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“It’s hard to believe a few days ago I was plugging along, doing my day to day, and now here I am, interviewing for a new job, potentially moving to the city. It’s like my whole world has been turned upside down in the best way possible.” After the initial panic, in which I questioned whether I could honestly and truly handle all the changes life was throwing at me, I called my sister.
She echoed what my mother said. And then she told me to go upstairs and stand in her bedroom and tell her what I saw. Nothing had changed in the days since she moved, but everything had changed. The things that had made it her room had gone with her to the apartment in the city. Sure, it was still a bedroom, but the life that had occupied it was missing. The little things that would trigger memories had disappeared.
Change happened regardless of whether we called on it. I could choose to embrace it or fight it, but it was coming for me, no matter what. So I embraced it. All of it. From the interview to moving in with Miles. And I started by bringing over a few outfits to keep in his closet.
The next morning Wilfred wakes us up with his stinky dog-breath alarm.
“Stay right where you are. I’ll take care of these two, and then I’ll take care of you.” Miles rolls out of bed, and Prince Francis and Wilfred follow him to the bathroom. They sit in front of the door, tails wagging in unison while they wait for him to do his business and then continue to the kitchen to feed them.
I grab a fruity Mentos from the roll in the nightstand drawer and lose my nightshirt. We finally figured out what Miles is allergic to. Apparently, as a kid he used to have a strange reaction to anything minty. His tongue would get itchy and his mouth would peel, so he’s avoided all minty things since. A few weeks ago, I kissed him after I had a mint hot chocolate, and his lips puffed up slightly, but an antihistamine later, they were back to their normal full kissableness.
The following week, I picked up a toy for Prince Francis that contained catnip. And Miles had a full-blown allergic reaction that required me to inject him with his EpiPen, a trip to the ER, and a formal mint allergy diagnosis. Catnip is part of the mint family. No more getting high for Prince Francis, and no more mint-mocha beverages for me.
A minute later, Miles returns and closes the door behind him, so we have some privacy. We’ve learned the hard way that leaving the door open, even a crack, is not a good idea when we’re planning to have naked fun.
Prince Francis yowls when I moan too loudly, and Wilfred joins in with forlorn howling. Feeding them tends to keep them busy long enough that we can get in some private time without an unwanted chorus.
Miles joins me under the sheets, our legs tangling. “I can’t wait to wake up to your beautiful face every single morning.” He slants his mouth over mine, and we both sink into the kiss. We make slow, lazy love, enjoying the closeness and the comfort we find in each other before we leave the haven of his bed.
My interview isn’t until ten this morning, and Miles doesn’t have to be at the rink until eleven, so we take our time making breakfast, and we talk about the interview and the questions I should ask.
Miles walks me down to the parking garage at nine-thirty and gives me a long, lingering kiss. “I’d wish you luck, but you don’t need it, since this is basically them trying to woo you.”
“Cross your fingers for me that it goes well anyway.”
I hop into my Cat-mobile and drive to A Place for Paws. It’s only twenty minutes from Miles’s apartment, which is another checkmark in the pro column.
I’m greeted by a young woman dressed in scrubs with a cat face pattern on them. “Kitty Hart! You’re here.” She extends a hand; her eyes are wide and she looks as nervous as I feel.
“Hi. And yes, I am.”
She shakes her head and has a full-body reaction that reminds me of someone being shocked. By a live electrical wire. “I’m so sorry. My name is Annie. I’m one of the resident cat lovers. My job is to love the new kitties they bring in for us to rehabilitate. Mary Jane is just speaking with the vet, but she’ll be out in a minute. Can I show you around while you’re waiting?”
“Sure. That sounds great.”
“Awesome. Fantastic.” She claps her hands and grins. “I’m still kind of in shock that you’re standing here. I’m a huge fan.” She cringes. “I promised myself I’d keep my cool, but I’m failing so hard right now.”
