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Plopping Gerald into the jar, plumes of dust rise with each flip of his body. Taking another sip of coffee, I chuckle at his excited chirps.
Ethan shuffles in, looking like he’s been through the wringer…and he has. I wish I could say I feel bad, but Litza and Mark brought some of Zarya’s tea when they were getting my things—poor man never saw it coming. Absolutely worth it.
His eyes find me. His clear blue sapphires now veiled in a mix of confusion and irritation.
“Good morning.” He walks by me with a grunt and reaches for the coffeepot.
“Want some tea?” I ask, using the mug to conceal my smile.
“No. It’s come to my attention that all teas in this household are no longer safe for consumption. I take it you didn’t dose this bitter mud-like substance with any of your illicit drugs?”
I smirk, and the sound of Gerald still doing flips in his dust jar catches Ethan’s attention. He stops pouring the coffee and cautiously leans to the side to look over the kitchen island at Gerald.
“What is that?” He sighs.
“That is Gerald, taking a dust bath.”
Ethan’s grimace is one of shock and disgust. “Dust? Bath?” He scrunches his nose. “Why not a proper bath?” He takes a sip, and his lips purse with a smack.
“He’s special-special. Remember?”
Walking around the counter, he places his mug down on top of the island. He lowers to one knee, outstretching his arm toward Gerald. The fuzzy snowball tilts his head in consideration before leaping into Ethan’s arms, leaving a trail of dust in his wake. Tucking Gerald into the crook of his chest, Ethan runs his finger along the dusted fur.
“She means distinguished.” Ethan lifts his eyes to me, mockingly narrowing them.
Rolling my eyes in exasperation, I can’t help the smile that appears watching Ethan set Gerald down with a little butt tap. His eyes follow the trail of dust along the floor. Rising on a sigh, he takes a pained inhale.
“How bad do you want to clean the floor right now?” I mumble over the lip of my mug.
“Don’t ask.” His brows furrow as he turns to me. “You’re dressed for the office?”
“I do have a job…at least I think I do.” My shoulders slump as the anxious thoughts flood my mind.
“What do you mean, you think?”
“Well, I had a very good career. It was going well; things were going smoothly. Then a British ass decided to raze it to the ground, and I began hemorrhaging clients. So there’s that.”
Ethan’s eyes widen as the gears in his mind whirl to life.
“I don’t have the faintest idea what you’re talking about,” he says, rubbing his temples. I realize I haven’t told him about a few liberties I took while he was out.
“I put my stuff in your room. I hope that’s okay?”
“Well, you won’t be sleeping in any other room, so of course it is. Seriously, what’s in that tea?”
“I wish I could tell you…but Zarya has her own signature recipe. The key is to use very little and a lot of water.” I pinch my fingers in midair.
“Never again.” He points a finger at me.
“Of course,” I say through my smile. “By the way, I got the results back for one of my collections. So I have to go break it to him.”
Ethan nods. “Let me have your phone, please,” he says walking toward me with his hand extended.
“Why?”
“I’m going to share your location with me.” I don’t bother hiding the surprise in my features.
