“So, is this whole apology thing you’re trying out because of your girlfriend? She teach you how to use those words?”
I flip him off. “I knew before her. Just didn’t particularly find them useful.”
“Well, can’t expect you to change overnight.” He shakes his head with an amused smile.
“Work in progress.”
“That’s a nice way of putting it.”
“So, now that we’ve gotten the apologies out of the way, am I invited to the wedding?”
He barks out a laugh. “Let’s take it one step at a time.” But the playful glint in his eye gives me hope.
My chest feels lighter as I look at my best friend. “Deal.” I smirk.
36
Aspen
Achorus of meows and purrs ring in the air while I make the second round of the day to feed and clean the litter boxes for the cats at the shelter. Last night, I met with the manager, Charlene. I liked her immediately. Her black sweater was covered in cat hair and her thick black-framed glasses sat slightly crooked on her nose.
She told me they couldn’t afford to hire someone full time, but if I was interested in a few part-time hours, she’d be happy to give me a shot.
I think the photos I showed her of fostering Macaroni won her over.
It’s minimum wage, and nowhere near something I could live off of, but it’s a start. And since I can still work at On Tap too, I can make it work for now.
Once the last of the litter boxes are clean, I sweep up any spilled remnants. A brown tabby named Boo Bear watchesmy every move from his spot in the top cubby. “Am I doing a good enough job for you?”
He gives me a slow blink in response, tail twitching. I rub his head, which he tolerates but doesn’t seem to enjoy all that much. His bonded brother sleeps soundly on the cat bed next to him.
Celia pokes her head around the open door. “Everything going okay?”
I brush my hands against my jeans. “Yep, all good. Just finished up, actually.”
She looks at Boo Bear and smirks. “I see you got our resident neighborhood watch keeping an eye on you.”
I laugh, looking over my shoulder at him. He’s still watching me. “He’s been showing me the ropes.”
“I’m sure he has. Well, if you’re all done, you’re free to go for the day.”
“You don’t need help with anything else?”
She shakes her head and I follow her back out front. “Nope. When’s your next shift?”
I pull my phone out to check the schedule Charlene emailed me early this morning. “Next Wednesday.”
“Perfect. We’ll see you then!”
I stop back to pet a few of the cats before heading out. Reid texted me a little bit ago that they had left Joshua Tree. I hope after our phone call yesterday things got better for them, but I guess we’ll see. He didn’t offer any details over text.
I brought Macaroni over to his house this morning, figuring I’d likely spend a few days with Reid and didn’t want to worry about my boy back home. I didn’t know how he’d do with the change of scenery, but the moment I opened the door to his carrier, he strutted around Reid’shouse like he’s lived there all his life. Tail up high in the air, nose twitching with all the new smells.
He ran up and down the stairs more times than I thought his chunky little body was capable of.
And just like I thought, he scratched the back of one of the couches in the living room. I tossed a blanket over it, hoping Reid won’t notice.
When I walk into the house, he barely even lifts his head from his spot in a sunbeam on a lounge chair by one of the large windows overlooking the city. “Spoiled boy,” I laugh and go to scratch the top of his head. He immediately recoils, whiskers twitching as he smells my hand. “Ah, do I smell like other kitties to you?”
