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Perry pokes its head out from behind the pillow.My stuffed chair is going to need a good cleaning after having a muddy cat on it, but I feel for the poor creature.And I’m a little jealous.Given the opportunity, I think I’d like to burrow inside Tyler’s shirt.I’ve seen what it’s hiding.
While making sandwiches, I peek into the hall when the blow-dryer starts.He doesn’t seem like the type who cares how his hair dries.But whatever he’s doing continues for several minutes.And just as I pull the last sandwich off the stove, a light bulb goes off in my head, and I hurry to the door.
“Tyler.”
The noise stops.“Yes?”
“Are you drying your clothes?”
“Not all of them.But the robe provided insufficient coverage.Hang on.”The blow-dryer resumes for a minute or two.“I think I’m good now.”
There’s shuffling.Then the door swings open.
I clap a hand over my mouth.Tyler is wiry and ruggedly handsome.In a pink robe, he’s as cute as kittens in a viral video.
He has the belt double knotted, and he’s holding the edges of the robe together below where it’s tied.“Not completely dry, but dry enough.”
Since he’s walking like he just climbed off a horse, it’s not hard to guess what he’s wearing that’s not fully dry.
“Your sandwich is on the counter.We can eat on the couch if you want.”
He saunters down the hall, his legs multiple shades lighter than his upper torso and face.
“You wear jeans a lot, don’t you?”
“You’re a regular Sherlock Holmes, my dear.”He picks up the plate and drops onto the couch.
I gather up our wet clothes and toss them in the wash.On the express cycle, it shouldn’t take too long.
“When it beeps, I’ll throw stuff in the dryer.”
Tyler has a pillow beside him, and I sit just the other side of it.
“Perry didn’t scratch you, did he?”
He shows me his hands.“Not too bad.But those kitty claws are sharp.”He opens the top of the robe, revealing multiple red lines.“Once he was inside my shirt, he attempted to get under my skin.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’ll live.Poor cat was scared.”
“Tyler Rice, you’re a sweetheart.”I lean over the pillow and press a kiss to his cheek.“And I’m glad you showed up when you did.”
“You could’ve called me.I’d have been here sooner.Or taken care of it while you were teaching your class.”
Even after years of working through my past, some habits are hard to leave behind.“I’m not great at asking for stuff.Because of, well, the way I grew up, but...”I pause and take a deep breath.“Next time I’ll call you.”
“Please do.Becausethatwould mean a lot to me.”
Tyler makes me feel seen.In the last year, people, like Daisy and the Grindles, have entered my life who care about me and show it, but he takes it to another level.
Thunder rumbles, and Perry jumps off the chair and dashes up to Tyler.I laugh when he tries to get his black fuzzy head inside the robe.
“No, sir.You are not cuddling inside the robe.You can sleep in my lap.”
Perry stares at Tyler, then after a second, twirls in circles, trying to find the comfiest spot in Tyler’s lap.
“Want some ice cream?”I hop up.
