“For me?” Drew asked, shocked.
Dom laughed again. “No, sorry, no gifts for you. I bought something for Noodle.”
“Awww, that’s so sweet of you,” Drew exclaimed.
I do enjoy gifts,Zach agreed.
Dom searched in his bag and rummaged around until he pulled out a small colourful toy wrapped in plastic. “Do you have scissors?” he asked and took them when Drew handed over a pair.
If he expects me to play with atoy, he is sadly mistaken,Zach said haughtily.
I thought you liked gifts?Drew teased.
Ithoughtit would be food!
Well, aren’t you a fussy boots!
Dom finally got the plastic off, and Zach’s head snapped up.What is that smell?he demanded.It’sdivine, and that’s coming from an angel!
“What is it?” Drew asked as Dom held the toy out in front of Zach’s face.
“It’s a catnip toy,” Dom explained. “Catslovethem.”
Zach’s whole body was shaking and Drew could tell it was taking every inch of his willpower not to pounce on the toy.Go on, give in, you know you want to.
I. Am. Not. An. Animal.Zach gritted out, shaking so badly now his fluffy bottom was swinging from side to side.
I hate to break it to you, but at this very moment, you are,Drew told him.
I am above these base instincts!Zach continued to protest.
Dom frowned. “What’s the matter, Noodle? You don’t want it?” He shook the toy gently in front of Zach’s face and it must have sent another whiff of the nip over to him.
Fuck, it smells so good!He all but wailed in Drew’s mind, and then he pounced on the toy, batting it out of Dom’s hand and then chasing it across the kitchen.
Drew and Dom got absolutely no studying done as they spent the following fifteen minutes watching a manic brown and white furball dart around the kitchen after the catnip. Zach no longer spoke in Drew’s mind, either too embarrassed about being ruled by his feline form or too enthralled with the nip. He appeared to be having fun, though, so Drew didn’t worry too much. Finally, he began to slow, and Dom stood up and crossed to him, picking him up and depositing him in Drew’s arms. “Looks like it’s finally wearing off. He’ll just chill now, so we can get some work done.”
They started studying, but Drew found he was too distracted to concentrate. Zach was flopped over in his lap, staring up at Drew and idly batting Drew’s hoodie with his paw. Out loud he was making quiet, content meows and purrs, but in the silence of Drew’s head, he was rambling on.
Have you ever, like, looked up at the stars and just marvelled at how shiny they are? Like, they’re little balls of flame in the sky, but if you got close, they wouldn’t be so little anymore, they’d behugeand they’d burn you up, burn you up to a crisp, but don’t you worry, Drew, my Drew, my sweetness, my love, the nasty star isn’t going to burn you up because I’d fight it and I’d win, hands down, a stupid star has gotnothingon me, because I love you so much and I’d protect you, keep you safe, because I love you. Did I mention that? I love you likesomuch, more than you’ll ever know, more than you love those peppermint mochas. Who do you think came up with those? Who came up with mocha in the first place? Why would someone take coffee and decide to ruin it by adding chocolate to it? I think they were cowards, they clearly didn’t like coffee because coffee was too badass for them so they took the coward’s way out by adding chocolate and then some other maniac decided to go and addpeppermintto it. Like, whodoesthat? I mean,Iwould, but only because you like them and I love you. Did I mention that? You’re like, the most perfect person to have ever personed and I’m so lucky that you suck at making chicken noodle soup, otherwise I’d never have met you. Fuck, I love you.
Drew giggled and tried to cover it by coughing so Dom wouldn’t think he was a complete moron for laughing at nothing. He sank the fingers of one hand into the soft fur of Zach’s tummy and whispered silently in his mind,I love you too.With happiness overwhelming him, he pulled his textbook toward him and tried to concentrate.
Goats on Roof
It was a rare day off, and Drew and Zach had decided to get out of town for the day. Inspired by a daydream he’d had when things had first developed between them, Drew had wanted to head to Parksville to visit Todd and introduce him to Zach. Todd and his family were over on the mainland for the weekend, though, so he figured they could still head there and see the sand sculpting competition, then head over to the Old Country Market at Coombs. Kind of like a date. It made his stomach churn with nervous butterflies, even after their catnip-fuelled declarations, but Zach appeared as cool and calm as ever.
Zach had been willing to hire a car for the day, but Dom had graciously offered the use of his BMW in exchange for them bringing him back a few bags of the specialty coffee beans they sold at the market. Once they’d picked up the car, they stopped at Timmy’s for cold brews, and then they were on the parkway heading north.
Turning his face towards the open window, Drew took a deep breath. The sun was warm on his skin, the wind was fresh, and he was feeling content. Happy. He felt a hand on his thigh and looked over to find Zachsmiling gently at him. “Keep your eyes on the road,” he admonished, even as he covered Zach’s hand with his own.
“I’m not going to run us off the road,” Zach assured him.
“Famous last words.”
Zach snorted. “Sweetness, don’t forget that I’m not human. I could drive with my eyes closed and we’d be fine.”
“Yeah, but we’d end up getting pulled over by every traffic cop who passed us,” Drew pointed out. “That would kind of ruin our day.”
