“I’ve gotta go.” She tries to sidestep me.
“Baby, wait.”
She stops, flinching like I’ve slapped her.
“Have dinner with me tonight. Let’s talk. For real.”
“I have to get to the animal shelter.”
“Fine. I’ll see you later. Cancel the date.”
If there’s even a date. I doubt it.
“I’ll see. It might not be possible.” She’s starting to panic. I can see color draining from her face and from experience I can tell she needs to make an escape.
“Make it happen. Don’t make me tail you all day and make you come back here at dinner time. I’ll also tell whoever the fuck you think you’re dating that it isn’t happening.”
“What the fuck is wrong with you? You’re like… an alphahole, you know that? An alpha male asshole.”
I shrug.
“Go put some clothes on. I can’t even talk to you when you’re like this,” she snaps.
“Because you want what’s under this towel.”
“Get over yourself.”
“Do me a favor, though, babe. Change your clothes when you get in. If you get cat hair on me when I fuck you tomorrow, I’ll break out in hives.”
“Huh?”
“Big ones. Allergic. So listen…”
“Tomorrow? You’re gonna fuck me tomorrow?” Her eyes are wide.
“That’s the deadline isn’t it?”
“It is,” she confirms, searching my face. She’s wondering if I’m still trying to figure out who she is. I’ll let her think I haven’t figured it out yet.
“Better go. Got some work cut out for me, but make no mistake, I’ll have it figured out by tomorrow.”
She rolls her eyes and looks away; I can tell she’s relieved. She thinks I’m still searching.
That’s okay. I’ll give her that so that she settles down a little.
I know who she is, but I don’t know why she doesn’t want anyone to know her name.
I also know she’s gonna be a hundred per cent predictable and come home after adopting a cat from that shelter today because I’ve just faked an allergy.
Fuck, I need coffee.
One thing is for damn sure.
This girl is gonna pay for all her games when I get her naked.
I get dressed and dip out while she’s pulling a tray of cupcakes out of the oven.
18
Ally
When I get in at four o’clock with the kitty carrier and the oversized trash bag of supplies, my kitchen is again spotless. Like magic. And the cupcakes I left for him are gone.
I set the awkwardly large trash bag down by the door and gently set the cat carrier on the coffee table.
“You okay there, baby-cat?” I call out.
She meows, but it’s a sad sound. She didn’t like the cab ride and cried all the way here.
I’m fostering the little fluffy grey, black, and cream-striped tabby kitty for now. She’s got big eyes and fur coming out of her ears with the cutest markings, fat paws with little grey toe beans. I haven’t had a cat since before my father got killed. If I could have one permanently, I’d want to keep her forever.
She and her brother are about four months old, and her brother is having surgery, courtesy of Jude. The extra fundraising is going to cat food and kitty litter for the shelter. He’ll be coming here, too, in a few days and recovering for a few weeks before he and his sister get put up for adoption.
She’s the prettiest little kitty-girl I’ve ever seen, and her brother looks similar, but with a thinner boy-face and a dopey look on that face that just absolutely endeared him to me immediately.
I’ve already decided that if I have to leave for Japan soon, I’ll ask Sonia or Carly to take them until they can get adopted.
I open the cat carrier and coo at her. “C’mon out. You’re a fluffy girl, aren’t you, Georgie-girl? You’ll be perfect for giving him all sorts of hives, won’t you?”
She meows in reply and takes one step out of the carrier and looks around.
I gently lift her to the floor. She doesn’t look happy not having a clue about her surroundings, so I leave her to explore while I open the trash bag so I can get her belongings situated.
I set up the litter box right outside Jude’s bedroom door and then set up her food in the kitchen. She watches me and then winds around my ankles as I set her food and water duo down on the kitchen floor on one of my pink placemats.
I’m in love with her already. And her brother Ralphie who’s having surgery today already won me over last Saturday. She was shy that day, but the figure-eights and purring let me know she’s happy before she settles in for her food.
Now, for part two of my plan.
I scroll through my email and find what I’m looking for. Bingo. A reply from Bill Burrell.
I emailed him from the shelter about three hours ago.
Hey. So, short notice but what do you think about dinner at Buchanan’s Steakhouse with me tonight? I’d love to say thanks for your help last week. My treat. If you’re down, can you meet me at my apt at 7:00? If so, let me know and I’ll reply with my address.