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“And you’ve been mine.” I look at her shining eyes and have to ask. “What about Griffin? Is he family? Does he make you happy?”
She pulls her hand away. “I love him, Cos.”
I remember the look in Griffin’s eyes when he looked at her and have to hope that I didn’t imagine it.
Besides, what can I say to that, after I’ve tasted the feeling myself, and I’m hooked on my guy, come what may?
We leave the coffee shop, and I watch my sister cross the street to return to her taciturn man—the man she loves, I remind myself.
Then I ring Merc’s number again, and this time he answers.
“Hey.” He sounds out of breath, and there’s a hint of smile in his voice. “Cosie.”
My heart slows down, and I lean back against the coffee shop façade, relieved. “Hey, yourself. How you feeling?”
“Good.” A pause, then he says, “I know you called before. Sorry I didn’t pick up. There was an emergency in the kitchen, and by that I mean that JC almost burned the place down trying to make pancakes. Or so he says. I think he was building an organic bomb or something, from the smell.”
A reluctant smile tugs at my lips. I can imagine that so clearly. “Crisis averted?”
“If you like the new fancy black walls deco, sure.”
I laugh. “Might be a little to artsy for me.”
“Then I’ll scrub them clean,” he says, his voice going serious. “Fuck the new deco. As long as you stay.”
I swallow hard. It’s one of those moments when it feels like every word has a deeper meaning, and I don’t know if I’m imagining it. He said he loves me. Who needs more?
Not this girl, I decide. This girl is luckier than she thought she’d ever get.
“I’m on my way home,” I say. “I had an interview.”
“A what?” He sounds a little distracted, but I guess maybe he’s scrubbing the kitchen walls?
“An interview for a job. Not sure it went well, but I have a few lined up…” I trail off. Why is it so hard to believe he wants me to stay? He said it so many times. “To get a job here. Settle down.”
Another, breathless pause—at least on my side—before he says warmly, “You mean it? That would be so fucking good, Cos. Job or not.”
“I know you barely know me,” I blurt out. “But I like being with you, Merc.”
“Me too, girl. So damn much.” He hesitates. “I have some news, too. Come home, and I’ll tell you about it.”
I’m already moving. “I’ll grab a cab, and I’m on my way.”
The doorbell ring is still echoing when he opens the door, in a plain T-shirt and dark jeans, feet bare, hair wet and ruffled, as if from the shower. “CatGirl.”
“DreamBoy.”
His mouth twists, ends up smiling. He pulls me into his arms. “Missed you when I woke up this morning.”
“Missed you, too.” Crazy, but true. I love smelling his unique scent, listen to his heart be
at, feel his warmth envelop me in the cradle of his arms.
Does this need to be around him, attached to him, every hour of every day fade over time? Right now it doesn’t seem possible.
Hiccup winds herself around my legs, meowing way too loud for such a little thing.
“Don’t believe her,” Merc mutters, pulling back and looking down at the kitten. “I fed her just now. Her belly’s so full she can hardly walk. She’s this little barrel with feet, like a duck waddling about.”
