“Be back in a jiffy!”
Miles followed me, his shoulders hunched forward, but he relaxed slightly when he saw Hope run out to greet me.
“Hey, Hope.” I sat my bags down on the couch and picked her up as she meowed. One thing about this cat was that she was persistent when she wanted attention. She wouldn’t stop making noises until I petted her, no matter what. Lately, she even took to jumping up on her back paws to get my attention.
“Do you want to pet her?” I asked Miles, catching him looking at her.
He shrugged in answer.
“A friend got her for me for my birthday,” I said, handing her over. “She’s the one thing I never knew I needed. Hence the name Hope.”
Miles gave me bigger smile as the kitten snuggled into his arms, purring away. I wanted to think that my cat knew who needed a little love.
Turning away with a smile, I went and made sure Hope had enough water and food in her dish. By the time I was done, she came running to me with a small meow.
“Ready?”
“Y-y-yeah,” Miles said.
“Perfect timing,” Sawyer said, meeting us in the doorway. She pushed her phone into her pocket. “What’s the mood for lunch?”
Miles pulled out his phone and texted something on it before showing it to the both of us.
Hamburgers?
“Sure. Don’t forget the milkshakes!”
She likes milkshakes. Strawberry.
I laughed, not surprised by that.
“What?” Sawyer asked.
“You’re such a kid at heart, aren’t you?”
I got a bright smile from her before she skipped ahead a few steps.
It didn’t take long to walk to the diner at the end of the street. Since it was so far away from most of the popular shops, it wasn’t very busy and we got a table in the far back, away from the windows.
“Want your usual?” Sawyer asked Miles. He nodded in reply with a sad smile.
“Got it.” She then turned to me. “We come here often, so they know there are days he has trouble talking. We’re like family here, I guess.”
Miles cleared his throat with a raised brow.
“Ok, fine. His uncle runs the place.”
“Cool,” I said.
“They will so love you,” Sawyer went on.
I wasn’t worried about that. I hadn’t cared what anyone thought of me this far, so why change now?
“Sawyer, my girl!” said a man as he came up to the table. He wore a white shirt that was rolled up to his elbows. His dark hair was gelled back, showing off his dark brown eyes. Sawyer was quick to scoot out of the booth and give him a tight hug. “How are you?
“Great!” she gushed, stepping back. “How have you been, Sean?”
“Can’t complain. Oh, you have a new friend?”
