Robert went wide-eyed. He pulled the sheet over his naked body, so it covered his lower half, although it wasn’t visible through the phone, and he ran his hand over his short blond hair to make sure it was neat.
It was.
Hope looked equally as flustered and was finger-combing her hair.
“Geez, Amber. Give me a little warning. I look a mess.” Hope smiled brightly when she saw Robert. “Hi! I’m a big fan. It’s so nice to finally meet you.”
“You, as well. And you look beautiful. Although I agree.” He shot a shocked look at Amber. “A little notice would’ve been nice.” He ran his hand over his bare chest, self-conscious about not wearing a shirt, as if anyone wouldn’t want to ogle his body.
Amber smiled and slung her arm over his shoulder. “I’m so happy the two of you finally met.”
“Me too,” Hope told Robert. “I keep telling Amber the three of us need to go to dinner or go out for a drink, but she’s always so busy with work and school and a million—” Hope stopped talking and squinted at the phone screen. “Are you two in bed?” She suddenly sat back, realizing they were. “Oh my God! Call me later. I don’t even want to know why you were thinking about me when the two of you—never mind. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, Amber. It was really nice meeting you, Robert. Maybe the three of us can grab that drink one night.”
“I’d love that.” Robert smiled his perfect white smile and waved. “It was really nice meeting you too, Hope.”
They said their goodbyes and Amber tossed her phone on the bed. “Happy now?”
He nodded. “Yeah. I just want to know all about you, Amber, and the people in your life.”
“Same here,” she answered, honestly.
“We’re really getting a kitty tomorrow?”
“We?It’s my kitten.”
“You won’t even share a tiny kitten with me? I told you I never had a pet growing up.”
His pouty lip, clearly exaggerated for effect, worked on softening her heart, although it needed very little nudging. She’d already decided that they would both enjoy the joys of the little furry addition to her home. “OK. It can be our kitten.”
The rescue that Hope sent Amber to saved dogs and cats from the town shelter and gave them a better chance at adoption in a smaller, homier environment. Adult cats were in a room called the Cattery, and the kittens were in the Nursery. It sounded like the perfect setup.
Amber expected the kittens to be in one big playroom filled with floor-to-ceiling cat trees, an unlimited number of toys, and kittens upon kittens playing and jumping all over the place having the time of their lives. In reality, kittens were in pairs or single box-type enclosures behind plexiglass with air holes, similar to the displays often found in pet supply stores partnering with local pet adoption places.
Although their little furry faces made her want to squeal, her throat was as dry as a stone and wetness stung her eyes.
“What’s wrong?” Robert asked when he saw her face.
“Look at all these baby kittens.” Her voice cracked. “None of them have homes.”
Some of the light went out in Robert’s eyes, and she hated that she dimmed his spirits.
“It’s OK,” he said. “They’ll get adopted.”
A nearby volunteer overheard. “They will,” she assured. “We’re a no-kill rescue and all our animals find their forever homes. That’s our mission.”
“But how do you choose?” Amber spotted a gorgeous ginger tabby with big green eyes swatting a feather toy with his silver littermate. The next enclosure held two white fluffs of cotton tumbling together in rough kitten play. Underneath them, a lone tuxedo kitty meowed at the top of his lungs for attention. She immediately stuck her finger through the hole to comfort him and saw a sign that stated he was already adopted.
“Perhaps I can help steer you in the right direction,” the volunteer offered. “Do you want an active kitten, one that’s more sedate, or one that’s constantly into trouble?”
“Do people really want a troublemaker? I thought that would be an undesirable trait.”
“Some people think mischievous kitties are very exciting. They keep you on your toes. A lot of people like the challenge.”
That didn’t narrow down the selection at all, nor did it make it any easier for Amber to make a decision. “I don’t know. Robert?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know either. Let’s just look at them and maybe one will stand out.”
It was a start, but there were so many to choose from. Some were tiny babies. Others were older kittens. Some had long fluffy tails or gorgeous silky coats. They were adorable balls of fluff with little itty-bitty meows and baby toe beans. And she wanted them all.
