“Piper.” I gesture to myself.
“Do you live with anyone? A partner, kids, or pets that you might want to get acclimated to the idea of a new cat?”
“Nope. It’s just me all alone. My ex was allergic, but he’s not a factor anymore.” I pause. “Oh, is getting a pet a bad idea if I just had a big breakup?” I ask when my fingers touch the clipboard. For a split second, it’s Ant’s face that pops into my brain, not Colin. How irritating is that development? The guy who was supposed to stop my obsession with Colin has almost completely replaced him.
“Well, we do have a fostering program. You could always do that, if you aren’t sure. There’s no chance the allergic person will move back in with you?” she asks.
“No,” I say instantly. This time, it’s Colin’s face that pops into my head. “No,hedefinitely won’t be coming back.”
“Well, then I think you’d be the perfect person for a cat like Mercutio.” She gestures to the cat in my lap. “Did you have any questions?”
I bark out a nervous laugh. “Not unless you’ve had someone declare that he’s your fated-mate?” I joke, a silly thing to ask a complete stranger.
She blinks, looking a bit surprised. “Yeah, I have, actually.”
I gape at her for a moment. “I—are you serious? I don’t actually know anyone who’s been with a cryptid. Let alone mated to one.” I laugh nervously. “It was a cryptid, right? Not just some random weirdo?”
She gives me a bright smile, opening and closing her fist in a way that implies she’s still adjusting to a new weight on her finger. “My fiancé is a Bigfoot."
I glance at her hands, there’s a giant stone on her ring finger. It’s really pretty. She’s really pretty, with an adorable smile and wide hips. She seems put together, well adjusted, doing well, running her own business. A life plenty of people would find enviable, someone I might actually get good advice from.
“And he’s good? He’s fine? He’s not creepy or anything?” I laugh nervously at the end, hoping she'll say something I find reassuring.
“Yes. I mean, no, of course not. He’s good to me. Really sweet.” She shakes her head.
“And he’s your…mate?”
She has one of those smiles that are so wide, her face might break. “He is.”
I don’t say anything for a moment. “I had a one-night stand,” I blurt, if anyone is going to help me, it might actually be this complete stranger.
She perches on the bench across from me. “With a cryptid?”
“Yes.”
“And he told you that you were his mate?”
“What does that even mean?” I laugh, simultaneously feeling awkward and terrible.
“True love, soul mates, your forever person.” She smiles, like she’s thinking of the most delicious dessert in the entire world.
My heart skips a little beat. “That sounds…”
“Scary? Terrifying?” Her smile doesn’t drop.
“I was going to say, really comforting. To be that sure of something. How do you know? You’re a human. Right?” I add with mild suspicion. I don't know all the types of cryptids, let alone what they all look like. Maybe there is a pink-haired Mongolian cat-whisperer or something.
“Yes, I’m human," she laughs before continuing. "Do you already have inexplicably strong feelings for him, find him instantly attractive, and feel ready to ignore basically every self preservation impulse to keep being with him?”
“I… yeah…” I bark out a nervous laugh as I consider. She hit the nail directly on the head. “Yeah, I guess I did feel all of that.”
She nods. “From what I’ve heard, that's what it’s like for all humans. It’s a bit more obvious for cryptids. Humans evolved with more mating options, so we don’t get quite the same intense driving urge to be with a compatible mate when we find one. At least that’s the reigning theory on the message boards.”
“Message boards?” I ask. “Online?”
“Yeah.”
“Could you tell me the names? And could I um… Look you up on there?”
