Piper and I share a look of disbelief.
Suddenly, Mari is shy when it comes to her love life but wants to always be in ours.
But that’s a topic for another time, since today is the first support group.
Blair is leading it, and our packs will make an appearance, as well.
But that means I’ll have to deal with seeing Avery.
I may feel great, but I still haven’t settled everything with my brother.
We haven’t talked since my breakdown over Alvin. He called and left texts, but I’ve ignored them.
I just wasn’t ready.
But now, after bonding with my pack, I think I am.
He talked with Fang already, and I know that they’re on better terms now.
But is he mad at me?
I shut him out when I was hurting the most—will he understand why I did it, or forgive me?
A tiny pair of paws presses against the glass door, and familiar ocean blue eyes greet me.
“He’s still here?” I murmur in surprise, changing the subject.
“Yup,” Piper says. “Bean hasn’t clicked with anyone, yet. Only you.”
“That can’t be true,” I say. “He’s such a sweet boy.”
But I’m already making me way to the cat room, Mari holding the door open for me to slip inside.
Sure enough, Bean greets me by weaving between my legs and meowing loudly. I pick him up nuzzle the top of his cream head, pretending to nibble on his dark brown ears.
“I can hear his purr from here,” Mari says fondly. She joins me in the playroom, shutting the door behind her so the cats can’t run out.
“He’s a good boy,” I say wistfully.
Whoever takes him home will be extremely lucky.
His eyes are full of love, and despite his energy, he’s a gentle cat.
“He needs a good home,” Mari says pointedly. I look up at her and recognize the expression on her face.
It’s the one she uses when she knows she’s found the perfect parent for the cat.
“I…I can’t,” I say. “I want to, but I can’t.”
“Why not, honey?”
“Because…what if…”
Bean purrs happily against me, unaware of my dilemma.
What if something happens? What if he gets sick?
What if what if what if
