
“Did you settle on names for the kittens?” I badgered him about keeping them when he came over the day he adopted them, and he cavedveryquickly.
He takes a minute to respond, and I think he's going to ignore me, but then he mumbles, “Periwinkle for the girl.”
I feel a smile touch my lips, and I try to pull away to see if he's serious, but he forces his weight on me, and I let out a soft laugh. “You couldn't pay me to believe you came up with that on your own.” I poke his side, but he doesn't move. “Who helped you name her?”
“Why does it matter?”
I let out a gasp and bite back my laugh when he sighs. “Are you naming my cats with other women?” I poke his side, and this time, he raises his head.
“No.” He seems confused but also offended. He studies me for a beat as if he either wants to ask me something or confess something. I simply lay there and wait for him to make up his mind. He buries his face in my neck again and brings my legs around him. “My mom named her.” His voice is just above a whisper.
“Aw, that's sweet! Okay, we can keep Periwinkle.” I run a hand through his hair before hugging him tighter with my legs. “I still want to name the gray and black one Meeko.”
He says, once again, that he hates that name but it's just because he hasn't seenPocahontasand hasn't been graced with the presence of her raccoon.
“It'll grow on you.” I tap his head. “We're keeping Meeko, and since Moon is their Godfather, it's only right we consider his request and name the third one Mars.”
“I returned that one. He's a menace.”
I try to sit up, but Liam forces his weight on me again, and I can't budge. “You didwhat?”
He doesn't move.
“Liam, please tell me you didn't really take him back there!” I feel my throat tightening, and he quickly sits up.
