As if caught red-handed, Gia’s wide eyes met his. “Oh, yes. I’m fine. It’s just Jake.”
Mirth tipped one side of his mouth.Just Jake, huh?
He’d deal with that later, but for now he turned his attention to the brown-haired teenager who refused to meet his eyes. By her squirrelly behavior, he knew she was hiding something from him, and judging by the yowling and scratching, it probably had to do with whatever animal the two of them had dragged in.
With one hand clutching the towel, Jake flicked a finger at the two of them. “Mind telling me what’s happening right now?” And how did he not notice Marley sneaking out of the house that morning?
Marley peeked from behind Gia, her worried eyes locking onto his. “Promise you won’t be mad?”
His heart dropped. “Of course I won’t be mad, Marley. Please tell me what’s going on,” he begged, knowing her question had more to do with her being worried he would leave her behind than any real fear of consequences.
Gia looked over her shoulder. A moment of unspoken understanding passed between them before she gave Marley a small nod and stepped aside.
“Remember the feral cat project I told you about?”
The feral cat project? I thought it’s been about Gia this whole time.“Don’t tell me that’s what that thing is.”
“This is the cat. You know. From the thing.” Her eyes widened at the implication that the object of their so-called mission was standing in the room with them—but as far as he knew, there had not been a real-life feral cat in the picture.
“You… found a feral cat? A real one?” Jake peered at the cage containing a black fur ball, which was fighting for its life to escape. “And you brought it here? Why?”
Gia turned to fully face him, arms crossed in defiance. “We thought it was hurt, but it has a clean bill of health. Marley and I brought it to the vet this morning, and it needs a place to stay.”
“What?”
“That’s not all,” Marley squeaked, hidden from his view.
Gia’s eyes gleamed with defiance. Jake’s spine tingled with fear. Whatever came next could not be good.
“The vet said she’s pregnant and needs a place to stay until she delivers,” Gia said.
“Excuse me? Pregnant?” Surely he’d misheard her.
Gia rolled her eyes. “Yes, with six kittens.”
“Six kittens?” His mouth dropped open in shock.
Gia blew out a frustrated breath, her stance shifting with a pop of a hip. “Is there a parrot in here?”
“Jake, remember the slow blink,” Marley stage-whispered.
“The what?” Gia turned to look at Marley.
“Nothing,” Marley answered quickly, but behind Gia, he saw her mouthing,Remember?
He’d forgotten about the slow blink, but at the moment, it must have been code forbe cool, this is your chance to win brownie points with Gia. Or he could use the moment to his advantage.
“If I’m understanding this correctly, you both found a feral cat who just happened to be pregnant. With six kittens. And you want it to stay here… Am I right so far?”
“Yep, that’s correct.”
Now it was his time to be on the offensive. His jaw hardened as he debated the next move. He could say no and send the poor cat off to who knows where, or he could leverage the situation for his own benefit.
Jake raised a finger in the air. “Under one condition.”
“What’s that?” Gia stiffened, her spine ramrod straight.
“I’ll let the cat stay and give birth to her litter, then find homes for them all—but you need to go on a date with me.”
