Page 24 of Three Meows

“I have to admit, it’s quite entertaining,” I giggled. “But now I’m feeling bad, so maybe I can make it up to you, hmmm? I will let you sleep with me if you let me be the big spoon.”

“Damn, I see Elijah secured the best part of the flat already. And here I was fighting with Rowan over who gets the dresser,” Chester commented, a half-open box of knickknacks in his hands.

“Be good and maybe you will be allowed in my bed one day,” I teased.

“I’m always good. I’m excellent, a prime specimen!” Chester boasted. “…but I toss and turn at night so I won’t give you an excuse to kick me out straight away.”

“Hogs the blankets,” Rowan reported.

“And kicks! He is a hazard to sleep with,” Elijah confirmed.

“That’s a shame… hope you are a better sleep mate, Rowan,” I winked.

His lips thinned and he shook his head.

“Nightmares,” he said in a haunted voice.

“Oh,” a mournful sound escaped my lips without conscious thought. If he was a soldier… was he haunted by his past? I wanted to cocoon him in blankets and give him only the sweetest dreams.

“Let’s finish,” Rowan nodded at the spare room. “Midnight soon.”

We followed his lead and, between the four of us, we managed to collect all the belongings of the three men. The furniture and appliances were provided by the landlord, so only personal effects had to be carried over.

“I hired a cleaner to come by,” Elijah said with a grimace. “Had to pay a solid premium to get it done in the middle of the night, but I don’t want the landlord, and by extension your father, to make any trouble because we destroyed the flat or something equally ridiculous.”

“Good call,” I nodded. “And take some photos in case you have to prove what state you left the flat in.”

It pained me to anticipate such vile behavior from my own father, but this time he pushed too far and I didn’t know what else he was going to do. For now, I decided to ignore all communications from him and confront him face-to-face during the Thanksgiving dinner.

Exhausted but accomplished, we got ready for bed. Chester had chosen to take possession of the couch as Rowan felt quite territorial, and it was better to leave him to get used to the new space and spread his scent around before he allowed others to sleep in the spare room with him.

Elijah came with me to my bed. He was dressed in a comfortable t-shirt and sweatpants.

“Will you keep me warm?” I lifted the covers invitingly.

“Wouldn’t that be easier to do if I’m the big spoon?” Elijah asked as he slid under the covers.

“No bargaining, no takebacks!” I said sternly and, when he obligingly turned around, I draped myself around him like an octopus.

So what if he was bigger than me? I curled into his back and sneakily moved my hands under his t-shirt to warm them on his skin. He was soft and squishy and I loved it.

“See? You can warm me like this!”

“Glad to be of assistance,” Elijah said in a strained voice I suspected had something to do with the way I was touching him. “Shall I warm your feet as well?”

“I’m not that cruel,” I said. “With the way we produce double body heat now the space under the covers should be hot enough soon, anyway.”

And it was. I drowsed into sleep, warm and cozy, with a beautiful man in my arms.

Chapter Thirteen

Iwasn’t a morning person.

In fact, I was one of those zombies who couldn’t fully comprehend the world before the first cup of coffee. So when I dragged myself out of bed I was on autopilot. When I heard meowing I opened a can of cat food and deposited it in a bowl. I watched the cat eat while the water for my coffee was heating up and only when Rowan was halfway through wolfing down his food a thought struck me.

“Oh my God, you are human! Rowan, why are you eating cat food!”

The black cat sent me a condescending look, not stopping stuffing himself even for a minute.

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