Relief washes over me.
It’s not awkward. It’s normal.We’renormal. Sure, we’ve seen each other naked, and he gave me multiple orgasms, but everything is fine.
I squeeze my thighs together just thinking of those orgasms.
“Go on. Tell us about the little cutie, then,” my mother instructs, pulling me from my naughty thoughts.
All my aunts and cousins rest their chins on their hands, leaning in close and fawning over Pork and Noah as he tells the story of getting the cat.
It’s ridiculous, but I don’t blame them. Very little in this world is sweeter than watching a grumpy, hard man melt for a baby animal.
I watch in amusement as he holds the kitten carefully, lifting him in the air like this isThe Lion King, and he’s showing off his cub to his pride.
He looks uncomfortable under the attention, which is funny, considering he used to sell out arenas.
My fingers itch to reach over and comfort him, but I don’t do it. I settle for petting Pork under the guise of grazing my finger against the tuft of chest hair that pokes out of Noah’s unbuttoned Henley T-shirt.
“What the ...” The server looks around for Noah, then spots him at our table. He sighs. “Sir, you can’t have animals in here.”
Noah’s eyes narrow. “Don’t call mesir, Uli. I’ve known you since you were in diapers.”
Uli is smart enough to look scared.
“And I’ll be taking my breakfast to go.”
“Aww, to go? Boo, hiss,” Aunt Krista says, and I know it’s because she’s eager to hold the kitten. I always have to pry Beans from her hands whenever she stops by my apartment.
Uli sighs, holding his order pad in his hand with as much attitude as he can muster. “Fine. What’ll it be?”
Noah orders pancakes with syrup on the side anda lotof bacon with a coffee.
As soon as Uli’s gone, everyone goes back to cooing at Pork and discussing Peaches and how many cats she’s passed out at this point. Nobody knows the exact number, but we’re guessing it’s somewhere around fifty, if not more.
We’d be more concerned if all the cats didn’t find such good homes and Peaches wasn’t such a sweetheart. A bit weird, but still kind all the same.
“Hang on. You have a cat named Pork.” Jody Ann points to Noah, then to me. “And you have one named Beans. How adorable is that? They go together!”
“Theygo together too,” Aunt Rita says, meaning me and Noah, and I swear, all the women start talking at once.
Half of them are trying to get Aunt Rita to hush up, and the other half agree. I think one of them has already started scheming to get us together.
Oh, if they knew just how “together” we’ve already been.
“On that note ...” I rise from my chair, and they all boo. I laugh. “It’s been fun, ladies, but I need to head out. I have wedding things to do.”
“And I”—Noah stands next just as the server brings his to-go bag of food—“have some pancakes to enjoy.”
Everyone groans collectively, and I laugh at their ridiculousness as I grab my jacket. Noah takes it from my hands and helps me into it, which earns another round ofoohs andawws from the ladies.
I try to pretend as if I’m notoohing andawwing on the inside too.
My mother pushes to her feet and wraps me in a hug.
“I know they can be overwhelming sometimes, but they mean well.” She squeezes me tightly, then releases me. “But in all fairness, you two do look really good together.”
“Mother!” I chide, casting a look at Noah, who, thankfully, isn’t paying us any attention. He’s too busy settling his check with Uli.
“What?” She shrugs. “I’m just saying. He’s cute, and he seems to like you.”
