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I shake my head. “We can set up a litter box for it since I have stuff for Kiwi at my place, and you can keep it in your bathroom in case it does have an accident, but most cats catch on pretty quick how to use the litter.”
“One night, Twyla.” He holds up his pointer finger.
I do a little dance. “Thank you! You won’t regret it, I promise.”
“I promise you I will,” he grumbles as we make our way toward the entrance to the building.
But I can take his grumbling if it means he’ll give this little one a place to stay tonight. I wouldn’t be able to sleep at the thought of leaving it out here on the streets.
On the ride up in the elevator, I fuss with the kitten while Chase watches me, not saying anything. As we start down the hall, I go through what needs to happen in my head.
“Do you have a casserole dish?” I ask him, and he gives me a look. “Right, of course you don’t. I’ll grab one from the condo I’m in. We can put a little bit of litter in there and use it as a makeshift litter tray. I’ll buy him a new dish.”
We both go to our apartments and I wait while Chase unlocks his door, then I hold the kitten out to him.
His eyes widen and his hands go up in front of him. “I’m not touching that thing.”
I cock out a hip. “I could put it down, but it might get scared and burrow in under something where we can’t get it. If that’s the case, it could be days before it comes out.”
A line forms between his eyebrows and he huffs out a sigh. “Fine.” He holds his hands out to take it.
The kitten squirms, sick of being held out, and it’s all I can do not to laugh when Chase holds it in front of him as though it’s a bomb that could detonate with his slightest movement.
“Cradle it against your chest and pet its head. It seems to like that.” I give him an encouraging nod, like I might give the kids in my class when they’re afraid of something.
He does as I say, and I wish I could snap a picture because seeing Chase carefully cradle this little orange piece of fluff is the kind of thing that gets a girl’s ovaries going.
“I’ll be right back. Leave your door open.” I turn and open the door to the condo I’m staying in.
Kiwi is sleeping on the couch in the living room and doesn’t give me more than a cursory glance. Once I’ve gathered up some food, kitty litter, and a casserole dish, I head across the hall to Chase’s place. He’s standing just inside the door, cringing while the kitten takes a stroll up his chest and across his shoulders.
“This little shit’s claws are like needles,” he complains.
It’s true. I remember that from my time at the pet store, but it’s still amusing to see a man who pummels and gets pummeled by two-hundred-something-pound men for a living complain about a little kitten’s claws.
“Bring it to the bathroom.” I carry all my supplies into the bathroom and set them down on the counter, then turn around. Chase comes through the door, and it's then that I realize how small the space feels when he’s in it. “All right, close the door and I’ll get it off you.”
Chase closes the door at the same time as the kitten decides to take a route down his back, and a few unhappy grumbles slip out of Chase’s mouth. Thank God he still has his tuxedo jacket on, otherwise it would be worse.
I gently pull the kitten up. At first it won’t retract its claws, so it pulls at the tuxedo jacket, but the kitten finally relents. I set it on the floor, where it immediately gets to work sniffing everything.
“Can you grab two bowls from the kitchen? I’m going to use one for food and one for water.”
Chase nods and leaves the room, probably happy to escape.
I set up the litter and set the furball inside to check it out. It’s not ideal, but I think it will work. My instinct is proven right when it takes a small pee in the litter right away then covers it up.
The door opens behind me, and I turn with a big grin. “It just peed in the litter.”
“Good. Here you go.” He holds out two plain white bowls.
I fill one with water and the other with food. After a few cuddles with the kitten, while Chase watches, I stand to leave.
“Thanks again for doing this.” I open the door and step into the hallway.
“You owe me.” He closes the door behind us.
“I do. Your call. You just say the word and I’m all yours.” I walk down the hall to see myself out.
