Simple as that.
When we reach the diner, I hand my phone to Liam so he can watch it while I run in and get our meal.
Because of how late it is, the diner is in the process of being cleaned up for the night as the last customer heads out the door. It’s a really nice place with fantastic food that Liam bought during the year I made him step away from law enforcement. It was after I’d caught him killing a man and couldn’t bring myself to arrest him, so I made him promise to never join law enforcement again. Since his father had owned restaurantsbefore being murdered, Liam thought he’d try his hand at running a diner instead.
Needless to say, it didn’t turn out overly well. Liam quickly got sick of the diner, and the moment he came back to law enforcement, he proceeded to pretend it didn’t exist. Thankfully, he has some pretty competent workers who he’s hired to run it for him because the place seems to do pretty good business.
When I step in, a server named Tracy rushes over to greet me. “Gabriel, hey! How are you doing?”
“Starving. Haven’t eaten since breakfast. Got too caught up in work. I really hope we didn’t inconvenience you. I didn’t think about how late it was.”
“Don’t worry, hon, not at all. And Liam might be a negligent boss, but he’s definitely a more than fair one. We got you covered. Enjoy.”
“Thank you. For you and the chef,” I say as I take it from her and hand her a tip.
“Oh, you really don’t need to do that.”
“I want to.” I leave it on the counter since she refuses to take it before I head out and find Liam still watching the video. Did my tired brain miss something?
I slide in and he sets the phone down and smiles at me. “All good?”
“Did I miss something in the video?”
“No, just… trying to figure out what he said to her.”
“Ah. Yeah, I can’t quite pick up on it.”
Liam hurries back to our house and pulls into the garage before we get out and head inside. The first thing that happens as we enter is the assault of kitty curses flung at us for being late. My cat, Lucille Pawl, isverydispleased that we’re getting home so late. She rushes up to me, meowing her woes the whole way. I shove the food at Liam and scoop up the long-haired black-and-white cat and cradle her in my arms like the baby she is.
“Sweetie pie. My lovely baby girl. Papa’s so sorry he was gone so long,” I say as she bursts into purrs. She can never hold a grudge at me for long. Nah, all of her grudges are held against every other human who has ever existed.
“I think she’ll survive,” Liam dryly comments while his cat, Butter, stares at us from where he’s loafing on the couch. The poor thing was neglected and had matted fur, so the shelter shaved him, leaving him in quite a state. Though his hair is slowly growing back, he still looks… interesting. His flat face makes him look like he’s wearing a permanent glower… much like his owner.
I watch as he jumps off the couch, and I stare in disbelief at this unique action. Henevergets up when we return home, not caring in the slightest about greeting us. He walks right past me and up to Liam before letting out some screech straight out of a horror film.
“I really think that was a cry for help. Margarine would like me to help him find a new home,” Liam says as he grimaces at the cat.
“Pick him up,” I demand, shifting Lucille so I can grab the food. “He wants you.”
Liam’s grimace deepens. “But Gabriel… I don’t want him.”
I stare at him until he slowly crouches down and gives the cat one single pat on the head. Pleased, Butter turns around and returns to his heating pad on the couch where he will continue to glower at the rest of us. I’m not quite sure how the catandLiam thought that was an adequate interaction, but the cat seems pleased, so I leave it be.
Liam takes the food and off he goes to plate it and bring it over to the couch where I’ve retreated to. The moment he sits down, Butter oozes off his heating pad and onto Liam’s lap.
“Why does it insist on touching me?” he asks.
“Because he loves you.”
“That’s questionable,” he declares as he sets his food container on top of Butter, like the cat is now his table.
I grin at him. “It’s really not.” I lean over and kiss his cheek. “You’re quite easy to love.”
“I… Gabriel, my love, the light of my life… I often agree with everything you have to say… but not that.”
“Well, you were for me.”
“Sounds suspicious and concerning.”
