She shrugged. “I didn’t want to have to kill my best friend to gain custody of our cat when we graduate and go our separate ways.”
“I’m allowed pets.” His fingers drifted over the curve of her breast and down her stomach, circling as they moved.
“Are you asking me to get a furbaby with you, Finny?”
“I like cats. I’m not allergic. There’s no rules against having them here, and if it’d make one of your lifelong dreams come true, then abso-fucking-lutely. Let’s go.” He pushed her off his chest and leaped off the bed.
“You can’t be serious.” She yawned and stretched. “There’s a whole adoption process. You have to go pick out your animal, there’s home visits, there’s a fee…”
“I think my NHL salary can cover it, Doll. Quit stalling.” He tossed a pillow at her. “Get up and let’s go get a cat.”
She scrunched up her face and repeated his sentence. “You’re so humble, Finny. But not even a pro-hockey player can show up to the animal shelter and just…” She swept her arm at him. “Take home a cat.”
“That may be so.” He pointed finger guns at her. “But we can start the process at least. And you might be surprised by how quickly we can make it happen. Oh hey, one thing before we go, though…”
She lifted herself onto her elbows. “What’s that?”
He reached down the side of the bedside cabinet and produced a confetti cannon, popping it over her ass-naked body. “Gotcha.”
***
“Is your mom coming to the game this weekend?” Molly cradled the cat carrier in her arms as Finn opened the door to his apartment.
“Yeah, I told her I’d leave three tickets for them. She said Henry about shit his pants when she told him his big brother plays for the Wild.” He sucked in a breath, but Molly didn’t have any free hands to reach out and touch him.
“Still feels weird calling him that. You think I’ll ever get used to it?”
She wasn’t sure how to answer. Things between Finn and Meabh had improved. They attended mother-son therapy sessions on-the-regular, and Finn’s half-brother had taken a shine to his superstar big brother – understandably. But there was still so much work to do between them. The only real answer to his question came with time.
“Yeah, me neither. It feels like I’m somehow cheating on Liam.”
“You’re not cheating on him, Finnegan. Not at all. I know it feels weird, but it’s going to take time.”
He scratched the back of his neck. “Well, they’re sitting next to Cleo and her mom.”
“That’s another relationship we weren’t sure would work out. And look how that’s healing. Don’t give up hope, Finny. I know it’s not easy.” She shifted the carrier onto the coffee table in the living room. “It’ll get easier though. And calling him your little brother doesn’t take anything away from Liam.”
He nodded, placing the matching carrier in his arms onto the table. “I can’t believe you talked me into getting two.”
“Lies. Everyone expected it.”
“I feel like I need to get better at saying ‘no’ to you, MoMo, or we’ll be overrun with cats in no time.”
“Would that really be such a bad thing? Cats are much cooler than humans.”
He opened the door and pulled out the tiny ginger kitten. “What are we going to call them?”
“Mallow and Hershey?”
“Ben and Jerry?”
“Jack and Daniel?” She opened the second carrier and reached in to grab the second kitten but he curled in the corner and clawed at her hand when she got close to him. “Little fucker’s evil.” She giggled. “Fine, evil cat. The carrier’s open, come out when you’re ready.”
“I’ve got it.” Finn grinned as he leaned back on his plush navy sofa. “I figured out what we should call them.”
“You really think you can beat Ben and Jerry? Those are two pretty on-point names for this family.”
“Taco Cat and Evil Olive.”
