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Iforgotaboutthecat. I’m still not sure how it happened. I had gone on a long run this morning trying to make a game plan after Mom had seen me with Brie. Then there was dinner and the unpredictable hours spent talking with Brie. I can’t believe I let myself spend time with her, but something about her made it so easy to relax and forget myself. Our history was so intertwined, I couldn’t think about my youth without seeing her in every part of it. If it wasn’t for my fatigue, I might have stayed in my car all night. I had to drag myself inside and drop dead from exhaustion.
Until the cat.
That thing is deranged. What other animal would think it okay to sit on a man’s face in the middle of the night? The suffocating ball of fur almost killed me in my sleep. I woke in panic, this weight on my head and no air coming. I swatted at it, not even realizing it was the cat in the moment. Who knows how far it flew, but it squealed loud enough to wake the dead.
I’m not admitting this to anyone, but my own scream might have matched his. I scramble out of bed and flip on the lights. There it is, defending the corner of my room like it’s his. Its mangled fur sticks out at odd angles.
I step toward it and the cat hisses at me. I’m tempted to hiss back, but why aggravate him? I find my phone and try to look up Bearwood’s animal control. Lucky me, my phone’s dead. Annoyed, I toss it on my bed. I must’ve forgotten to plug it in before I crashed. Now what? I’m not sleeping with that devil cat. I need a net or something to catch it in and then some sort of cage.
I glance around the duplex. It’s bare. There’s nothing in my room except for my suitcase, Brie’s blow-up, and the sleeping bag she loaned me. I know the other rooms are more empty than this. I don’t even own a broom to lead the dang cat from the corner it’s staring me down from.
I scratch the back of my head. Should I sleep in my car tonight? There’s no way I’m staying here. I keep my body facing the cat and shuffle to my suitcase. I shove my legs into some sweats and throw on a long-sleeved Henley. That’s when I notice my watch sitting on my jacket. I pick it up. Yes! It has battery life. The time is 12:15. It’s late, but it could be worse. I tap it and pull up Brie’s number, henpecking a message with my too big finger.
ROCKWELL:You up?
I hold my breath. If she’s sleeping, I’ll feel like a jerk. When she doesn’t respond right away, I sink down on my bed only to jump back up again and eye the cat. It still hasn’t moved. Its beady eyes are following me though. I swear, it’s crazy.
My watch dings. I look at it.
BRIE:No, but I am now.
I feel bad I woke her. I hate texting on my watch, but I manage a stilted response.
ROCKWELL:Sorry. Cat issues. Can I borrow your broom?
It’s quiet for a moment. And then another ding.
BRIE:Sure.
I don’t bother with my shoes. I back out of my room and shut the cat in there. I’m not sure it’s a good idea. Who knows what it’ll do to my clothes. Or do on my clothes. I jog to my front door and blast myself with freezing cold air. My feet burn on the ice as I shuffle to Brie’s side. I knock and wait, dancing as I do.
Bleary-eyed, Brie opens the door. She has her pink sweatpants on again, but this time instead of a Mickey shirt, she has a gray hoodie. She looks pretty cute, and my eyes want to soak her up. I’m slightly aware how terrible I look in my own sweats and my usual morning cowlick sticking up in the back. The broom in her hand calls to me. For both our sakes, I want to hurry.
“Thanks. I’ll make this up to you, I promise.”
“Let me help you.” She rubs one of her eyes. “Between the two of us, we can close the gaps and herd it out of your place.”
I shake my head. “I’ve already ruined enough of your sleep.”
“What’s a few minutes more?” she asks.
I shrug and she takes it as a yes. She has her slippers on, and she follows me back to my door. It’s not a far walk, but my feet are numb by the time we step inside.
“Where’s the cat?”
“I shut him in my room.”
“Him?”
I nod. “No lady would act or look like this thing.”
She follows me to my bedroom door, running her hand through her adorable bedhead. “I didn’t know you disliked cats.”
“I love cats. It’s creatures who attack me in the night I don’t like.”
She snorts and covers her mouth.
I brace my hand on the doorknob. “Are you laughing at me?”
