“What did she do?” Raine asks, but Luke ignores her.
He turns and grabs one of the bags he laid on the floor. “I bought you everything you’ll need for him. A litter box, food, toys, and?—”
“Luke, I don’t need a pet.”
“I mean, you did swear off all men earlier. Maybe becoming a crazy cat lady is exactly what you need,” Edna adds, and I shift, very slowly, to look at her and give her the stink eye.
I hate that she’s right. I did swear off men, because they all suck. Okay, maybe not all of them, but lately anytime I give someone a small piece of my heart, all they do is take it, throw it on the ground, and stomp all over it. Then they hand the battered piece back to me and leave forever. I know I’m being a little dramatic, but that’s how dating has felt for me.
“You’re the old lady. Maybe you should start your own cat collection.” I stick my tongue out at her like I’m a child and not a twenty-nine-year-old who’s apparently terrified of cats.
She laughs, clapping her hands together. “Honey, I might be a widow, but that doesn’t mean I swore off men. Quit making that face at me!”
“I’m not responsible for what my face does when you speak,” I snarl, causing the cat to growl again.
“I don’t have time for this.” Luke takes the cat from me and sets him on the floor. The cat takes off running, hiding behind my Christmas tree. “I need to go.”
“If that cat ruins my tree, I’m going to?—”
“Liv.” Luke grabs my hands, pulling me toward the kitchen, as if the space will help Raine and Edna not be able to hear our conversation, but they’re staring at us, clearly eavesdropping like the nosey women they are.
“Please, just do something with the cat for me. Keep him or find him a home. I don’t care what you do.”
His dark eyes meet mine for a quick second before focusing on something behind me. I can tell by the tightness in his jaw that something is bothering him.
“Is everything okay?”
His eyes snap to mine, silent truths hidden behind them. “Yeah. I just need to go.”
I grab his hand before he can take a step toward the front door. He’s not acting like himself. His face is solemn, and a muscle in his jaw is twitching. There’s an invisible weight pressing down on his shoulders, and because I feel responsible for my friends, I want to lift it away.
“Luke—”
I can see the moment he starts to shut down. It causes a painful pinch low in my stomach. I want to help carry some of the weight for him, to let him know he doesn’t have to always do things all on his own. Haven’t I proven to him already that I will be here for him no matter what?
“I’ll be okay. I’m going to go hit the gym for a bit to help clear my head.”
I step to the side, allowing him to pass me as he walks over to Raine and gives her a small hug. She looks up at him, worry shining behind her gaze. He gives Edna a wave, and without looking my way, he turns and exits from my home.
“Is he okay?” Raine asks once I sit down beside her.
“I’m not sure. He wouldn’t say.”
He’s staring at me, right into my soul, with such an intensity that it makes me shudder. I can’t move from my spot. I’m scared that if I do, the cat will finally attack me. He lifts hisnose up and begins sniffing the air. I pinch off a piece of a cranberry-orange muffin and toss it toward him as a peace offering.
He gives it a sniff and licks it a few times before devouring it. He sits and looks up at me, meowing for more, and I’m not sure if cats should eat this stuff, but I toss him another crumb anyway, praying I can win him over with my baking skills. I slowly reach back and grab my phone from my back pocket to snap a photo of him.
I open up my family’s group chat and send the photo with a text.
Can cats eat muffins, because if so, I might have found the key to winning him over
My sister and brother begin to respond simultaneously.
Wren
I’m pretty sure cats cannot eat sugary treats.
Jaxson
