“Because I’m hoping you’ll be on the other side, looking at me like I’m a snack.”
Finally, she raises her eyes to mine and arches an eyebrow. She’s wearing eyeliner which makes her green eyes even more vibrant. Her hair is pulled into a ponytail but curly strands of it are escaping around her face. I don’t want to tell her this because I don’t want to bring up Josh, but she looks a lot more relaxed now than she ever did with him.
“Remind me again how drunk I was to have married you,” she says.
“Let’s not forget you got me drunk.”
“Semantics.”
I start to reply when I feel something at my feet and look down to see Salem trying to do a jailbreak. I bend down and pick him up, cradling him in my arms. “Come in before he tries to make a break for it again.”
I step aside to allow Lavinia to enter. She’s looking between me and Salem in confusion.
“Are you catsitting?”
“No, Blossom. Salem is mine.” I grin at her. “Ourchild.”
Salem watches her as carefully as Lavinia watches him. They even have the same deep green eyes. I take a step back into the apartment and Lavinia comes one step forward, her eyes never leaving Salem. When she’s in the apartment, I close the door behind her.
“Do you want to pet him?”
I chose to adopt cats because they’re not friendly. They can give or take people and mostly treat me like they’re my masters, and I live to serve them.
As much as I love dogs and always wanted one growing up, I realize dogs also require a lot of socializing and I’m not good at that. Cats were the perfect solution, but now I realize there’s a good chance they won’t like Lavinia.
Slowly, Lavinia raises a hand for Salem to sniff and I watch carefully to make sure he doesn’t swipe at her. Salem sniffscarefully and then his tongue swipes out, licking her finger. Lavinia grins, pleased to have been accepted.
“You can pet him now but be very careful.”
Lavinia uses two fingers to scratch Salem’s head and my cat purrs loudly, his body vibrating in my arms. I can’t believe I’m actually jealous of my cat. I’m jealous of everyone who gets Lavinia’s attention.
“He’s adorable,” Lavinia coos. “Yes, you are, you sweet boy.”
“He gets it from me.”
Lavinia laughs. “You’ve never been sweet in your life.”
“I’m sure I was a sweet baby.”
Her nose wrinkles adorably. Salem digs his paws into my arms and jumps down, running away from us. That’s as much socializing as he can take. When I turn back to her, Lavinia is closer to me, lifting a hand to touch the corner of my mouth.
I iced it when I got home, but there’s a bruise forming. Drew’s got quite the left hook. Her fingers are gentle as she inspects my injury, and I can’t take my eyes off her. Her brows dip down in concern, lashes creating shadows under her eyes. There are freckles scattered across her skin, each one a constellation of stars creating the most perfect person.
“Drew’s hand looks worse. You’ll be fine,” she says, stepping back.
“What about the pain and trauma I suffered?”
“You want restitution?”
My eyes drop to her mouth, her lips are glossy and pink. “Maybe you can kiss it and make it better.”
“Maybe I should get you an ice pack,” she says, walking backwards towards the kitchen while maintaining eye contact with me. “Walking into the kitchen.”
“Why are you announcing it?” I ask with amusement.
“I once walked into Ford’s kitchen—after he let me into the apartment—and there was a naked woman making coffee. Since then, I’ve learned to loudly announce which room I’m entering.”
She turns around and takes off her jacket, revealing a dark green sweatshirt. I follow her, grabbing her jacket from where she puts it over a chair. I hang it on the back.
