Page 40 of Surprisingly Us

Rhys

“Why are we here?” Ramsey asks, opening the door to one of the city’s feline rescues, before following me inside.

“I’m getting a cat.”

His eyes widen. “Why?”

After Ramsey and his Bergman’s personal stylist cousin, Percy, spent three hours outfitting me with a new wardrobe full of boring clothing, I’m looking forward to doing something fun.

“I told Lettie I had a cat.”

“Again…why?”

“I don’t know. It just came out of my mouth. Now I need to adopt a cat or Lettie will know I was lying.”

“Can you tell her the cat ran away?” he asks.

I give him a withering look.

“You know you live on a boat, right? And cats hate water.”

“It’ll be an indoor cat.”

“Okay, but you’re supposed to be focused on cultivating new interests and hobbies.”

“A cat is a new interest. I think I’ve always liked cats, just never gotten one until now.”

He sighs. “Could it possibly be because they don’t travel well?”

“Taylor Swift takes her cats everywhere. Even theTIMEmagazine cover shoot.”

He eyes me with skepticism. “Since when do you know anything about Taylor Swift?”

“I read theTIME’sarticle.”

“You read?” His jaw drops in mock surprise.

“Hilarious.” I throw a sardonic look his way. “And, since you asked, her music is badass. You should listen to it sometime.”

“I’ve been a Taylor stan for years. 1989 TV is lit.”

“What’s TV?” I ask.

He rolls his eyes. “Taylor’s Version. How do you not know that?”

“I’m learning, okay? It’s a new interest.”

“I thought you’d take up a sport or do some volunteer work.” Ramsey grabs a brochure off the wall. “Maybe you can volunteer here and take a bunch of pictures with a cat and show them to Colette so she thinks you weren’t lying, then you don’t really have to adopt one.”

“I’m getting a cat,” I say firmly.

After filling out the appropriate paperwork, we’re let back into the large area where the cats are kenneled. I’ve been instructed to let them know which cats I’d like to invite into the free room to pet and cuddle.

“So, what’s your plan with Colette?”

I informed Ramsey that Lettie and I agreed to fake date for both our benefits. He really didn’t see how I would be benefitting her, until I explained she was inexperienced and wanted to practice dating.

You’re not going to sleep with her, are you?he’d asked.

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