Wheezing quietly, Ellie approached the table nearest to me and lugged her backpack onto a chair. A bubble-shaped window near the top revealed a cat’s frowning face—the same cat from Ellie’s wallpaper on her phone.
“He looks like an angry little astronaut,” I said, walking closer. His fur was mostly white, with dark patches highlighting his eyes and ears.
A frown creased Ellie’s brow, and she crouched to unzip the bag.
“Angry? Maybe you meant to say he looks like the cutest little astronaut, because that’s exactly what he is. Aren’t you, Whiskey?” she cooed to the furball. “Yes, you are. You’re such a cute boy.”
I stared as she kissed his little nose. So, she wasn’t just a weirdo who climbed into strangers’ beds in unicorn pajamas. She also talked to cats.
Great.
I already regretted this plan.
Ellie’s cat silently leapt out of the bag and circled her legs, rubbing against her ankles affectionately. His fluffy dark tail whipped back and forth behind him.
“Good boy,” Ellie whispered, bending to run her hand over his back. “Okay. Go play with your friends, Whiskey.”
Instead of running off, the cat sat on his haunches and stared right at me, his tail flicking behind him.
I could feel his bright blue eyes judging me.
Ellie rubbed the fur between his ears, and her gaze strayed to the corner. “What’s Mac doing here?”
“He goes where I go,” I said, looking away from the cat and taking a seat at the table.
She gave Whiskey one more head rub before settling in across from me, just as the grey-haired cat lady returned.
“Hey there, Ellie Belly. Didn’t know you’d be part of this ‘meeting.’” She leaned against Ellie’s chair, smiling down at her, while my brows rose at her use of air quotes. “Want the usual?”
“Yes, please. With extra chocolate sprinkles on the mocha, please.” Ellie beamed, adjusting her braid to rest over her shoulder. “Thanks, Kitty.”
“Anytime, hun.” Kitty turned her hawklike gaze to me. “And have you decided if you’d like a drink, Mister…?”
“Coffee. Black,” I answered, ignoring her fishing for a name. Ellie’s manners compelled me to add a quick “Please.”
“Coming right up, Mr. Coffee Black,” she quipped, making Ellie laugh as Kitty turned on her heel.
I lowered my voice. “Her name is really Kitty?”
Ellie smiled. “Yep.”
“…And she owns a cat café?”
“Pretty cool, right?” Still smiling, Ellie propped her elbows on the table and watched me expectantly. “So, what’s this business proposal you mentioned?”
“Before we get to that,” I said, stalling because this place was giving me second thoughts, “I have a few questions.”
Ellie’s smile only widened. “Ask away.”
Her constant cheerfulness only amplified my doubts.
I should’ve uninstalled the app the second I’d accidentally sent that virtual unicorn. Hiring an actress was the smarter choice. They wereactualprofessionals, and I’d know what to expect from them. But something had made me wait to see if Ellie would respond, then I couldn’t stop myself from setting up this meet.
I blamed that damn nap.
“You said there’s no boyfriend in the picture?” I asked, needing to be sure.
It wasn’t a dealbreaker if there was, but this would be a lot less complicated if she was unattached.
