“Ooh, what outfit are you wearing tonight?” Maeve asks as she bursts through the cat playroom, a wriggling black kitten in her hands. “You should do the purple skirt again. I love that one. But only if Travis is there.”
I hear Piper huff behind me. “Maeve—” she starts, but the other Omega’s eyes widen, and she makes a motion of zipping her mouth closed.
I roll my eyes. Maeve is loud and opinionated with a good heart but has a bad habit of blurting out anything that comes into her head.
She’s also sharp and cunning, and she’s the best staff addition we’ve made to Furs and Purrs. Her sweet chamomile scent is a relaxing balm to the cats we house, and she has the special ability to tame almost any anxiety-ridden feline.
Which is ironic, because with her recently box dyed violet hair and head-to-toe black punk outfit, one would think she was unapproachable.
Yet the black kitten that was squirming in her arms has fallen asleep cradled against her chest.
“Sorry,” she murmurs, unable to keep quiet for long, “I forgot we’re not talking about him.”
“Dear god,” Piper mutters behind me, rubbing her forehead. “Well, now that you brought it up?—"
“It’s fine, Maeve,” I tell her gently. “And yes, he’ll be there tonight.”
But it doesn’t mean anythingis the unspoken part.
Travis is a friend. He’s quiet, a good listener, and always cracks a smile when I tell him a stupid joke.
But he’s just a friend.
That’s all he can be.
Maeve is all smiles again as she plucks the kitten from her chest, kissing it on the top of its head dramatically.
“I love this one,” she declares. “I don’t know how the two of you don’t go home with every cat that comes in here.”
I chance a glance at Piper, smirking. “This one seems to accumulate a new cat every month.”
“Hey,” she huffs, crossing her arms. “I’m making up for lost time, okay? I didn’t have a cat for years. I’m allowed as many as I want.”
I’m not going to argue with her. I’d rather see my best friend happy as opposed to how she was for so long.
This new Piper with a pack is more carefree than I ever imagined she could be, and I’m proud of her.
But unfortunately, now that Piper is the one that’s not struggling, more unnecessary attention has been put on me and howI’mdoing.
Chatty, good-intentioned Maeve doesn’t help either.
Me? I’m doing just fine, thank you.
I am fine.
Everything isfine.
I have two jobs, I co-own a cat rescue, and I’m financially stable. My parents are great, I’m saving up for a down payment on a home, and my car is paid off.
I have my shit together, as Piper would say.
There’s nothing more I, as an unmated Omega, could want.
“So, the purple skirt and what else is part of the outfit?” Maeve continues. “You should do that black corset top again. I loved it. Very goth and sexy.”
“That’s the plan,” I tell her.
My shift at Scents tonight will be a far cry from my day at Furs and Purrs. My lint roller is ready to catch any lingering cat hair from my clothing, my glittery makeup is in my purse, and my nighttime outfit is ready to go in my car.
