“Use a pillowcase.”
His dark brows furrow. “What?”
“A pillowcase. Keep the yarn inside it, or under the covers. It’s what I do.”
“Oh, that’s brilliant. Hold on.”
The screen jostles again, making me a little nauseous. White fur and a pink nose appear at the edge of the camera but are quickly whisked away.
“Oh no, you don’t,” Jordan says. “You’re a little troublemaker today.”
When Jordan holds Clematis to his chest, my heart skitters. If I thought Jordan was beautiful before, he’s downright melting me now, holding his precious baby in his arms like that. She rubs her head against his chin, meowing softly, and Jordan kisses her forehead.
Yeah. I totally swoon.
“So, this is Clematis,” he says, turning the beautiful white feline toward the camera. “AKA, Butthead.”
I smirk and turn the camera around to show him Lily, who is curled up at the end of the bed. “That’s Lily. Say hi, Lills.”
She doesn’t open an eye.
I turn it back around. “Cats don’t make good wingmen, do they? Anyway, let me grab my crochet hook.”
I set the phone down, then go to my suitcase in the corner. I haven’t used the hook at all since I came here, so it’s buried deep in the front pocket, under power banks and charging cords. On my way back, I set the bag of pretzels on the counter as well.
Note to self: eat less junk food.
Much, much less.
When I return, Jordan is still holding his cat, whispering something I can’t hear.
“I think she loves you,” I say.
Jordan hums. “Sometimes. Other times, she’s planning to murder me in my sleep.”
“She’s a cat, so she’d probably get away with it.”
He chuckles. “No joke.”
I settle back on the bed, resting my phone against a pillow. “Okay, you’re going to want to hold the hook like this.”
5
JORDAN
It’s been a week since that first video chat, and Miles and I have talked every night. It started with crochet, but now we talk about everything. I thought I’d hate being on video, but it’s easier when we are both holding yarn.
Last night, we watched a movie while crocheting, starting it at the same time. I barely followed it—focusing on my stitches, on Miles, and on keeping the yarn away from Clematis. She’s obsessed, always trying to attack it, even through the pillowcase. I hide it under the covers and stash it in my nightstand when I’m not using it. Otherwise, she’ll unravel it all over the house.
With Miles’ help, I finished my first mouse within two days. It was lopsided, had a tail twice the size of the body, and the catnip was falling out everywhere from loose stitches, but that only made it more hilarious.
Clematis wentcrazy.Tossing the toy into the air and rolling around on her back as she dug at it with her one back paw. I’d even let Miles watch via video, and his laugh had made all the work worth it.
On Sunday, I work a partial shift in the morning and get home around lunchtime. Miles isn’t online. I heat up some chili and lounge around with my vape. I could start another mouse, or write, or maybe watch TV, but none of that interests me. My heart is dull.
Declan texts me via the group chat with Piper and Seth.So, what’s the plan for tomorrow, Jord?
I curse. How could I forget about family day?Again.
