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Kitty gives me a brief squeeze and as she steps back, her eyes are extra wide, and her cheeks are once again pink. “I’m glad your face is back to normal today. Your lips were already kissable; you really didn’t need them to be any fuller than they are in the first place.” Her own lips go thin, and it looks like she’s biting them together. “I have to go! Have a good day! Stay safe and keep breathing!”
I hold the door for her while she steps into the hall. “Have a good day, Kitty! Thanks again!” She glances over her shoulder and waves, then disappears around the corner, where the elevators are.
Josh is standing in the living room, one of his manicured eyebrows popping. Literally, it’s bouncing up and down like a car with hydraulics. I have no idea how he does it.
“Dude. You have some explaining to do, but after you get dressed, because I want a cinnamon roll.”
“I need to take Wilfred out to use the bathroom before we leave,” I tell him.
“I can take him while you get ready.” Josh grabs the leash from the hook on the wall. “Come on, buddy, let’s go pee on a fire hydrant.”
Wilfred hustles over, tongue lolling and tail wagging.
“Okay. Thanks. I’ll be right back.” I take a two-minute shower, throw on a fresh suit, and meet Josh in the hall ten minutes later. I grab my messenger bag from the counter, give Wilfred a pat on the head, assure him I’ll be home at a reasonable time tonight, and that Mark and Joe will be by soon to take him and Herman for their daily trip to the dog park, then I leave my apartment with Josh.
As soon as we’re in Josh’s sports car, he starts firing questions at me. “Are you doing the dirty with the Kitty Whisperer?”
I give him a look. “No.”
“She slept at your house last night, and you’re telling me nothing happened?”
“I had an allergic reaction. A bad one. I wasn’t in any condition to do anything but be thankful I can breathe.”
“Okay, back this up and start from the beginning.” He makes a rewind motion with his finger.
So I tell him the whole story.
He chuckles. “Well, there’s a special brand of irony right there.”
I frown. I’m still spacey from the antihistamines, I think. “What are you talking about?”
“You’re basically allergic to your girlfriend.”
“She’s not my girlfriend.”
“She stayed the night at your house.”
“In my spare room. Because I almost died.”
“So you’d be cool with it if I ask her out on a date, then?”
“Over my dead fucking body.”
Josh smiles. “That’s what I thought.”
chapter ten
A LITTLE HAUNTED?
Kitty
Turns out I was right about Bumbles. He was stuck in the cupboard, rather than the wall. He chewed through a bag of food and ate a good portion of it, then dropped a deuce in a basket of potatoes now destined for the garbage.
With Bumbles managed, I drive to Miles’s mother’s place to switch out our cars—I don’t know why I don’t just refer to her as Tabitha in my head since I’ve seen her name on her mail. Maybe because I’ve never met her? Prince Francis is displeased with my short visit, but I promise I’ll be back later to hang out. My next stop is home so I can shower and change into fresh clothes.
While I’m in the shower I play over the parting hug with Miles. It was clumsy, mostly because I didn’t expect it. It’s possible it was a gratitude hug, or a reflexive one. Regardless, I enjoyed it. Everything was easier when I believed he was a hot cat-hating jerk. Now our interactions are steeped in awkwardness.
By the time I’m done in the shower it’s noon. Mom is dressed for work at the bakery. Two plates sit on the counter, one empty, one with a BLT sandwich. She pushes it toward me. “That’s for you.”
“Thanks, Mom.” I kiss her on the cheek and pick up one of the triangles, taking a bite. All I’ve had today so far is coffee. “When does your shift start?”
She checks the clock on the stove. “Not until two, but I’m only there until six, so it’s a short one.”
I swallow my bite of sandwich. “I’m sitting overnight for a client, so it’s only you and Hattie for dinner. Speaking of, where is Hattie?”
“She went to the library for a study group this morning, and she has a night class, so she won’t be home for dinner either.”
“Oh, that’s right. I could pop by and have dinner with you so you’re not alone, if you want,” I offer.
“You don’t need to do that. Marie invited me over tonight, so I think I’ll accept, since I’m going to be the only one here.” She drums on the counter.
I try to hide my shock, but I think it comes through in my pitch. “That’s a great idea! How is Marie these days?” Marie has a son around my sister’s age. Last I heard he was on scholarship at a university out of province.
