Page 26 of Meow

Wild dark hair. Arctic blue eyes.

"Duffield?"

At first, no response—just stillness. Then recognition dawns in his expression, jaw tightening while his eyes soften with something resembling hurt.

"Little kitty?"

His legs seem to buckle, body swaying without collapsing. Wind gusts down the alley, bringing the scent of recent rain and tearing my hood back.

"If you'd asked, I would have given you the world," he says, shaking his head. "Why did you have to steal? I can't have someone stealing from me. I won't."

Part of me wants to beg forgiveness. The rest—the dominant part—feels outraged.

"It's not stealing!" I step forward, emboldened by righteousness. "These things were being thrown away! Do you know how much perfectly good food your pet shops waste every day?That’scriminal. But this? This is hardly the crime of the century. It's not like I'm taking money from your wallet, Mr. Grumpy Pants."

"Kittycat," he growls, straightening to his full height.

"No." I cut him off sharply, advancing as wind whips my hood back and tangles my hair. "You always get your way, huh? Well, not with me. I need these things. Yes, technically they're yours, but I'm an alleycat, and this is my turf. Legal schmeegal. Anything out here is mine. Besides, if you knew they were throwing all this away? Shame on you." My voice rises nearly to shouting. "And what exactly did you mean by 'you'll wish I'd called the police'? What were you going to do to me?"

I plant my fists on my hips, noticing his clenched jaw as he stares.

"You need to get over yourself. There are people with their own needs, and you can't always get your way. What if I was homeless? Would you deny me a tin of..." I glance down "...premium tuna chunks just because it's technically stealing? Boo fucking hoo."

"Kitty..."

"Uh uh. I don’t know why your shops throw all this away, but I don’t think I want to be with someone that doesn’t think to donate all of this. I mean, you have two stray cats. Don’t you think about all the others out there in shelters and foster homes? No way, you don't get to—"

"You're right."

Those two words hang between us. Then Duffield does something unexpected—he drops to his knees in the filthy alley, among puddles and rat droppings, taking my hands in his. He clutches them like lifelines, pressing his lips against my knuckles.

"I'm sorry," he whispers. "You're right. I have no right to keep these things. I came here..." He shakes his head, and shock ripples through me at the sight of tears in his eyes. "I came looking for you. Hadn't seen you on camera for a while, and when I went to your house, you weren't there. I wanted to know you were safe. I've been a complete fucking idiot. I’m not the man you think I am."

"Well, not—"

"I have a whole different life. One I will protect you from, but I want you to be part of me. All I was before I found you was a businessman. Profit and loss. That’s what ran my life. But you, kitten? You run my heart, and if you want it all donated, it’s done. Fuck, you can run the whole fucking chain of stores for all I care. Just realize, I’m never letting you go. I’m a bad man, but I’ll be a good one for you. A husband and a father that puts you and our family first. Always.”

"Big dog," I reply.

"What?"

"If I'm a little kitty, you must be something. Big dog?" I offer a half-smile, earning a choked laugh.

"Big dog, and Daddy. Always Daddy," he agrees, suddenly on his feet and lifting me onto his shoulders like a child getting a piggyback ride. I'm so high I could spot my house from here.

"Wait! I was rescuing that food for a reason. I have hungry mouths to feed."

"I’ll send a truckful to your house. Oh, that reminds me…”

"No! Don't you get it? I like doing things myself. I like that you do things for me too, but cats aren't like you humans. You have to let me be me sometimes."

He sighs but crouches to collect my treasures. "Guess I'm going to have to get used to that."

"Guess you are. Now, are you taking me home or what?"

"Home..." he says with a nod. "Yes, I'm taking you to my place, but your home with Nana?”

“Yes?”

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