“Sure.” I softened, seeing his worry. “Alex, it’ll be great. Jazz isn’t going to care about the food you ordered. You’ve loved him for over twenty years, man. Trust that. And you know, for him, it’s always been you.”
He exhaled, his shoulders relaxing a little, and a small smile broke through his worry. “Thanks, Marcus.”
“Anytime,” I assured him. “Go enjoy your date. I’ll handle the kittens.” Then, I snapped my fingers as if considering my next decision, “It would be good to ask one of our guests to help.” Everyone loved the little fur balls, even Carl, who was mildly allergic. “I’ll ask Tyler.”
“Ofcourseyou will,” Alex deadpanned.
I knew he was joking, but the tone of his voice worried me a little and made me feel awkward, as if I might have overstepped. Alex’s approval mattered, especially now, and I needed reassurance. “Is that okay? Do you think it’s okay? Tyler is our guest, and I’m… me.”
Alex studied me, understanding in his eyes. “Have fun, be careful,” Alex murmured, pulling me in for a hug, which I appreciated. Then, he broke off to pick up a huge box. “Take this. I put thingsinside for them, but I’m sure Jazz will tell you if something is missing.”
I tracked Tyler down—he was in the makeshift library attached to the kitchen. It was a small room crammed with shelves overflowing with stacks of books. Tyler sat by the large window overlooking the garden and had a notebook resting in his lap, gripping a pen as he tapped it against his lips. He was lost in thought, the brightness of the afternoon catching in his dark hair. Seeing him like this, peaceful and reflective, made me warm, and I had to admit how much Tyler’s well-being meant to me. I made enough noise in the hall to not startle him, and he quickly closed his notebook and faced me.
“Hey,” I said.
“Hey.” He smiled up at me.
“You busy journaling?”
“Drafting up a letter.”
He didn’t expand, but I hoped it was to his parents or sister. “You got time to help move the kittens?”
Tyler stood. “Wait, what? Did something happen—were they adopted? Jazz will be devastated.”
“No, nothing like that. Alex just asked us to look after them for a bit. It’s their first proper datetonight, and he’s nervous about it. Do you feel up to kitten-sitting with me?”
“Yeah. Let me put this in my room.” I followed him upstairs, watching as he tossed the notebook onto his desk and shut the door. He was determined, even eager, but by the time we reached Jazz’s room, his shoulders had dropped, and he had become noticeably quiet. I glanced at him, sensing a shift in his mood, but unsure whether I should push or offer support. His silence filled the short walk with an uneasy tension, leaving me feeling protective, yet uncertain, about how best to help him.
“Everything okay?” I asked as we stopped outside the door.
“They’re having a date, and we never got our date,” he said. “It’s all my fault, my head…”
I tugged him to a stop. “One day at a time, and then, we’ll have the best date and?—”
“Unless you give up on me!” His voice cracked, and he rubbed his eyes, turning away as if embarrassed by the sudden vulnerability. “Shit, ignore I said that. I’m not a pity case. It’s just—it’s hard sometimes, Marcus.”
I cradled his face and got him to meet my gaze. “We’re having that date as soon as possible,” I said. “Now, let’s get the kittens.”
He nodded, and when we reached Jazz’s door, I knocked and waited.
“We’re the babysitters,” I announced as soon as he opened the door, gesturing toward the box.
“You’re what, now?” Jazz frowned.
“We need to take them for a bit, and you need to head over to room seventeen. Alex is waiting for you.”
“Is something wrong?” he asked, worried.
“No. I promise. For real. Pass me the kittens and go find Alex.”
“Okay. I’ll head over there.” He peered into our box as if he needed to make sure it was up to standard. He then collected some extra stuff for the kittens and put them inside. Finally, he transferred the kittens to their new temporary home. Tyler stepped forward to take them from him.
“I’ve put their food and some toys in there, and they’re used to the blanket at the bottom,” he said. “The cat litter tray?—”
“I got this,” Tyler murmured, staring down at Scout, Mischief, and Rascal.
“You want to go to my room?” I asked, myvoice quieter than I intended. “Or we could take them to the communal space, or?—”
