"This is too much," I protest.
"It's necessary. And it's my privilege to help." His eyes meet mine. "Let me do this, Chloe. Please."
The way he says my name makes my knees weak.
"Okay. Thank you."
"You're welcome."
We load everything into his truck, and as he's driving back to my apartment, he says, "You mentioned you haven't eaten. There's a good Italian place nearby. Want to grab dinner?"
My heart skips. "Like... now?"
"Yeah. We can drop Mochi's stuff at your place, get her settled, then go eat. Unless you have other plans?"
"No plans."
"Then let me take you to dinner. To thank you for taking Mochi."
This is it. This is the moment where I either play it safe or take a risk. On the one hand, I have a brand new paperback sitting on my living room table waiting for me…
"Okay. Dinner sounds great."
His smile could light up the entire city. "Good. Let's get this stuff inside."
Back at my apartment, we set up Mochi's supplies. Litter box in the bathroom. Food and water bowls in the kitchen. Bed in the corner of the living room with her new toys.
Mochi inspects everything thoroughly, then promptly uses the litter box.
"She's smart," Tyler says approvingly. "Already knows what it's for."
"Is that unusual?"
"Not really. Cats are pretty instinctive about these things. But it's still a good sign."
He shows me how much to feed her, how often, what to watch for in terms of health issues.
"If she seems lethargic or stops eating, take her to a vet immediately. Kittens can go downhill fast."
"Okay. I'll keep an eye on her."
"And I'll check in tomorrow and schedule a vet appointment on Monday. Make sure she's doing okay."
"You don't have to?—"
"I want to." His gaze holds mine. "I care about what happens to her. And to you."
The air between us shifts.
"Tyler—"
"Come on. Let's get you fed before I say something I can't take back."
At the restaurant, we're seated at a corner booth. The lighting is soft and intimate.
This feels like a date. It absolutely feels like a date. I think it might actually be a date.
The server appears before I can respond, asking for drink orders. Tyler gets a beer. I deliberate for way too long before settling on a glass of rosé because it sounds sophisticated and I'm trying very hard to seem like a grown-up right now.
