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She returns her attention to Zeus. “You be a good boy for your new owners, okay, buddy?” Then she sets him inside the carrier to her right.
Zeus meows as soon as she’s closed the front of it, and I swear he’s looking at her like, “How could you do this to me?”
She stands then bends to lift the carrier, holding it out to me. “Well, I guess you should go.”
I take the carrier. “You going to be okay?”
She sniffles and waves off my concern. “Of course. Sorry, I think I’m a little more emotional than normal this week.”
“What’s up?”
The corners of her lips tilt down. For a second, I think she might not tell me, but then it all comes bursting out like a cracked dam. “This weekend was supposed to be my wedding. It’s just bringing up a lot of emotions. It’s not that I wish I was still marrying Mathew, not after what happened, but it still makes me sad. Sad and feeling kind of like an idiot because how did I not see what was going on?”
I set the carrier on the floor and pull her into my chest. It’s instinctual—Twyla’s hurting, and I want to comfort her.
“Because you’re a good person and would never do that to someone.” I rub her back. “I’m sorry he hurt you.” I attempt to keep my tone even, though the truth is I would love to rip her ex’s larynx from his throat for putting Twyla through this.
She pulls away too soon, and I miss the feeling of her small frame pressed against my larger one. “You should go. Otherwise I’m going to beg you to keep him.” She lets out a watery laugh and goes to open my condo door.
I follow with the cat carrier in hand. “You want to meet up once I’m back and watch an episode of our show?”
“Our show” slips out naturally, but she doesn’t question it. She just smiles and nods. “Text me when you’re back and I’ll come over.”
I nod and walk down the hall toward the elevator. I don’t have to turn around to know that she watches us the entire time.
I pull up in front of the home in the Outer Sunset district and kill the engine of my truck. Zeus looks up at me with wide eyes in his carrier that sits on the passenger seat and meows.
“Looks like a decent place. You’ll like it here, Zeus.”
He meows again.
Though I’m right here and I should be eager to get rid of this furball that unexpectedly came into my life, something stops me from getting out of the truck. I picture Twyla saying goodbye to him and I remember how annoying yet amusing it was when Zeus inspected the inside of every bag or box I brought into the house. How after every shower, he wanted to lie down in the water left in the basin, then dripped water through my condo for the next ten minutes. Or how he’d sometimes hop up onto a table or counter and flick things off for no discernible reason.
I realize that kind of like Twyla, he’s wormed his way into my heart, and I know what I have to do, damn it.
I start the truck and drive away, back to my place. Zeus, you’ve got a permanent home.
When I arrive at my building, I head back up to my condo and let Zeus out of the carrier. He takes a few steps out then turns and looks at me like, “What was the point of all that?” He flops down on his butt and licks his nuts.
Welcome home, I guess.
I pull my phone from my back pocket to text Twyla.
Me: I’m back. Head over whenever.
I walk into the kitchen to grab us a couple of drinks and Zeus follows, likely hoping for some treats or a second dinner.
The condo door opens, and I call, “In the kitchen.”
Her soft footsteps near the kitchen, and once she’s within view, looking a little more put together now, Zeus meows his hello to her and trots around the corner of the island.
She stops abruptly and her hands fly up to her mouth. “What is he doing here?” Her eyes search my face.
“I couldn’t do it. I got all the way there and I just couldn’t give him to someone else.” My cheeks heat with embarrassment. Seriously, I’m a tough football player and this does not make me weak. I repeat the mantra.
I know in that moment that it doesn’t matter how much of a pain in the ass Zeus ends up being. It’ll be worth it just to see this expression on Twyla’s face and know I’m the one who put it there.
“Oh my god.” She rushes toward me and throws her hands around my waist, pressing her cheek to my chest. “You kept him.”
