“But,” Jules continues, “you jump in with your whole heart.Everytime.”
“I don’t,” I say defensively.
“You brought home a one-eyed raccoon because it looked lonely.”
“He was injured.”
“You cried when he got adopted by that sanctuary.”
“He liked me,” I say, lifting my chin a little.
Jules points at me. “Exactly my point.”
I sink lower into my chair.
“Happy endings aren’t guaranteed,” he adds.
I swallow hard. “I know.”
“You read all those books because deep down you still believe people get chosen and loved and kept.”
I try to joke. “Well, now you’re makin’ me sound emotionally unstable.”
“You know what I mean.”
I do. That’s the problem.
He leans back with a sigh. “I just don’t want you gettin’ hurt.”
My throat tightens, and I fidget with the papers in front of me. “I’ll be careful.”
“Maggie.”
“I mean it,” I promise.
He gives me a look that says he doesn’t believe me. I’m not sure I do either. Being careful stopped the moment Ivy hugged me good night, and Alexei kissed me.
An explosion of barking tears through the kennel room, followed by one of the volunteers yelping in alarm.
Jules closes his eyes immediately. “That better not be Kevin.”
I snort. Kevin is a tiny orange cat with the soul of a violent criminal.
Another crash echoes down the hallway.
Jules stands immediately. “That’s definitely Kevin.”
We hurry out of the office together. Sure enough, chaos waits in the hallway.
Kevin hangs halfway up the front of a kennel like a furry demon while two volunteers stare at him in horror.
“I told y’all not to make eye contact with him,” Jules says impatiently.
“He bit through my clipboard,” one volunteer says weakly.
“Because he smells fear.” I kneel slowly near the kennel. “Kevin,” I say in my warm animal voice. “Now what exactly was your plan here, sugar?”
Kevin hisses.
