“All right, I’m gonna put the meat lovers one in next.”
Theo made a happy sound, while Rey and Sebastian got up and went to get their first slices.
“I’ll eat anything,” I said when Theo looked at me with a raised brow. “I’ll let them get their veggie stuff first.”
Theo smirked. “I can hear your stomach from here.”
I grabbed a throw pillow and threw it at his face. He caught it easily and laughed.
“No need to take it so literally,” River snarked from the kitchen. “I mean they’re throw pillows, but…”
Rey giggled, walked to the table in the middle of the room and sat with his back to the windows.
Sebastian was smiling, too, when he joined Rey.
I closed my eyes and let the tiredness from the drive come over me. I listened to the others. River puttered around in the kitchen. Rey was asking Sebastian what it was like to be a vet, and Theo, well, he sat in silence.
I had my head tilted back as I rested, and when I peered at him, he raised an eyebrow at me, instead of being embarrassed about having been staring at me.
I felt my cheeks heat a little and closed my eyes again.
A few minutes later, the oven beeped again. I groaned and pushed myself up, only to trip when I stepped on a throw pillow that had ended up on the floor. Theo caught me, my face smushing against his chest.
He smelled of horses and a long day, but I didn’t mind in the least. My hands wanted to go around him and not let go, but a bang from the kitchen made me come to my senses.
“Ugh, sorry,” I murmured, before turning around and going to get myself some pizza.
All five of us gathered around the same table, squeezing in with our plates and drinks, and we chatted for a while. Mostly about animals, because Rey was still coming up with questions.
Then River glanced at our hands.
“Guys, did you fight a rosebush?” he asked dryly.
All of us who had held the kittens—which was everyone except River—had tiny marks all over our hands.
Seb chuckled. He held up his hands that were remarkably less scratched than ours. “This is what you call the professional touch.”
Rey rolled his eyes, but smiled. Then he proceeded to ask more kitten care related questions.
* * * *
Seb checked the kittens again and promised to bring deworming stuff and whatever else for them the next day when he came to treat the horses. For now, he said they were fine and to keep an eye on them. I was pretty sure Rey got a list of things written down already on things he needed to remember and would be using the pocket money we gave him to order some books on kitten care.
I went to check on the new hooved friends with Seb and Theo, then stayed longer with Theo to feed them while Seb left to go home.
“Rey has some hero worship going on.” Theo handed me lead ropes so we could get the horses in a few at a time.
“Yeah. I think he already wanted to be a vet, or at least work with animals. Seb will be a good influence on him for sure.”
“He’s a good guy.”
“He seems pretty laid back.”
“Yeah, he is. There’s an underlying something in him that I’ve never figured it out. Occasionally there’s this…” Theo trailed off.
I opened the gate and closed it behind us, before we went to get the first horses. “What?”
“I don’t want to say neediness, but it’s close to it.” I couldn’t see him, he was behind Ursula, catching her and her favorite gelding, but his tone was hesitant. “It’s like…”
