Page 134 of Lost

“Wait, he’s a freshman. He can’t be a big-deal quarterback. Not yet.”

“Oh, yeah he is. He’s kicking ass. OU is undefeated this season with him leading the team.”

“Holy crap! That’s awesome. His dreams are coming true.”

“Yeah, it’s cool. So, wanna head to OU?”

“Um, well, um, we can’t get to Norman and back in three hours,” I said lamely.

“I know, but you can drive back, right? I’ll bring some blankets to cover up with. It’ll be fine.”

“You’re serious?”

“Yeah, Zo. Of course. He was your guy. I figured you’d want to see him.”

I breathed out a long breath. “Not before the most important game of his life. It’d mess up his head, and you know Heath.” I added with a shaky smile. “It doesn’t take much to mess up his head.”

“Very true,” he agreed.

“So, no. That’s really nice of you to offer, but I don’t think it’d be the best thing for Heath.”

“Okay.” He gave me a contemplative look. “That’s real grown-up of you, Zo.”

“Well, I’m trying,” I said.

Then from somewhere just outside the mouth of the cave I heard the strangest thing. Kevin had started to say something else, but I put up my hand and shushed him.

“Me-uf-ow!”

“Kev, did you hear that?” I walked a few feet outside the cave, trying to see through the darkness and fog.

“Sounded like a cat. Not surprising, Zo. There’re lots of cats around here.”

“No, notacat.Mycat. Kitty-kitty-kitty! Nala? Is that you, baby girl?”

“Me-uf-ow! Me-uf-ow! Me-uf-ow!”Grumbling like a fat little old woman, an orange cat leaped from one of the boulders and rushed up to us.

I dropped to my knees, holding out my hands for her. “Oh, Nal! You look so wet and cold—and skinny!Come here to me!”

She did, briefly rubbing against my legs. But she didn’t let me pick her up. Instead she padded directly over to Kevin. She circled around and around his legs, rubbing against him and complaining over and over in her old-woman voice.

“Hey there, Nala,” Kevin said, bending to pick her up. “How did you get here?” He sent me a confused look over the top of her wet head as she turned on her purr engine and snuggled in his arms. “Could your cat have followed you?”

I shook my head, feeling happy and sad—and a little jealous—all at the same time. “No, Kev. I promise youmyNala is curled up on my bed probably complaining at Stark right now. This is obviouslyyourNala.”

He blinked in surprise. “Mine? Seriously?”

I smiled and reached out to stroke her damp fur, feeling her body rumble with her magnificent purr. “Seriously. In this world, you are her person.”

“Wow! That’s really cool. I’ve never had a cat. Animals hate red vamps over here.”

“Not your kind of red vamp. Congratulations, Kev. She’s an awesome cat. She can be kinda grumpy, and she’ll sneeze cat snot in your face, but if you need a snuggle she’ll always be there for you. And she has thebestpurr engine in any world.”

“Hey! There y’all are!” Stevie Rae rushed up like a mini Oklahoma tornado with Rephaim and Aphrodite following in her wake. “Ohmygoodness!Nala! What are you doing here?” Stevie Rae scratched the top of her head, which made her purr even louder.

“This is Other Nala, and she just showed up, and she chose Kevin as her vampyre,” I said.

“That is wonderful news,” said Rephaim, petting the little orange tabby.