~
BREAKFAST IS Asexy dish of crepes topped with sliced bananas and strawberries, sprinkled with blueberries and raspberries, and drizzled over with strawberry sauce.
“What time are you leaving for work?” I ask as we eat.
“Tor banned me from the office for the rest of the week.”
“Bereavement leave?”
“Something like that.”
“How much does he know? About...your other life.”
“Not sure. Sometimes he hints at little things here or there. But, you know...” He shrugs. “He’s Torin Garza.”
Meaning there’s a chance he knows it all. It’s insane to us in the family how Torin will justknowthings. Like some kind of all-seeing eye. If Saint is mysterious, then Torin Garza is a freaking illusion. There just isn’t a chance he doesn’t know about “Guy’s” hidden identity.
“Well, what do you plan on doing with your days off?”
“There’s a lot to take care of withla famigliaand Iseppa,” he says. “But I only move at night, for obvious reasons.”
Smiling around my fork, I say, “Does that mean I get to spend the day with you?”
“That’s up to Indy.”
I glance over at where Indy is curled up on the armchair again, still watching us like a sentry. People swear cats are angels, but I’m yet to be convinced. Every encounter I’ve had with cats has been of them being spiteful little villains.
After breakfast, I wash the dishes and clean up while Indy lures Saint off to her room. She even shuts the door behind them.
Me: X’s cat is cockblocking me.
Sunny: He has a cat????
Me: Yep. And I’m convinced the soul of his wife from a past life lives in it.
Sunny: *laughing emoji*
Me: I’m serious. She went from being mean and aloof to now being all cute and adorable and needy and a ‘good girl’ to hog his attention. If she keeps messing with me I’m gonna get a tweezer and pluck her whiskers when X isn’t looking.
Sunny: *laughing with tears emoji* Only you would be beefing with a cat.
Me: Ugh. You should be supporting me, you twat!
Sunny: You’re nuts when it comes to this X person. I don’t know WTF he does to your brain and I don’t like it. #NotAFan.
~
HALF AN HOURlater, Saint finds me in his closet touching and sniffing his clothes like an obsessed weirdo.
“The evil feline finally let you off her leash?”
“She’s napping. “
“Whatever,” I mumble, giving my back to him as I pick up one of his bow ties.
His hands settle on my waist as he comes up behind me. Goose bumps rise all over my skin at the mere contact. “Are you jealous of my cat?”
“She’sthe one who’s jealous of me,” I return haughtily. “You know she’s being a faker.”
