Rebecca shook her head at E.G. then looked into the phone. “Don’t let him say he’s allergic. He’s not. We had a cat growing up.”
“Well, Rocco seems content with me for now,” I told Rebecca. Again, I angled the phone so Rocco could be seen. He had enough stage presence to lift his face, utter the sweetest little kitten cry and settle back down again.
“Oh my freaking God, he’s so cute!”
“Did you guys have a nice holiday?” I asked her.
“Yes, but we missed you. There was like, zero drama,” Rebecca laughed. “And Dad got a new video game, but he has no one to play with, so he’s pouting. What about you?”
“Also zero drama. Rocco and I hung out and watched Christmas movies.”
“Can I please have my phone back, so I can speak to my assistant?” E.G announced from off camera.
“Fine. Bye Anna!”
“Bye!” I called out. “And tell your parents I said Merry Christmas!”
“I will.”
E.G.’s face filled my screen and there it was again. The sense that everything was okay in my world now.
“You prepared for your driving test tomorrow?”
“I am.”
“I’m sorry I can’t be there to take you…”
“No, I’m good. Claire’s going to take me. She wants to come over and meet Rocco anyway.”
He smirked. “My Christmas present seems to be very popular.”
“He is.” Then I had to ask because it had been on my mind ever so slightly. “Are you sorry I didn’t get you a real Christmas present?”
“You’re saying my cat’s not real?”
“Come on, E.G., you know what I mean. I just felt like it was a trap. You basically announced you weren’t going to like anything I got you. I was being set up to fail, so I went the other way.”
“What way was that?”
“Utter happiness. Who knew you could have that with a small donation to an animal shelter?”
“Hmm. But he’s still my cat, right?”
“Absolutely. You can see him whenever you want.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” he looked away from the phone for a second, then looked back. “Well, I just wanted to say, you know. Merry Christmas. I’ll be in the office on Monday.”
“Yep.” I was certain he was going to hang up then. My chest tightened. “Did your family get you any presents?”
“Hmm? What was that?”
“I mean, obviously, I would have been an absolute failure at the whole gift giving thing, but surely your parents or Rebecca would know what you like.”
“No, we don’t do presents. Mostly, I think, because they don’t want me to get them anything, even though I do. I can’t help myself. My dad’s new video game, that was me.”
“I’m sorry then. For real,” I said, oddly a little sad. “That I didn’t get you something. Just for you.”
“Rocco is my cat, Flowers. I’m not releasing you from that agreement.”
