Page 52 of Chasing Kaylee Kringle

“Do you have any pets?” she asked.

“No. I’d like to have a dog, but I travel so so much, it’s not fair. Not fair. Someday when I’m on a desk and have set hours, maybe.”

“Yeah, I didn’t get a cat or a dog in case I had to go quickly. It’s a little harder to pack a cat, and with a dog, you have to stop every few hours and let them go potty.”

“I get it.”

Kaylee set Pumpkin on the ground, and the guinea pig took off, toddling across the hardwood floor. He disappeared into the kitchen for a second and started making high-pitched chirping sounds.

“What is he doing?” Rick asked.

Kaylee sighed. “He’s standing in front of the refrigerator, begging for food.”

“He knows that the refrigerator is where his goods are?”

“Oh yes, I used to have his cage in there. He knows what it sounds like when I open the fridge, and that’s usually when he gets his lettuce, so once everything clicked into his brain, he started making that noise anytime he saw or heard the fridge.”

Rick chuckled. “Little piglet.”

“Yup.”

Rick pointed to the TV. “Does that thing work?”

“Of course it does.” She frowned, turning on the couch to face him. “Why would you think it wouldn’t work?”

“Because I’ve never seen you turn it on, and you didn’t offer to let me watch TV.”

Kaylee snorted. “I do not allow unauthorized users to access my streaming services.”

“Am I still unwanted?” he teased, waggling his brows.

She tilted her head like she was pondering this. “You have successfully become a not-unwanted guest.”

“I don’t know what that means, but I guess I’ll take it.” Rick reached out, tucking a stray hair behind her ear. “Do you want to watch The Grinch with me?”

He knew that was the wrong thing to ask when she stiffened.

“Not tonight,” she said, getting up from the couch and grabbing her mug. “I think I’m tired and just wanna go to bed.”

Rick nodded, although he had no clue why the mood shifted. “Good night, then.”

She started to head toward the bedroom and stopped, turning with a small smile on her face. “Thank you for today. It was a lot of fun.”

“You’re welcome anytime.”

She laughed. “I’m actually surprised you’re not trying to take my bed again.”

He shook his head. “If you want me to sleep with you, Kaylee, you’re gonna have to ask me.”

Kaylee stood silently for a moment, and Rick thought she was going to say Come to bed, but instead, she just mumbled another good night and disappeared into the room.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Ansel

Ansel sat in his office, staring at the picture on his desk of Kaylee he’d taken in October, just before she’d disappeared. She was walking to class ahead of Elasia, smiling and spinning back and forth as she talked to her friend. For a quiet girl, she was always in motion, her blond hair in loose curls swirling around her shoulders. Her hazel eyes were sparkling, leaning more toward green than gray that day. So beautiful. He’d wanted her from the first time he saw her, but he’d been playing the long game, hoping that the more time she spent in his world, the more she’d want to be a part of it.

Only Wyatt hadn’t been able to convince her to partake in any of the shipments he moved, and Kaylee continued to rebuff Ansel at every turn.