She pressed her lips together and looked around the room. The longer she stayed silent, the more convinced Brad became that she’d say no. But then she dropped her arms and said, “Fine. But no touching. Just talking.”
Brad held up his hands. “No touching.”
“Okay. Fine. Okay.”
“Good.” Brad glanced at his watch. “I’ve got something in the kitchen I have to check on. Don’t leave, okay?”
“I said okay!”
And Brad smiled, because he knew he had her now.
Well, he didn’thaveher, he reasoned as he walked back to the kitchen. She was still angry. But he reasoned that if they were ever going to make up, they’d have to talk. This felt like progress.
When he returned to the kitchen, the last batch of cupcakes had cooled enough to frost. He grabbed a piping bag and got to work, letting the repetitive motion of swirling frosting over each cupcake soothe him.
Lauren walked into the kitchen. “Those mini-cupcakes went fast.”
“I can bring the next batch out in about five minutes,” said Brad, not looking up from what he was doing.
Lauren picked up a plastic tub of sprinkles into which Brad had mixed tiny cat-shaped candies he’d found at a party store. She started dusting the finished cupcakes with the sprinkle-candy mix.
“Thanks,” Brad said.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, fine. Better than fine. I got Lindsay to agree to talk to me.”
“Progress!”
Brad laughed. “Yeah, I guess. I mean, yes, it’s progress. But I can already tell it’s going to be a big fight.”
Lauren nodded. “What are you hoping will happen?”
Brad wasn’t willing to hope for too much, so he said, “A truce?”
“All right. Best of luck, then.” Lauren put the sprinkles down. “Four cats got adopted tonight. Five if you count Hamilton. You’re going to need a litter box, litter, some dishes, probably a place mat, and food.”
“You have recommendations for all that?”
“As a matter of fact I do!” Lauren grinned. “If you talk to my husband, he can give you a flyer with vet-approved recommendations for what we’re calling the cat starter kit.”
“I can’t believe you talked me into adopting a cat.”
“It’s my superpower. And besides, that cat clearly chose you. That’s usually how this goes.”
“Sure.”
“Aw, buck up. You’ve made the decision to bring a small, furry friend home. You live alone, right? He’ll keep you company if Lindsay doesn’t.”
“Yeah, I don’t think she’s going to keep me company. I’m pretty sure she still hates me.”
He finished frosting, and Lauren dropped sprinkles on the last of the cupcakes. “Beautiful. And I don’t think she hates you.”
“Jury’s still out on that. I guess I’ll find out shortly.”
Chapter 8
“Where are you living these days?” Brad asked as he and Lindsay walked out of the café together.
