“I mean, bobcats are native to North America, but ocelots have those cute spots. I think I’d have to go ocelot, but I’d feel bad about it.”
Ben sat looking pensive. “What if I get the bobcat and you get the ocelot and they can play together since we’re roomies?”
I gave a soft laugh. “Do you get a pet with someone for one night? And was that not your mutant chihuahua here?”
“Huh? No. Greg is Obi’s dog. He just doesn’t like to leave him home alone.”
“Okay, so say we get these feral cats. What happens when you’re on the road and I’ve got to work long hours?”
“I’ll hire someone to walk Aussie and Robert.”
I cackled. “Okay, let me break that down. Aussie for ocelot, Robert for bobcat?”
“You’re quick, Jessalyn.”
“You’re quicker. You came up with it.”
He shrugged. “I’m being generous. You’re going through a thing.”
I sighed. “Yeah. I am.”
He studied me, then threw a piece of popcorn at me. “You wanna talk about it?”
“Not really. Do you want me to?” I asked.
“I don’t know how to talk about stuff like that. But I feel like it’s my fault, Jess. I’m really sorry.”
I scrunched up my nose. “How would it be your fault?”
“I never heard you fight until I came into the picture.”
A lump formed in my throat, a thick swallow clearing it astears rose in me again. Ben reached across the couch and put his hand on my forearm.
“I’m so sorry, Jess. If there’s anything I can do to help you fix it...”
I shook my head. “It’s not that. I think we never fought before because we were just on autopilot.”
Something flared in Ben’s eyes, his jaw flexing. He looked away, running his tongue over his teeth. “I got nothing. No advice on the topic. But I can listen. I’m here for you.”
I stared at the TV for a while, not really seeing what we were watching. “I think I’m tired of thinking,” I said with a yawn.
“You ready for bed, Jessie Girl? I tried to get a bed delivered tonight, but apparently no one delivers beds at 2 a.m.”
My stomach did a somersault. “What? When?”
“While you were still upstairs and I came back down here.”
I groaned. “Ben, don’t order a spare bed for me. I have an air mattress next door, but...”
Ben looked at me sympathetically. “You don’t have to go get that right now. Stay in my bed tonight? I won’t be all over you.”
“Absolutely not,” I said. “I’ll sleep on the couch. And I’ll be out of your hair in the morning.”
Ben cocked his head at me. “Do you have anywhere else to go?”
“That’s what tomorrow’s for. It’s Sunday. I’ll have all day to try to find a place.”
“Jessalyn.”
