“It’s no problem. Sleep well.”
As I close the door, that familiar yearning rises within me and my chest tightens as I head back to the kitchen.
It’s been a long time since I’ve had someone here in the apartment with me, and even longer since someone slept over.
I just hope it’s giving her the comfort I intend.
I’m woken the next morning by a loud scream of fright that drags me from my bed in a flurry.
Nearly tripping over myself, I sprint down the hallway to Snow’s room to find her upright in bed, staring alarmed at the foot of her bed.
“Are you alright?”
“You have cats?”
All three of my cats are interwoven together at the foot of her bed and as relief washes over me, I smile faintly. “Yes, I forgot to mention. Are you allergic?”
“No,” Snow gasps, patting her chest. “I just… I felt the weight and then couldn’t work out what the warmth was and just… wow.” She draws the blanket up to her chest and glances at me, then her face flushes a dark red and she squeaks, hiding her face in her hands. “Xander!”
“What?” A moment later, the morning chill in the air alerts me to my naked state and both my hands fly to cover my crotch.
Living alone and sleeping naked go hand in hand, and at the sound of Snow’s fear, I didn’t even think how this would look.
“I amsosorry!” Scrambling out of her room, I close the door with my foot. “I’ll make a start on breakfast!”
By the time bacon and eggs sizzle away in the pan, my embarrassment has passed.
My black cat, Willow, sits beside me on the counter watching with yellow eyes for any stray bacon pieces she can get her paws on. Tiger, the ginger lump, weaves about my ankles singing his morning song while Rustle, my white cat, attacks the bread wrapper with all her might.
Snow joins us just as I load the eggs onto two plates, her cheeks pink and unable to quite look me in the eye. “Hi.”
“Hi. I’m sorry. I sleep naked and I’m not used to guests. I hope I didn’t alarm you.”
“Alarm me?” Her cheeks darken slightly. “Not at all. I, uhm…” She clears her throat and finally looks up at me. “How much did I embarrass myself last night?”
“How much do you remember?”
She winces and examines her arm. “Not as much as I should. I’m not really much of a drinker, so a little hit really hard.”
“You were fine. Understandably weepy and wobbly, but you didn’t say or do anything I would consider embarrassing. Not compared to me.” A rare smile creeps across my face as I slide a plate toward her. “Hungry?”
She nods, then frowns and scans the kitchen to locate the constant rustling noise.
Spotting my cat Rustle, her brows lift. “Uhm… your cat is attacking your bread?”
“Rustle loves anything that makes a noise. It doesn’t matter what it is, she’s just obsessed.”
“Rustle,” Snow repeats as if storing that in her memory. “How cute. And the others?”
“This is Willow. Careful, she eats anything that isn’t nailed down. And this—” On cue, Tiger trips me up. “This is Tiger. Ankles beware.”
“Willow and Tiger. Wow, you’re a cat dad. I had no idea.” Her smile widens as she reaches for Willow and lets her sniff her fingers. “No one at the hospital would believe this.”
“Doesn’t really fit my cold reputation, does it?”
“Not at all.” Snow chuckles. “Wow.” Willow grants her permission and arches her back into Snow’s fingers just as she winces.
“How does your arm feel?”
