After making sure all the other doors were closed, in case Monty escaped the room, Oliver opened the door.
Nothing flew past their feet, so Oliver opened it wide enough to step inside and closed it behind them.
The light was on low, and Oliver’s gaze darted around the room until he found Monty. Nudging Ed, he pointed to the bottom of the cat tree. Sat huddled in the large tube-like space at the bottom was a big ball of black fur.
A low, long meow filled the room.
Oliver leant against the door. “It’s only me, Monty.” He pulled out the cat treats that he’d snagged from Betty’s stash in the kitchen. “And I’ve brought your favourites.” He opened the packet as noisily as possible and the meowing immediately cut off. He spared Ed a quick glance, whispering, “Never fails.”
He sank to the floor, Ed copying him, and emptied a few of the tuna treats onto the carpet about a foot away from him.
They waited and watched.
He felt Ed tense beside him as Monty sniffed the air, made a show of stretching, then slowly walked towards them. Warmth bled into him where they touched, and Oliver found himself wanting to lean into it.
“Does he usually do that?” Ed whispered.
Monty had stopped about six inches away from the treats. Well out of Oliver’s reach.
Oliver nodded. “Yeah. It takes him a while to come over, although he might be a bit wary with you here.” It seemed like they both held their breath as Monty sniffed the air, then moved close enough to pat the treats with a paw. “He’s loads better than when he first got to the shelter. Wouldn’t let anyone near him to start with.”
“How long has he been there?” Ed leaned in to whisper it right in Oliver’s ear, warm breath tickling his skin, and a little involuntary shiver took Oliver by surprise.
“Er... about three or four months I think.” He swallowed and turned his attention back to Monty, who was now happily eating the treats.
When he’d finished, Oliver rubbed his thumb and fingers together, trying to coax him over to them. Usually he could get a cuddle out of him if he waited long enough, but with Ed here, he didn’t much fancy his chances. Which was totally fine. He just wanted Ed to meet him while they had him.
“Stay still,” he whispered. “See if he’ll come sit on my lap.”
They sat unmoving, both watching Monty as he stood, stretched, and eyed them with a suspicious glare.
To Oliver’s surprise, Ed began to talk to Monty, voice soft and soothing.
“Hey there, Monty.” He held out a hand as Monty slowly moved towards them. “Who’s a big cuddly boy then?”
Oliver turned to look at him, barely containing his grin.
“Oh, shut up,” Ed muttered in between crooning to the approaching cat. “My mum’s cats have all been rescues. I know the drill.”
“So it would seem.” His mouth fell open a little as he watched Monty pause, sniff Ed’s thigh, then climb onto this lap and settle into a tight ball. “Why didn’t you tell me you were the cat whisperer?”
Ed’s soft chuckle filled the quiet of the room, making Monty’s ears twitch, and he gently stroked along his back as he spoke. “He’s a beauty. Aren’t you tempted to keep him?”
“How do you think Betty ended up with the five out there?” Oliver reached over to tickle under Monty’s chin, the back of his hand brushing Ed’s thigh. “She used to foster all the time, but now she only does it in an emergency.” Loud, throaty purrs filled the room, and Oliver laughed, delightedly. “She’d love to keep him.”And so would I.“But Monty needs to be the only cat in his space. The sole centre of attention.”
“Fair enough.”
They fussed him for a few minutes longer, Oliver becoming more aware of his proximity to Ed with each brush of his hand. When Ed coughed, disturbing Monty enough that he sloped off back to his bed, Oliver stood and smoothed out his jeans. “I think he’s had enough for today.”
“Yeah, I reckon so.” Ed got to his feet, too, and checked the time on his phone. “I should really be getting back. Got my sisters coming round in a bit.”
Oliver led the way out of the room and back towards the kitchen to say goodbye to Betty.
She was still sat at the table but now had Oliver’s laptop in front of her. “Oliver, the screen’s totally gone now. I can’t see a thing.”
He hurried over to her and adjusted the screen back and forth, to no avail.
“What’s wrong with it?” Ed asked, joining them.
