JORDAN
After everyone has leftand I’ve locked up, I set another plate of eggs down on the pavement in the alley.
This plan is risky, dangerous, and stupid—but I’m going to do it anyway.
“Here, ugly kitty,” I call quietly, backing up, cardboard box in hand.
She appears, and I flinch. She really is hideous. Her eyes have a googly quality, kind of lopsided. She drops her face into the eggs, eating sloppily.
Now’s my time to act.
“Hah!” I lunge with the box, but either I’m too slow or she is way too accustomed to protecting herself, because she makes a horrible screeching noise, and all I see is fur, eyes, and claws before I feel a searing pain across my wrist and she streaks away.
In the dim alley light, I can see the red scratch. That bitchy little cat made me bleed.
A moment later, she reappears under the alley light, eyes on me, dumb little tongue hanging out and fur standing on end.
I take a step toward her with the box and she takes a step back.
We’re in a standoff, staring at each other.
“You’re going to get eaten by a coyote. You’re the perfect little snack.”
She glares at me, and I throw my hands up. She isn’t comingwith me. We’ll be here all night. I don’t know what to do. I can’t leave her alone.
“You want to stay here? Fine.”
I toss the box down on the cement and fold my arms. She takes one look at me before waltzing over to the box, climbing in, and curling into a ball.
Well, then.
“Seriously?”
She opens one weird eye before burying her head in her dirty fur. Before she can change her mind, I close the box and pick her up.
It rattles and she lets out another pissy yowl.
“Come on, dumpster cat. I’m taking you home with me.”
CHAPTER 5
TATE
Beaand I are on the balcony, watching for shooting stars, when she turns and looks at me, her little nose going pink in the cold.
“Dad?”
I push away thoughts of an antisocial bartender with indigo eyes. “Yes, sweetheart.”
Is Jordan going to talk to her dad? I don’t know what else to do. If Ross wants to sell the team, there’s nothing that can be done.
He might listen to her, though.
A worried frown pulls over Bea’s young features. “Are you going to die alone?”
My daughter suddenly has my full attention. “No?”
She looks out at the dark sky, still frowning. “Oh.”
