A wave of warmth made Baz’s chest swell.Boss.He could get used to that.One day, with an associate of his own.After he sent Ian to hell.
Twenty minutes later, he walked into the Catfé and got greeted by the smell of garlic.
Lucipurr’s yellow eyes glowed in the cave she was hiding in.Stretching through her body, she tapped over.Oh, what the hell.Baz squatted down, offered his hand for a sniff inspection—the hearty hiss made him flinch back.
Lucipurr glared at him as if to sayhow dare you assume we could be friends, you peasant.Fair enough.Didn’t stop her from following him behind the counter to supervise him hugging Eevee and Joel, though.
Joel’s new sandwich creation was a vegan take on a New Orleans’s Muffuletta, with garlic-roasted vegetables instead of the traditional cold cut.The only meat in the Catfé was for the cats, thanks to Lucipurr stealing customer’s food back before they went veggie.How Joel still got insecure enough about his immaculate culinary skills to require a taste tester Baz might never understand, but he wouldn’t argue with the privilege either.
Lucipurr hovered next to him on the bench, just out of Baz’s reach, no doubt plotting her revenge for Baz’s intrusion into her space.
Eevee shared stories from her morning at UChicago, helping the students figure out their future career options.One business major apparently dreamed of running a cat café of her own, so now Eevee was trying to convince Joel to hire her as extra help for the admin side of things so he could focus on the kitchen only.Judging by the indulgent smile Joel wore and the way he placed a kiss on her head before tending to the customers, she wasn’t far off from succeeding.
The question of what was new with him was expected, and yet, he scrambled for an answer.Should he tell her about Sami?What was there to tell?I hooked up with a guy and now he’s texting me nonsense all day?
No.People who already had their happily ever after had precious little understanding for casual hookups.
During the years they lived together, every time he had come home the morning after a date rather than the night of, Eevee had that spark in her eyes, the one that saidare you finally not alone anymorethat itched under his skin.She was too much of a hopeless romantic to not make a big deal out of nothing.For now, sticking to the safer subject of work it was.
Until Eevee suddenly got very interested at the pieces of arugula and red onion that had crash-landed on her plate.“I spoke to Dad earlier.Just briefly.He wants to meet up and talk in person.”
Baz’s ass clenched.Of course he did.Manipulating people was easier if Jack could put on hispity-meshow, but Baz couldn’t say that, so he took a sip of his water to stop the words from slipping out.
Eevee didn’t ask him to join.He didn’t offer.
Their argument wasn’t exactly an elephant in the room, but it was a mosquito.Small, easily overlooked until its obtrusive scream came too close to their ears, and if they didn’t watch it carefully, it would suck their blood and make them sick.
The easiest way to get rid of a mosquito—since killing it was off the table—was to escape it altogether.First with a change of topic, about just how talented her husband was—Eevee was always ready to brag about him—and then with a swift goodbye.
The upside of meeting during the day: work offered the perfect excuse to escape uncomfortable topics.
His office chair squeaked when he dropped into it.He got started on the motion.The discovery period was set to end next month, and the justice system worked notoriously slow.Once they gained class certification, that notice period would drag this case out even more, and Baz wasn’t getting any younger.The big thirty came closer every day, and with it, the deadline to become the youngest partner yet.
Why Grash hadn’t filed for early classification was beyond him.They had enough plaintiffs, and a mass tort was in no one’s best interest.Handling forty-two individual, yet almost identical lawsuits?There weren’t enough hours in the day.
Bzz bzz.
Annoying Stalker
better warm up that core xoxo
Underneath, a picture loaded.Two figures popped up under the headlineThe Butter Churner.One was propped up on their shoulders, their back and butt high in the air with their legs folded over them.The other seemed to sit on top of their hips, apparently… penetrating them?Jesus Christ.
Are you trying to break your neck?
There are less embarrassing ways to die.
me?you mean you
Baz barked a laugh.When hell froze over.
You’re delusional.
no
i am excited for tonight <3
Did you just give me a heads-up before coming over?Are you maturing?
