The Consequence of Revenge (Consequence 2)

“You should buy a cow.” This from Jason.

“At least a golden retriever or something . . .” Colt added helpfully.

Max opened his mouth, his jaw clenching in irritation, but I interrupted instead. “Actually, I’d really like a cat.”

Max paled.

Milo covered her mouth with her hand while Colt, Jason, and Reid started snickering.

“What?” I shrugged. “Max, you don’t like cats?”

Was the guy sweating? He shifted next to me, scratching the back of his neck before clearing his throat. “I uh, I love cats, had one when I was little . . .”

“Really?” Reid asked smoothly. “What was this cat’s name?”

“Er, Cat.” Max gave me an apologetic glance. “I didn’t have a very active imagination when I was young on account of Reid dropping me on my head.”

“Imagine how much smarter he would be had I not purposefully dropped him off that balcony.” Reid nodded seriously. “So Cat . . . what color was it?”

“He”—Max licked his lips—“was brown.”

“A brown cat?” Milo piped up. “A boy cat or girl cat?”

“Boy.” Max shifted again, pulling his legs out from underneath him and staring at the sand.

“Ah, and this boy cat—” Jason nodded. “He really furry? Lots and lots of . . . hair?”

“Yes.” Max kept scratching.

Jason kept talking. “Did that hair get on you? Make you uncomfortable?”

Max didn’t say anything, just kept staring at the sand.

“Did the cat rub itself all over you? Meow in front of your face? It’s so cute how you walk around the corner and boom!” Jason clapped his hands. “There’s the cat! Or how about when you’re taking a shower and you yell, Cat, Cat, where are you, Cat? Only to find out he’s been standing there. The. Whole. Time.”

“Achoo!” Reid sneezed.

“HOLY SHIT!” Max jumped to his feet and started running toward the ocean.

“Um, what’s he doing?”

“Ailurophobia,” Reid whispered. “Fear of cats.”

“Do something!” I rose to my feet, getting ready to take off after him, but Milo pulled me back down onto the ground.

“He’s fine,” she whispered. “Just let him deal with it the way he knows how.”

“By drowning himself?” I pointed to the shore as Max disappeared under the water.

“Any minute now,” Reid said in a confident tone, checking his watch.

A minute passed.

“Any minute.” Reid laughed and looked at his watch again. “Any . . . minute.”

“Guys!” I yelled. We all rose to our feet and started running toward the shore.

The minute my toes touched the water Max burst out and pointed. “You lose, bitches!”

“Max!” I yelled. “You scared me to death!”

“You should know,” Max heaved, inhaling and exhaling with force, “that nobody brings Max down.”

“Bastard,” Reid muttered. “I was getting ready to go all CPR on your ass.”

“Really?” Max nodded. “On my ass? I think you’re getting CPR confused with kissing my ass, both are, however, accepted.”

“Fear of cats?” I crossed my arms.

“So we’ll get another dog.” Max nodded. “Besides, we already have a goat. I’m sorry, you’re really cool and all, Becca. I love that sexy little mouth of yours and everything it makes me feel, but I have to draw the line somewhere. If you want a cat, you’ll have to get your own twin bed at my house. We’ll be like couples from the fifties where we each read at night, have our lampstand, and discuss politics. The cat will come between us, but if that’s what you want . . . then I’ll sacrifice, feel me?”

“How did we go from him having a fear of cats to them being married with a cat?” Jason asked, scratching his head.

“Oh!” Reid nodded and snapped his fingers. “She owns a cowboy hat and boots.”

“So?” Colt snorted.

“And a rope,” Reid added. “An actual rope.”

“Ohhhh.” The other two guys nodded at me in appreciation.

“Men,” Milo grumbled. “Max, are you going to be okay?”

“Of course! I’m half fish!” Max stumbled toward us, then face-planted into the sand.

“Careful, merman, you tripped over your tail.” I offered him my hand and helped him walk out of the water.

“Ha, she called me merman.” Max’s chest puffed out. “The last time Jason was called a name by a woman was when he was arrested for stalking. I believe she called him asshole. Was that it?”

“Clearing the air.” Jason held up his hands. “Not arrested for stalking. I was arrested for looking like the dude that had been stalking her. She apologized.”

“Still arrested.” Colt coughed.

“So.” Reid rubbed his hands together. “It’s the last night. Therefore we’re drinking wine, having marshmallows, and learning all about our new group member. That is—”

All eyes turned to me.

“If you want to be part of the group,” he finished.

Throat suddenly dry, I nodded and then squawked out, “Sure, crazy likes crazy, right?”

“Right.” Max kissed my temple. “Don’t worry, they can’t handle their liquor, once they’re out we’ll lock the hut.”