Jerry: Reed?
Reed: Yes?
Jerry: You’ve already adopted him haven’t you?
Reed: They’re coming out to do a home check tomorrow.
I shake my head, grinning at the screen as he sends me a flurry of texts.
Reed: I know I said I was only going to take a look at them, but they were all so fucking friendly. Purring and meowing when I went in to see them.
Reed: I was there for two hours. They even asked me if I fancied coming back at the weekend to play with the cats, because that’s apparently a thing you can do.
Reed: You’re laughing right now, aren’t you?
Jerry: Yes.
Reed: I don’t even care. It was awesome. I just wish I could take all of them home.
My grin softens out into an indulgent smile. I’ve always had a weakness for men who love animals.
Reed: Anyway I need to go. Got to have a tidy round for when they come round tomorrow.
Jerry: I’m sure it’ll be fine.
I’m not certain, but I vaguely remember Reed telling me at some point that he had a semi-detached house with a decent garden out the back. As long as he’s not near a main road or anything, I can’t see why they wouldn’t let him adopt a cat.
Reed: I hope so.
Jerry: Let me know how it goes.
Reed: Will do.
I’m smiling as I set my phone on the coffee table and almost jump when someone clears their throat.
Sean.
Fuck, I’d forgotten he was here, which is saying something since I’m at his house. I turn to face him, and yep, he’s staring back expectantly. His eyes seem far too knowing for my liking, and I’m not getting out of this without telling him the truth.
But I’m not going to volunteer the information. If he wants to know, he can ask.
We have a silent stare-off until I can’t take the quiet anymore. “What?”
Sean sighs. “I know it’s none of my business, but it’s killing me not to ask because I haven’t seen that look on your face in fucking ages.”
“What look?” I try to tame my smile, but it doesn’t work. Talking with Reed always puts me in a ridiculously good mood.
“Happy,” he fires back. “You look happy and light and... it suits you,” he adds softly.
He’s not wrong. But this isn’t what he thinks it is. “We’re friends. That’s all.”
His gaze shifts to my phone, then back to me. “Reed?”
“Yep.”
He opens his mouth, then stops, and a thought strikes me.
“Does it bother you?”
