Chloe
Lucky guess?
A tiny huff escapes me as I stare down at the phone.So she did turn off all my alarms.I’ve got so much shit to do, and…
I take a deep breath and remind myself who I’m talking to.This really doesn’t need to be an earth-shattering event.Chloe would tell me to loosen up, which is probably why she did this in the first place.
A smirk tugs at my lips as I type something back.
Me
Lucky my ass
U at work?
Chloe
As always.What time are you popping in?:p
The back of my neck flushes at her message.I’ve got a few jobs left on the house, but zero motivation to do them.
The deadline I was working toward also means the end of whatever this is between Chloe and me.
Why the hell would I rush?
Just to get back to Philly?
Doesn’t sound as appealing as it once did.
There’s no doubt in my mind that I’m going to finish in time, so I do have room to enjoy myself a little.It would certainly appease Chloe… and Leo.
I could lay on the back deck with the ocean breeze and a few more chapters of my Mandela book.The thought alone makes my chest feel lighter.
Or, I could head into town and look at what I really want: blue eyes, sun-kissed hair, and a perfect smile.
I text Chloe that I’ll be in soon, then glance down at the kitten rubbing against my ankle.Kat rolls onto her back at my feet, her paws in the air.
“Anotherbelly rub?”Spoiled girl.I crouch and graze my fingers over her soft stomach.She purrs, and I lift my phone to snap a photo.
I text the pic to Mom and then to my brother, Gray.He helped me out yesterday over a video call, checking the kitten over.He said Kat looks healthy, which was a relief, and told me to ring the shelter to see if anyone had reported a missing kitten.
So far, I haven’t heard back and, not gonna lie, I kind of hope no one calls just yet.
I scoop her up and hold her against my chest.
Mom replies right away with a string of heart emojis.I tap out of her message thread, and my gaze catches on Leo’s name.
After a brief hesitation, I text Leo the picture:Do u know what this hideous thing is?It came with the house.
Within seconds, my phone starts ringing.My throat goes dry.What if he’s got bad news about his health?
Answer the fucking phone, Ethan.
I press it to my ear.“Hey.”
“Ethan Davis, did you buy a cat?”
The easy smile in his voice relaxes my shoulders.“I found one.Actually, she found me.”I scratch Kat’s belly and give Leo the short version of how we became temporary housemates.
