I leave the office and head upstairs with Marvel tucked safely in my arms, the weight of him small but grounding.
Once inside Dex’s apartment, I start looking for an empty box. I find one in a cabinet and line it with an old sweater.
“There,” I tell him softly, placing him inside. “Your bed.”
Marvel looks at it, then immediately climbs out.
Five minutes later he’s curled up right in the middle of my bed. I can’t help smiling.
“I know your own bed isn’t that appealing,” I tell him, sitting down beside him, “and I’ll make an exception for tonight. You may sleep in my bed, but only this once, okay?”
Marvel meows, walks over, and rubs against my leg.
“You’re going to boss me around with that cute face, aren’t you?” I sigh.
Marvel just stares up at me, looking smug.
Half an hour later I’m freshly showered and in my pyjamas when I hear the apartment door open.
Footsteps. Then a knock on my bedroom door.
“Come in,” I call.
The door opens slowly, and Dex steps inside.
And his arms are full of things.
He walks past me and sets everything down on the floor near the wall.
A litter box, a scratching post, soft blankets, and even a couple of cat toys.
I stare at the pile, then look back at him.
“Where… how?” I shake my head, completely baffled.
Dex shifts his weight, then drags a hand through his hair. “I ran over to my brother Jude’s place,” he says. “He’s got his own ranch. Horses, cows, chickens, dogs… and, well, cats.” He shrugs. “Asked if he could spare some things. He gave me these.”
My gaze drifts to the bed where Marvel is curled up, purring like he owns the place.
Dex looks at him too. His hands clench, then unclench, like he doesn’t want this to come across as something it’s not. He exhales and points at one of the bags.
“There’s kitten food in there,” he mutters. “And some kind of soap to wash him with.”
I try to make sense of him, of the way he shifts from cold to warm to cold again, but I can’t.
“Thank you,” I say softly.
Dex nods once, then turns and walks out of the room, closing the door quietly behind him.
I stare at the door for a long moment.
Then I look back at the pile of cat supplies.
He went all the way out to his brother’s ranch… for this. For a kitten he didn’t even want. Forme.
“Marvel,” I whisper, scratching under his tiny chin. “Your new dad is confusing.”
Marvel purrs louder as I lie back on the bed beside him, staring up at the ceiling.
