But since I’d asked him if he liked working with his dad, we hadn’t talked about anything real.
He let out a chuckle, resting his forearms on the table and looking up at me. “I honestly didn’t realize I was doing that. I guess…” he started but stopped. He drummed his fingers on the table.
While he contemplated if he wanted to tell me, I stayed quiet, wanting to give him the space to decide.
“It’s nothing,” he said ultimately. “It’s stupid. I’m overthinking it and being too sensitive.”
Initially, I wasn’t going to push him, but I didn’t like the way he dismissed his own feelings. “It’s not stupid. Something’s clearly on your mind. I mean, you don’t have to tell me, obviously, but don’t dismiss it.”
Something I couldn’t pinpoint flashed in his eyes, like he’d heard those words for the first time in this very moment. Gabe was right when he’d said we didn’t know each other. Did I have him all wrong?
His throat bobbed as he swallowed. “Sugar Plum was adopted.”
Understanding dawned on me. While I didn’t want to admit it, seeing Gabe interacting with the cats every morning and afternoon was among the highlights of my day. He was so gentle and patient with them, and I knew from the first day that he and Sugar Plum had formed a quick bond.
“I didn’t realize that. Jodi usually gives me an update, but I haven’t seen her yet.”
“See, I told you it was stupid. I’ve known that cat for…what? Less than a week? I shouldn’t get so attached.”
“It’s tricky,” I admitted. “It took me a while to find a balance of bonding with the cats but also being excited when they find a home, and even then, it’s not foolproof. She was really social around you, and maybe that’s why she got adopted today,” I offered. I hadn’t been exaggerating when I told Gabe earlier this week that Sugar Plum was one of the shy cats. She normally hid under the couch or behind one of the bookshelves until it was just me in the cat room. This week, she’d been roaming around, especially when Gabe entered.
“Here,” I said, getting up, “let me take a look at the paperwork and see who adopted her.” I walked to the counter, flipping through the stack of papers until I saw Sugar Plum’s application. “Tom and Susan adopted her. They’re two regulars. I’ll introduce you next time they stop in.” I set down the paper and walked back to the table Gabe was sitting at. “Their youngest daughter recently went off to college, and it’s the two of them now. They have two cats—well, three now, I guess—and a dog. I think Sugar Plum will like it there, especially since she’s good with other animals, even if it might take her a little bit to warm up to them. And Tom and Susan aresonice. If you asked to stop by to say hi, they would one hundred percent let you.” The corner of my lips tipped up in a smile. “Something tells me you like cats more than people, huh?”
A laugh escaped him, a smile staying on his face as he looked up at me. Light returned to his honey-brown eyes, a sparkle I hadn’t noticed before. “I guess I do sometimes. It’s easier to interact with them than some of the people in town. The cats don’t have preconceived notions of me. They just see me as the person who brings them food.”
I twisted my lips to the side as his words set in. Everyone in town had their thoughts about Gabe, including me, but we didn’t really know him. That couldn’t have been an easy situation to walk into. I wanted to bring that up, but I also didn’t want to ruin this moment. We were finally having what felt like a real conversation. I settled on a light-hearted response. “And if you don’t bring their food, they’ll scream at you to make it clear that’s what they want.”
“Exactly.” Gabe chuckled. He ran his fingers through his hair and rubbed the back of his neck. “Thanks, Lily. I really appreciate you taking the time to see if I was okay. I…didn’t realize it until now, but I needed that.”
I nodded. “Of course. I’m glad I could help.” I rolled my lips. “I’m going to see if Jodi needs anything before I close up. Feel free to head out whenever.”
I started to make my way toward the cat room, my hand pressed against the door. In a split-second decision, I turned around. There was something I wanted to tell him before I second-guessed it. “What you felt and the reason for it wasn’t stupid. It means you care.”
I pushed the door open, quickly walking away before he could reply.
I had a feeling Gabe cared a lot more than he let on. I wasn’t sure why he hid it. Or why I wanted to find out.
14
GABRIEL
After finishing at Purrfect Blend,I returned to Hal’s. He’d given me my own key, so coming in and out of the house was easy. Or, rather, sneaking in and out of the house, because I was doing my best to avoid him and the small talk.
I was grateful he was letting me stay with him, but what were we going to do? Catch up on however many years in the span of a month? I had no interest in doing that. Me being here was for business, and this visit was already taking up way more of my time than I anticipated.
We had a few interactions throughout the week, mostly in the evenings when Hal was back from the store, but our conversation was often cut short by a work call I needed to take.
I wasn’t sure what Hal typically did on Sundays, but I doubted he’d be home. I easily turned the key in the lock and pushed the door open. I slipped off my shoes and unzipped my coat, my mind wandering to my conversation with Lily right before I left. How she validated what I was feeling when she didn’t need to. She didn’t need to check on me, but she did. It made me feel even more shitty for what I’d said to her earlier in the week.
What you felt and the reason for it wasn’t stupid. It means you care.
Her words were so simple but impacted me so deeply—especially when my whole life I’d been told the opposite. That I wasn’t supposed to care. That what I was feeling didn’t matter. That I should suck it up and move on.
I let out a heavy sigh, rubbing my eyes as I walked to the kitchen. It wasn’t until I heard Hal’s voice that I realized he was home, sitting at the table.
“I thought I heard the door open,” he said, setting down his pen. He’d been working on a crossword puzzle. “Why don’t you come over and have a seat. I made a fresh pot of coffee.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat, trying to quickly come up with an excuse as to why I couldn’t.
