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Even though the aftermath of our morning interview has been positive, he’s been cautious. Almost cagey, as if he’s keeping a secret and running off to do errands but coming back without purchases. I’m not worried there’s something wrong with our relationship because we’ve gone fully public this week, dating in plain sight.

Sky skips to meet me and drags me into the kitchen. “I’ve got a couple of surprises. Big and small. Which do you want first?”

I exhale with a grin. We enjoy spoiling each other. “Hit me with the small one.”

“Ta-da,” he says, and my phone pings with incoming pictures.

“What am I looking at?” I rub my eyes, examining the pictures of airline tickets.

“I’m traveling to your away games. There aren’t more than a few weeks of the regular season left, but I’m coming to all but two of your games. The plane tickets for your next game are outrageous, but once the playoffs start—”

I sweep him up. “You’re coming with me?” I kiss every inch of his face that I can reach.

“It’s not that big a deal.” He hops up on the counter and lays himself out for me. “Before you freak out, the next thing has terrible timing, so we can do it on a trial basis.”

I nuzzle his crotch and he giggles.

“Oh, I’m in for more than a trial.” I nip at his waist, but a pathetic sound echoes in the pantry. “What’s that?”

Sky holds my shoulders as he hoists himself up. “Don’t be mad, but I went to check on Raven, confirmed girlie kitty, to make sure she’s okay. She was dehydrated and hungry, but in great shape for what she’s been through. The entire time I was with her, she kept peeking around, expecting someone else to show up.”

He slides off the island and has an adorable pink flush. His eyes are locked on mine as he slides over to the pantry door. “In my humble opinion, she was looking for you.”

I force down the surge of excitement that pulses through me. Sky has been anti-pet as long as I’ve known him.

He cracks the door open, and a black ball of fur rockets straight at me.

“Raven.” I cuddle the kitten to my chest, and she purrs. “We can keep her?” I ask.

“She’ll only stay if we keep her sister too.” Sky holds up a fluff of orange with wary amber eyes staring at me with a flick of her tail. “This could be your other daddy.” He buries his face in her belly.

My heart leaps and then plummets as I tally the things it takes to keep kittens alive and happy.

“My last gift seems ridiculous, but I’ve got it figured out. The first time I fly out, the kittens are scheduled for their next round of shots. They can stay at the vet’s overnight. Maria will be healed in a few more weeks, and Lo said he’d stay here with the babies on my next trip. What do you think?” His brown eyes plead for what I already want.

“You really thought this through.” I allow myself to consider Raven as mine. “You’re fine with two kittens shedding and clawing furniture?”

His mouth drops in horror at the thought. “They are perfect babies, not destructive monsters. He didn’t mean to talk bad about you,” Sky coos, and in response, the orange kitten takes a swipe at his hair, catches it in her paws, and chews on it.

“What’s her name?” Raven crawls around my shoulder but can’t reach the other side yet so settles to lick my ear.

“This is Amber. She’s Raven’s sister by choice. Two cuties bonded by abandonment. Watch.” Sky saunters to the doorway, and both kittens yowl as if they’re being tortured. It’s heart-wrenching, and I silently vow to do anything to stop it. “Don’t worry. Baby, I’m not leaving without your sis.” He steps toward me, and they lower their volume to a raspy squawk.

I gingerly remove Raven’s claws from my shirt and hold her next to Amber. Both their tails go straight up and they boop noses.

“So cute.” I reach to scratch between Amber’s ears.

“Wait until you see them play. Pro tip: clothes on around them.” He lifts his henley to show me tiny scratch marks across his stomach. “It’s my fault. I thought skin-to-skin contact would be good for them, similar to babies. Don’t do it. It’s a cuteness trap.” Sky closes us in the pantry with the kittens. He sits with Amber and pats the space next to him.

I sit gingerly so as not to frighten them. “What do they do now?” Raven digs in her claws and scales me to the top of my head.

“Whatever they want.” Sky lets Amber sniff around. She decides her sister can’t have all the fun and scurries up to Sky’s head.

“Kitten hats were not on my bingo card today, but it’s the best gift ever.” I duck my head to kiss Sky while balancing the kitty. Raven digs her claws into my scalp and lets out a tiny hiss. I pluck her off my head and bring her nose to nose with me. “You might be more fun than a league win, but no hissy fits for kissing daddy. It’s a deal-breaker.”

“I’m Papa. You’re daddy.” He brings Amber to his chest and lays his head in my lap.

“Reeeeally?” I set Raven on his chest and kiss him properly, sinking a hand into his hair, but the cat party going on his stomach is too enticing not to watch.