“Are you ready?” Marley asked over her shoulder.
Gia shrugged. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Okay, here goes nothing…” The gate squeaked as Marley dragged it open.
At first, the cat did nothing but glare at the two of them. Gia took it as a sign to set up the food. She pulled a small dish shaped like a fish from the bag. At the sound of the treats shaking, the cat’s ears perked up in interest.
“You should name her, Marley.”
“Me?” Marley tucked some stray hair behind her ear.
Gia shook out some dry food into the bowl, pushing it toward the cat. “Yeah, we can’t keep calling itcat.”
After a pause, Marley said softly, “I was thinking Tuna.”
Gia’s lips tugged into a small smile. “Seems appropriate.” She handed the bowl to Marley.
“You think so?” Marley took the proffered bowl, looking at the cat, who was still watching them with apprehension.
“Yeah. It’s perfect.”
“Okay, come on, Tuna.Pss pss pss.” Marley beckoned, crouching low and shaking the bowl.
Gia lowered herself to the ground, getting comfortable as she watched the scene unfold. Tuna took her sweet time, eyes constantly scanning her surroundings as if she didn’t know what to make of her situation. Gia didn’t blame her. One minute you’re gallivanting in the woods and finding a bunch of food laid out for you, and the next you’re stuck in a cage, driven all the way across town, and then poked and prodded by a stranger.
Then to find out not only washeashe, but she was also very, very pregnant.
In some ways, Gia could relate to Tuna’s predicament. She was far from LA, in a town she thought she knew, and surrounded by people who were poking and prodding at her. And being asked for a date was like it was something he’d been planning the entire time.
She didn’t blame Tuna for her distrust, but the differences ended there. After all, she wasn’t pregnant—it would have been an immaculate conception, and she was no Virgin Mary.
A soft knock sounded on the door before it cracked open. She stared up at Jake as he quickly squeezed himself into the too-cramped mudroom and shut the door behind him with a gentle snick.
“How’s it going?” Jake asked as he sat down next to her in one graceful movement.
“Good.” She shrugged, turning to look at him. His lithe body was now covered in a long-sleeved shirt and gray sweatpants.
Why does it have to be gray sweatpants?
Life was not fair. Who could resist an attractive man in gray sweatpants?
“I hope you ladies know what you’re doing.” Jake’s voice was stern as he settled in beside Gia. His shoulder grazed hers softly before he pressed himself firmly to her side. They were touching from shoulder to legs, firmly rooting her in the moment. Her breath hitched at the innocent yet intimate gesture. It reminded her of versions of themselves a decade younger, sitting side by side while Thao rattled on about something or other.
The memories came to her with stunning clarity. She had never known for sure if Jake felt the same way until their last night together. For those glorious moments when he’d held her in his arms, their bodies in sync, saying what words failed to communicate, she felt loved.
It all came crashing down with four words.
“This was a mistake.”
For years, those words tortured her. Sent her spiraling into the depths of depression with no life raft in sight. Thao had been her anchor, and he went somewhere she could never seem to reach him. Years of working on herself and therapy had made her recognize she had been self-sabotaging in a foolish attempt to reunite with her twin—and though she didn’twantto die, didn’t think she was suicidal… it hadn’t made it any less real that she didn’t know how tolivewithout him. Or Jake.
She still didn’t.
But sitting beside him in the cramped space, watching Marley try to gain the trust of a feral animal, the fractured parts of her were knitting themselves back together. The puzzle pieces formed a sharper image, one she could focus on—and she didn’t need to be alone anymore.
Staying meant she could be a part of this life. Be a part of Jake’s world. And Marley’s.
And, she had a feeling, Tuna’s and her litter of kittens.
