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She groans, flopping back into her seat. “Sure!”
As I turn off the car and jump out, Hailee opens the door, exiting from the rear of the car before I have a chance to get to her. Then she takes off for the house, not waiting for me. I reach into the car and grab her bag and shoes that she has conveniently kicked off and left behind like usual.
Shaking my head, I walk inside, flipping on the lights. Hailee’s already made herself comfortable on the sofa with her iPad and is watching some influencers on YouTube, or is it TikTok? I can’t keep up with her these days.
Immediately, I get to work, rushing about the house tidying as best I can before Blake’s imminent arrival. My mind flicks to an image of his apartment and how immaculately kept it would be. The word pristine comes to mind, unlike here, where there’s an abundance of furniture and Hailee’s toys scattered all over the place. Let alone the mess Mr. Muggles, our cat, makes.
Where is she anyway?
Yes, that’s right, Mr. Muggles is a girl.
But we don’t question five-year-olds when they want to name their pets. So, Mr. Muggles, it was. Hailee thinks it is funny now she’s older and realizes her mistake, but we think it suits her. She’s an incredibly snobbish cat.
Walking through the house, I make my way to my bedroom, where Mr. Muggles is nestled into my pillows, sleeping soundly. I smile and walk up to the Ragdoll, her bright blue eyes focusing on me, looking completely unimpressed and disinterested as she yawns. Reaching out, I scruff along her collar and smile. “Have a nice day, Mr. Muggles?”
She rolls on her back, her legs tapping my hand, which means she is hungry. “All right, I’ll get you some food.”
As if she understands me, the aristocratic cat jumps up, scurries off my bed, and darts into the hall, her feet sliding on the floorboards as she goes. Shaking my head at her antics, I take off my blouse and go to my walk-in closet. “But first, I need to get changed.”
I look around, wondering what in the hell I am going to wear. Blake has never seen me in anything other than a dress suit. He’s never seen me in mom mode. So I’m not about to start showing him that now. Grabbing a little black cami dress because it is so hot and humid, I slip out of my suit skirt and slide this far more casual number on. The thing about this dress is that it’s a little bit sexier than my usual track pants and oversized T-shirt I would normally get into after work.
Being a single parent is hard work. So after spending all day at work trying to look my best, I simply want to unwind and relax when I get home. Sometimes I use being a single mom as an excuse to allow me to sit in that comfort zone we all become accustomed to—runners, sweat pants, and a tee—my usual attire. But right now, as I look at myself in the mirror with my hair falling around my shoulders in soft waves and my makeup touched up, I can’t help but feel a sense of pride in my appearance.
Maybe I should put in more effort, not for anyone else but for me.
To make me feel good about myself.
When did being a mother stop me from loving myself?
“Mooom,” Hailee calls out, and I let out a small exhale.
Because being a mom always comes first.
I run my hands down my dress, making sure I’m all good, then I step out of my bedroom and into the living room. Mr. Muggles runs around, taking a throw rug with her, and knocks into things as she goes.
“Hailee, try to grab her,” I call out as she stands on the edge of the sofa, staring down at the maniac cat.
“She might scratch me!” Hailee squeals, holding a cushion to her chest for safety as I rush in and start chasing the damn cat around the living room.
She knocks into the coffee table, sending the candle centerpiece with all the fake diamonds flying across the floorboards. They scatter as I step on them, making me yelp in pain because those little diamonds are sharp as hell. I begin to hop as the cat continues her rampage.
“Fuck!Muggles,get over here…now!”
She hisses at me, making Hailee scream as the doorbell rings.
I snap my head to the front door. “Shit!” I groan as the cat takes off, throw rug still attached to her legs as she races off down the hall. Unfortunately, the throw snags the leg of the side table and causes the table to slide. I race for the vase on the table, stubbing my toe on the sofa.
“Ouch. Fuck!” I call out, hopping around on the spot like some crazed lunatic as the vase smashes on the floor, the cat whizzing up the hall.
The front door bursts open. “Zoey!” Blake calls out, the concern in his voice obvious, as the maniac cat jumps into his arms. The bags of food he was holding are promptly dropped onto the floor as he grabs the cat, and she smothers herself in his arms while I am still hopping around on one foot, trying to dodge the diamonds and broken glass. All the while, my toe is now bleeding.
“Oh, my God!” I whimper, using the sofa’s edge to keep me upright and to avoid passing out with the pain as Blake closes the door behind him. Mr. Muggles—the maniac cat—is still in his arms while he lets out a small chuckle.
“What’s going on? I heard screaming, banging, and swearing, but all I see is one hell of a mess.”
Hailee bursts into a fit of giggles as she jumps over the back of the sofa and runs down the hall toward Blake.
Thanks for the help, Starshine!
