Marmalade purrs and bumps against her small hand, and she giggles in delight.
“What do you think, sweetie?” I ask. “Should we keep him?”
She spins to me with wide eyes. “Yes,” she says. “I want him.”
“Okay. Help me clean up this mess, and we can keep him.”
Her smile is wide enough and bright enough to make angels sing. “Yay,” she cheers as she does her butt-shaking, arm waving happy dance. Then, she turns to Marmalade, gives him a little hug and a kiss on the top of his head. “You’re ours now,” she says before she comes over and helps me clean up.
Okay, she stops every three seconds to pet Marmalade, and I end up doing most of the work, but she can’t stop smiling and neither can I.
I text Ellery after Harper is in bed, fast asleep, Marmalade curled up next to her feet.
Me:Apparently, just not being rude isn’t good enough. I need to be charming. I’m not charming, El.
Ellery:Sure you are. You just need more fun in your life. If you’re thinking about all the fun you’re having, you won’t care what stupid things the humans are saying.
Normally, I’d scoff at that, but chatting with Handsyguy37 really did seem to help.
Me:What kind of fun?
Ellery:The kind of fun that ends with both of you naked in a bed, or against a wall, or…
Me:I get the idea. Not sure I’m ready for that.
Ellery:I’ll keep noodling on it. I’ll come up with some fun.
I plop onto the couch with the remote, planning to watch some mindless television, but I pick up my phone and message Handsyguy37 instead.
CHAPTER SIX
Deacon
My phone buzzes in my pocket as I’m loading the last of my tools into my truck. I’ve been working late to get the cabinets installed for the Brockmans, and I’m dead on my feet and starving.
But I still pull my phone out, just in case it’s a message from DogPerson158. It’s a problem how much I’ve thought of her today and how excited I am to see her username flash on my screen.
I’m having the wrong kind of feelings for my brother’s woman. The wrong kind of feelings about a woman I’ve never met.
It’s a sign that I’m long past due for a romance of my own. By which I mean a fling or a one-night stand. I am not about getting seriously involved right now. Maybe not ever.
A romantic relationship is just another person to let down, another person who wants to discuss feelings, or analyze why you keep arguing about the same shit over and over again.
It’s not for me.
I get in my truck and start it up. I need to cruise through a drive-through, get some food, and hit the gym before I run entirely out of steam.
Instead, I check the message.
DogPerson158:I got a cat.
That makes me laugh, and she didn’t even tell a joke. I’m just so delighted to be hearing from her.
Handsyguy37:That seems problematic for a dog person.
DogPerson158:I can’t handle a dog right now, so I’m a cat person. I can’t change my username, but please call me CatPerson158 now when you think of me.
Handsyguy37:Deal. What’s the cat like?
