Page 17 of The Holiday Exchange

“Kayla.” I look up at him and my stomach swoops like I’m on a roller coaster when he smiles at me and drops his hands to tuck them into his jeans pockets.

“I’m here because I want to be. I’ve thought about getting apet several times since I moved into my own house and when I got your message I thought, why wait? So here I am.”

“Here you are.” His words are genuine and my worry melts away. “Alright, then. Follow me to the kittens.”

His eyes widen when I open the door to reveal a multitude of furry faces looking out at him with interest. “All of these guys need a home?”

“Yep. There’s a pretty good mix of adult cats and kittens. Most have already been spayed or neutered, but a few of the younger kittens will need to have that done a little later. Why don’t you look around? If you find one you connect with, we’ll get him or her out to play.”

Trevor nods and slowly starts making his way past the bank of cages. I lean against a work table and watch as he peers into each one with equal attention until he reaches the one with the brother and sister pair.

“Are these the ones from the picture?”

“They are. You want to get them out?”

“It looks like they’re ready to come out.” The male kitten stands on his back legs, his front paws balanced on the bars of the enclosure door. Trevor crooks a finger through and scratches him under the chin, prompting a contented purr.

I slide the bolt open and lift the boy kitty out, handing him to Trevor before I reach for the female kitten. She’s not shy, exactly, but she’s definitely not as outgoing as her brother. I cuddle her against my shoulder. Not for the first time, I wish my apartment allowed pets. If I could, I would take this sweetie home in a heartbeat.

“What do you think?” I ask Trevor. He’s cradling the kitten like a baby and stroking it gently. Anyone with eyes can see that he’s smitten. “Is he the one?”

Trevor looks up, eyeing the kitten I’m holding. “What about that one?”

“She’s available too. You want to swap and hold her for a minute? See which one you like best?”

“Is there any rule against adopting two?” he asks. “I think I remember reading somewhere that cats do better in pairs.”

“That’s true.” I’m impressed by his knowledge. “Most people think cats are solitary animals, but studies show that they tend to be healthier and have less destructive behaviors when they have a companion. Sometimes they grow so attached they become what we call a ‘bonded pair’.”

“Then I’ll take both.” He nods firmly as if that settles it. “So, do I need to like, sign something before I can take them home?”

“Yes, you’ll need to fill out some adoption papers and pay a small fee, then you’ll be good to go.”

“Sounds good.”

This could be the easiest adoption ever. Maybe I need to send personalized recommendations to all my friends. Cute photos delivered directly to your messages seem to be a very effective way of getting animals adopted.

Half an hour later, I walk with him to his truck, still carrying the female kitten. Trevor opens the passenger side door and pulls a brand-new plastic cat crate to the edge of the seat, a tag still attached to the handle. I like that he came prepared. “In you go, little guy.” He puts his kitten in the crate, then steps aside for me to slide the female in.

Closing the door, he turns to face me. “Thanks”

“My pleasure.” A burst of wind makes me shiver, but I’m not quite ready to go back inside yet. “Let me know if you need anything while you’re getting them settled.”

“Thanks,” he says again. An awkward silence stretches between us.

“So, see you Saturday?”

“Yep, see you then.”

“Okay, then, see you later.” I cringe at the number of ‘seeyous’ and take a few steps backward, putting some distance between us.

Trevor rounds the truck and gets in, giving me a little wave as he backs out of his parking spot. I go inside to finish my shift feeling satisfied. A couple of kittens are exactly what Trevor needed, and I even get to visit them next weekend. Them and their charming new owner.

The more time I spend with Trevor, the more I like him. For the first time in a while, I try to imagine what my mother would say if I told her I was seeing someone. Undoubtedly, she would remind me of all the reasons why dating right now is not a good idea. And I think I might need to hear them because I can’t really remember any at the moment.

10

KAYLA

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