A horn honked outside. We jumped up and went to look. Lorraine had returned from checking over Lydia’s two Bengal cats. She parked her work truck and hopped out. Ajax jumped down after her, while she opened the back door and lifted out a cage. As I went to greet Ajax, the pizza delivery car drove up. Luke and Stacey went to grab the pizzas, while Jen helped Lorraine with the cats.
“How are they?” I asked, peeking through the door to admire their unusual spots.
“A little stressed, but otherwise good,” Lorraine said.
I frowned. “Why is that one so thin?”
Lorraine laughed. “He’s not thin. She’s fat. Or rather, she’s pregnant. She probably has around a month left.”
I poked my fingers through the cage to stroke the female behind the ears. “I wonder if Lydia knows.”
“If not, she will soon. Mike gave her my number, and she called from the hospital. She’s refusing to stay overnight, so she’ll be here as soon as she can escape. Grab the litter box and litter, will you? It’s on the floor behind my seat.”
We went inside and released the cats in a small room, after Ajax investigated their cage and attempted to get his tongue far enough into the cage to bathe them. They weren’t scared, but they did seem a little offended. We put down water and canned tuna for them to eat, set up the litter box, and then left them to explore, while we dug into the pizza.
“How many people are you planning to feed?” Lorraine asked, eyeing the stack of boxes.
“We wanted some variety,” Luke explained. “Plus, you girls eat like horses.”
“He’s very practiced with his compliments, isn’t he?” Jen said, reaching for a plate.
“Truth is sexy, or so I’m told,” Luke replied. “Anyhow, you four would laugh in my face and accuse me of trying to get into your pants if I gave you actual compliments.”
“Because you would be,” Lorraine said.
“True, but I could also be telling the truth. Have you ever thought of that?”
“Maybe,” she conceded. “But your track record says you just want to get laid.”
We piled our plates and grabbed fresh beers before returning to our seats.
“You know those cats might cause some damage to the furniture and rug, don’t you?” Lorraine asked Luke.
He shrugged. “Everything’s replaceable. Can’t leave them in the cage. They probably haven’t been out since Flannery stole them.”
“Now see,” Jen said, “that’s the kind of thing that makes women want you. A good looking guy who likes animals, and doesn’t mind them clawing up his expensive belongings. That’s like finding a unicorn.”
“Don’t forget I’m smart and rich,” he said, winking.
She grinned. “Most of the time I totally get why Stacey won’t have anything to do with you, but every once in a great while I wonder if she’s making a mistake. This moment right now is one of those times.” She lifted her beer in a silent toast.
“Wow,” I said. “I’m not sure I’ve ever heard you gush about a man like that.”
She flipped me off and smiled. “Why don’t we talk about you and Damon? What’s going on with him?”
My smile slipped a little and I sighed. “He still hasn’t called. I’m beginning to wonder what’s going on.”
“Do you think something’s wrong?” Stacey asked, her brow furrowing.
I shrugged. “I have no idea. I mean, all this business with Lindsey’s premonition has me on edge. I have no idea what bad thing could be coming and sure, I wonder if it has something to do with Damon.”
“Why don’t you call him?” Lorraine asked. “Resolve your worries with a simple conversation. Grown-ups do it all the time. I bet you could, too.”
I stuck my tongue out at her.
“See?” Stacey said. “Sucks when your own friends use logic against you. Call him now.”
“Fine.” I pulled my phone out and hit the speed dial. The phone rang awhile and then went to voicemail. I almost hung up without leaving a message, but stopped myself.
