AllFreeNovel
Share Us
And once my blood pressure stabilizes after the conversation with Dad, I pull my phone out, open my chat history with Kirsten, and type out a message.
How’s little Trixie today?
Friday evening, Kirsten coerced me to visit the town pet store with her to ogle kittens and bunnies. My first inclination was to say no. Pepper is the only pet I’ve owned, and she is more of a working dog than a pet. But Kirsten was persistent, batting her lashes and pushing out her perfect, pouty lips, and I caved.
For hours, we sat cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by furry babies. To say I was uncomfortable for the first few minutes would be an understatement. I was in the eye of a furr-icane, unsure how to proceed safely.
But when this tiny ball of gray fluff crawled into my lap, pawed at my chest, and showed me the sweetest face before mewling, my heart melted on the spot. While others vied for both my and Kirsten’s attention, the little gray one curled up in my lap and purred the entire time.
When the shop owner told us the store was closing in thirty minutes, I did not anticipate what would happen next.
“I’d like to adopt this cutie,”Kirsten proclaimed as she pointed to the gray kitten in my lap.
On the way back to her house, kitten in a carrier on her lap and my backseat loaded with everything a kitten may possibly need, Kirsten rattled off a long list of names, waiting for some sort of reaction. It wasn’t until we were in her room, the kitten sniffing every inch of the space, that Kirsten said,“Hey, Trixie?”and the kitten gave a scratchy meow in response.
My phone vibrates with Kirsten’s reply.
Sunshine
When she’s not kicking litter out of the box, she’s great ??
My body shakes with laughter as I type.
Maybe she needs one of those covered boxes after all
Kirsten argued it was silly to get a covered litter box for a kitten.“It’s a baby. How much of a mess can she make?”
Question answered.
Sunshine
Yeah, yeah ??
Dinner?
Entering my bedroom, I fetch boots and a hoodie and slip them on.
Sunshine
Burgers?
Jogging down the stairs, eyes on the screen as I type out a response, I head for the mudroom, grab my jacket from the hook, and wiggle it on over my hoodie.
Send me your order. I’ll call it in.
She texts an order that could possibly feed two people, and I chuckle. Indecision is a bitch, but leftovers are delicious.
Got it. See you soon.
After I let Pepper out one last time, I pocket my wallet, phone, and keys and walk out the door.
It’s not until I call the restaurant to order that reality smacks me in the face.
Iamin a relationship with Kirsten. We may not have definedus, but there is definitely anus. And with this realization, I lose my appetite.
TWENTY-ONE
BEN
