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I inspect the structures, taking a few steps down to the taller ones. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but he’s very boujee. None of those small ones will appease him.” I snicker.

He chuckles behind me, squatting in front of the one I’m currently looking at and flicking the little hanging ball. “Do they need to be that tall? You could put down a mortgage on one of these.”

I snort.

“Actually, don’t answer that. He spent enough time on top of my chest; he needs all the scratching space he can get.”

Something warms inside me at that.

“You’ve been cuddling?” I grin.

“Don’t push it, sweetheart. He scratched at my chest the entire time. I’m surprised he didn’t dig his way down to my heart.

“I think he already may have.”

He looks at me, and for once, I see peace in his eyes. Like he needed this as much as I did. To be normal.

“I buy the feline a tower, and he still chooses to sit on top of me!” Xander whines, covering half of his face with his arm while Sid bakes cookies on top of his chest.

I hold my stomach with uncontrollable laughter, rolling to the side on the sofa to get a full view of them.

“He likes you!” I manage through fits of laughter.

“It’s a fucking cat, Xander,” Jacques pipes up from the other end of the sofa.

“You take him then!”

I don’t think my stomach can handle any more laughing. I'm not used to it.

“Happily.”

Jacques straightens from the sofa and scoops Sid up under his belly, supporting the rest of his body with his forearm while Xander massages his chest for critical injuries.

“He’d make a great prison break companion,” Jac laughs.

Jacques’ hair is already pulled back into a slick bun at the nape of his neck in preparation for the final night at Diamond Lounge.

They’ve made the decision to close the club down until we can find Luke. With everything happening, they can’t risk any more incidents like Aidan.

Jacques grabs one of Sid’s paws in his fingers and waves it in Xander’s direction. “You better be on your best behaviour while I’m gone, Daddy Xander,” he coos at Xander in a baby voice, making me burst out into laughter again.

Xander grabs a pillow from underneath him and launches it in Jacques’ direction. Jacques twists out of the way, the pillow hitting him in the back.

“I’m coming tonight,” Xander states, the lightness in the room dying away.

Jacques contemplates for a few seconds, scratching under Sid’s chin, making him purr. “You’re not ready.”

“Jac—”

“He’s ready,” I interrupt, cutting my gaze to Jacques.

There’s been something I want to do for Xander, but it involves him actually being at DL. Maybe this won’t be a good idea, but I hope it is.

Jacques regards me with his blue eyes. They’re almost the same blue as Xander’s; I’ve noticed that recently.

He looks to Xander, then back to me.

He dips his chin and presses his lips together, walking out without another word.