Page 69 of Calling a Cease-Fire

“Look, I can’t break a promise, okay? So for now, just know I have nothing to tell you. But if—or hopefully, when—something changes, you’ll be the first to know.”

Adam narrowed his eyes. “I don’t really like the sound of that.”

He was just looking out for me, but for the time being, I had to get him to accept this. “I’m happy where we are. Isn’t that enough?”

“Until it’s not,” he muttered.

I sighed. “I better get going. Need to have the kittens there by four.”

He gave me a clipped nod and I breathed out a sigh of relief that he wasn’t going to push anymore. I honestly wasn’t sure how much longer I could not say something before pissing him off or blowing it all by opening my big mouth.

After dropping off the kittens and then running a few errands, I was back home cleaning up and putting away all the stuff I’d bought to take care of the furry little beasts. Figured it made sense to keep it all for a bit. Who knew when the chance to foster would come up again. I glanced at the clock on the wall and realized Mia should be off any minute now. Even though we hadn’t made plans tonight, I was itching to see her. Over the last two weeks, we’d ended up together any chance we got.

My phone rang from the counter, and seeing her name, I picked it up with a smile.

“Hey, just getting off work?”

“Yeah.” She sounded tired or stressed. Or maybe both. “Kittens already gone?” she asked.

“Yep. Did that this afternoon.”

“Are you sad?”

“Yeah. I’m going to miss Trouble the most.” The little black one always reminded me of my own troublemaker.

Mia giggled. “She was such a brat.”

“So are you,” I pointed out again.

She huffed indignantly before muttering, “That’s fair.” She chuckled and added, “But I’ll cheer you up.”

I thought back to a few nights earlier, when I had to take the other four back to get adopted. Realizing how down I was, Mia gave me the best fucking blow job of my life after telling me she knew just how to cheer me up. My cock already ached for her, and those words… Fuuuuck.

“Busy tonight?” I blurted out.

“I was thinking of going on a date.”

Her tone sounded serious, and anger rose up quickly at that. “What?” I snapped.

She snickered. “Chill, dude. I meant with you.”

“Oh.” What the hell was wrong with me? “Yeah, I knew that.”

She was quiet, likely knowing damn well I was about to lose my fucking mind. But I couldn’t stop wondering if she might be considering dating other people. We’d agreed on casual, but I literally couldn’t stomach that.

A thought lodged in my throat. Logan and Izzy’s wedding was coming up in a couple of weeks. Was she bringing a date? There was no way I could act friendly to any other guy touching her.

I did my best to push away those thoughts. That definitely wasn’t a conversation I was looking forward to having. Especially not over the phone.

“Want to come over, order Chinese and watch a movie?” I asked before adding, “Just us this time.”

She chuckled. “Sure. That works. I need to run home first. Be there in the next forty-five minutes or so.”

“Perfect.”

We hung up, but while I waited, I couldn’t stop wondering if I would have to watch her smile and dance with someone else. That would probably be the thing that killed me. I needed a plan to ensure I was the one she went with, because I didn’t think I could handle the alternative.

Chapter Twenty-Five