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Jasmine:Sorry…you’re breaking up…couldn’t hear…
Summer:We’re texting weirdo. Goodnight.
I pray I’m not blushing when I tuck my phone back in my pocket.
Cole rents one of those shotgun-style houses where the rooms lead into one another.
The first room is a sparse living area with some couches that have seen better days and a rickety card table. The next room is a bedroom and has more personality than the first, with full bookshelves, a small wooden desk, a closet door cracked open to reveal lots of black clothing hung up.
Of course, it is Cole after all.
Without my permission, my eyes are drawn to the big bed pushed up against the wall. The thing looks deliciously soft, with a puffy blue comforter spread over it. Could use a few more pillows, but that’s pretty much how I feel about every surface I see.
I wonder if Cole would accept pillows from me. I could sew him a black one. I could sew him twenty black ones if he asked.
I will make him a pillow, I decide. Unaware that this was his birthday, I didn’t get him a gift. A few days late is better than no gift at all.
The bed moves, and I yelp.
Cole stalks over to pull back the covers, revealing an insanely fluffy black cat who has sprawled out in the middle of the bed.
“This is Smaug,” Cole offers, wiggling his fingers as the cat playfully bats at them.
“Like the dragon?”
That earns me one of Cole’s sly smiles. “Exactly.”
Smaug stands from his resting place, stretching dramatically before he blinks a gorgeous set of green eyes at me. And I suddenly see a distinct relationship between cats and dragons. The name fits perfectly.
“How is Smaug with strangers? Can I pet him?”
Cole sits on the bed, running his hand down the cat’s fluffy back.
“Let him sniff your hand. He’ll decide.”
I crouch beside the bed, extending my arm so my knuckles hover about an inch from the cat’s face. After a hesitation, the animal leans forward to sniff my skin. My held breath comes out in a rush when he butts his head against my hand, demanding pets.
“I’m approved!” I whisper-cheer.
Cole smirks down at me, but I think I pick out a true spark of excitement in his eyes. “Good. Now I don’t have to kick you out.”
“I would have completely understood.” For a few quiet moments, the two of us pay tribute to Smaug.
“Now I know why you always wear black,” I murmur.
Cole quirks an eyebrow up in response.
“You don’t want people to realize you’re covered in cat hair.” My fingers scratch just behind Smaug’s ear, disappearing into his gorgeous dark fur.
Another smirky smile. “Sure. You caught me.”
“How long have you had him?”
“About six months now. When he came into the shelter, I decided I was ready to bring one home with me.”
He says this like he spends a lot of time at a shelter where cats are. Does he volunteer at an animal rescue or something? That’s when I realize there’s a huge blank space in my mind when it comes to Cole’s profession.
“I’m sorry, Cole. We’re supposed to be friends, but I don’t even know what your job is.”
