“Apparently,” I echo, my voice completely deadpan. “Is this going to be a reoccurring thing? Your... what even is she? A rodent?”
Scarlet gasps. “No! Not that there's anything wrong with rodents, but ferrets are actually a part of the weasel family.”
“And weasels aren't rodents?” I ask, completely out of my depth.
“Nope. Weasels are members of the order ofCarnivoraand members of the familyMustelidae, notRodentia.”
I feel my lips lift into a highly amused grin. “This might be the nerdiest shit you've ever said to me.”
Her cheeks bloom my favorite shade of pink. “Yeah, well, I like to learn things.” She taps her temple. “I'm full of weird and random tidbits. It's why I’m so good at trivia.”
“Noted.” I glance down at the now-sleeping ferret on my chest.
“Oh shit, want me to get her?”
“No,” I pretend to sigh before crossing my arms behind my head. “She looks comfy.”
“Mind if I join y'all?”
A vision of Scarlet cuddling up beside me, laying her head on my chest flashes unexpectedly before my eyes, causing me to jolt.
“Or not,” she mumbles, backing away. “Just call me when you want me to come get her.”
“No, fuck.” I crook a finger her way. “C'mere, Princess.”
“You sure?” She bites her lower lip and the caveman inside me demands I free it. Or better yet, thatIbite it.
Clearly, I need some caffeine or something. My brain’s off the rails today. But I roll my eyes and force myself not to react to my errant thoughts. “Get your ass over here, Scarlet.”
She huffs and shuffles my way, settling herself near my feet.
“It's weird, really,” she says after a minute.
“What is?” I ask as I absentmindedly run my fingers through Fefe's soft fur.
“She's not big on strangers.”
“She's met a lot of strangers?” I ask, caught somewhere between desperate for her answer and dreading it at the same time. All I can picture is a parade of random men, and the thought enrages me. Which is fucking dumb because I have no claim over her. And I don’t want one either...right?
“Well,I guess I don't know that for sure. She’s only ever met my Mom, who she does not like and Nora, who she's indifferent toward.”
Something unclenches in my chest at her response... something I'm not sure I want to look too closely at.
“Guess she just knows I'm special.”
Scarlet's dark eyes twinkle as she nudges my sock-covered feet. “Sure, that must be it.”
“Wanna order in?”I ask, collapsing down next to Scarlet on the couch after finally convincing Fefe to go into her cage for the night.
After a full day of Fefe running around my house, stealing my socks and hiding them under my dishwasher, and demanding my attention like an impatient toddler, I’m too fucking exhausted to do anything, much less cook.
“Sure.” She twists to face me, tucking her feet underneath her. “You tired?” she asks, her voice dripping with humor, which is welcome, even if it’s at my expense. She hasn’t been herself most of today. Not that I can blame her.
“Scarlet.” I level with her a dead stare. “Your fucking ferret is more exhausting than James, an actual walking and talking toddler.”
She giggles. and I swear to god, the sound shoots through me like a bolt of electricity lighting me up from the inside. “I promise, she’s not usually so... intense.” She bites her lip. “I mean, she’s definitely a little thief. Socks, as you know, are her favorite, but she’ll pilfer anything she can get her little paws on. Just be glad she only has one hiding spot here. So far, anyway.”
“So far?” I bolt upright. “What do you mean so far?”
