“Isn’t he adorable?” Dan gushed, petting Hook’s little head. The rodent closed its eyes like it was enjoying the head pats and let out a high-pitched, choppy sound signaling its happiness.
Even I had to admit it was pretty cute, which was something I never would have considered a rat to be.
“This one is Captain,” Frederick said, lifting Hook’scompanion from the box. This one was mostly white with a large gray splotch on its back.
“Frederick’s friend from the animal shelter he volunteers at brought them in,” Dan said, eyes bright and round as he looked at the man.
Well, fuckity-doo.
As if I didn’t need yet another reason to dislike the man. Why did he have to be so fucking nice and perfect and sitting so close to Dan?
I tried pushing the jealousy down, but Dan’s cautious glance at me told me I wasn’t as successful as I hoped.
“Their previous owners had to give them up, so Frederick was going to foster them until they found a new home, but I think I’m going to adopt them,” Dan said, petting Hook. I wondered if the rat understood, because his squeaks sounded even more excited now.
“You are?” I asked, a little hurt that he hadn’t even talked to me about this first.
Frederick looked between Dan and me, a frown on his face. “I can foster them if you want to think it over first.”
“There’s nothing to think over,” Dan insisted. “There’s plenty of space in my room for a large habitat for them.”
Frederick glanced at me again, probably worried about my lack of enthusiasm for this plan since Dan and I lived together.
I didn’t give a shit about the rats. Dan could adopt ahundred if he wanted to, and I wouldn’t care. It was the fact he didn’t even tell me he wanted to adopt them, the fact he was planning all this with Frederick instead ofme.
The crazy monster of envy was eating me alive.
“Of course we’ll adopt them,” I said, voice rough and emotions high. “There’s a ton of space in the living room for them.”
Dan eyed me. “It’s okay, Clay. You don’t have to be a part of this.”
His words were like a sucker punch to the stomach.
“We’re adopting them,” I rasped out, and something in my tone must have stopped him from arguing more.
It wasn’t about the fucking rats at all.
Dan was making changes in his life that didn’t include me, and I didn’t know how to stop it. All I could do was try to keep up.
Chapter Nine
CLAY
Wednesday dinner was held at our place since our parents—mostly Victor—wanted to see the rats.
Mom was horrified when she first learned we’d adopted these rodents, worried they might get us sick. Victor quickly informed her that rats were actually very clean animals and they spent much of their waking moments cleaning themselves.
Victor sounded excited as he spewed rat facts at the dining table. Of course, he didn’t discriminate against certain animals. Victor loved all living beings. Besides the very out-of-character war films he loved watching, he was the gentlest person I knew. The complete opposite of my sperm donor. And I was once again grateful he and Mom found each other.
“Honey, enough about rats at the dining table,” Mom cut in before Victor could go into depth about rodent bathing habits.
Victor smiled at Mom, with no hint of annoyance at the interruption.
“You boys improved your cooking since the last time I had it. I’d say it’s your best work yet,” he commented in between bites of the pasta Dan and I made tonight. Neither of us was the best chef, but we managed to whip up something edible between the two of us.
“Thanks, Uncle Victor,” I replied, a huge smile stretching my face.
Victor reached out for a gentle pat on my shoulder. I didn’t flinch and leaned into his warm touch.
