Another endless elevator ride brought him to the main floor, and he dashed outside, relieved to see his rideshare guy sitting in his car, window down, grinning at him.Sam threw open the back door and hurled himself inside.The dude nodded at him in the rearview.“Had a feeling you’d be back.”
“You’re way ahead of me.”Sam glanced at his app for the guy’s name.“Thanks for sticking around, Arif.”
“I’m a sap for happy endings.”
The comment caught Sam off guard.“What makes you think this is about a happy ending?”
“I may not know your story, but I see the signs.A man jumping through hoops like you are is chasing a happy ending.”
Sam guffawed.“Let’s hope your hunch is right and thisisa happy ending.”
Arif got them to their destination in record time.“Shall I wait again?”
“Not this time.I see her car.”Sam exited, reached his hand through the window, and shook Arif’s hand.
“Good luck, my friend.”
“Thanks.Look for a big tip coming your way.”
Arif saluted as Sam ran for the entrance to the animal shelter—Angie’sotherhome.
Dora greeted him with big eyes and a huge smile.“Sam!We weren’t expecting you.”
“I wasn’t expecting myself.I mean … where’s Angie?”
Dora gestured down the hall.“I last saw her in the cat house.”She held out her hand.“Let me take your backpack for you.And don’t forget to put on an apron.”
“Apron.Right.”
His sneakers squeaked as he loped down the hall.
“And Sam?”Dora called after him.He spun, walking backward.“We’re all hoping you can put a smile back on her face.”
“I’ll do my best.”
Apron on but untied, he slowed as he approached the cat house.A large window opened onto it, and his heart bumped in his chest when he spied Angie’s form and her silky ponytail.Her back to him, she was placing a kitten inside a cage while a few other fur balls sat at her feet.He crept toward the door and opened it without a creak.One kitten looked at him and mewed, exposing its pink mouth and tiny white dagger-teeth.Just as Angie turned, Sam scooped it up and plopped it on his head.It slid down, protesting loudly, clawing for purchase on his face.
“Ow!Shit!”
Angie gasped.“Sam!”Her bright blue eyes were the size of pucks.“What are you doing here?”
The kitten howled as he pulled it from his cheek, and Sam nearly let out a howl of his own.Angie reached up and folded the little monster in her arms.Her eyes grew even wider.“You’re bleeding!”
“No shit!He was using me as a scratching post!”
“Sheis a little skittish and needs a gentler hand when you’re picking her up.Why did you do that?”
He’d been going for a Mr.Claws moment, hoping Angie would find him too irresistible to kick out of her life.Epic fail.
The side of Sam’s face stung, and he patted it.“Is it bad?”
Angie seemed to fight a snicker.“No worse than getting clawed by Chewbacca.”
Nowallthe kittens were mewling in a high-pitched chorus that decalcified his spine.One leaped and started climbing his leg.“Ow, ow!”
Angie gave him a playful look.“Big tough hockey player.You arestilla hockey player, right?”
He nodded despite the razor claws biting into his leg.Plucking the tiger-stripe from his jeans, he held it up.“Behave, and you can hang on my shoulder.”It began to purr—loudly—and he plopped it on his arm.“Okay.This’ll work too.”
