Page 32 of Just A Little Magic

Yeah, not a scratch. I was more scared than anything else.

Levi

I won’t mess with a cat willing to take on a bear. I’ll stop by this evening to hear about this bear and meet the new tenant.

Owen

Thank you so much! Let me know if you want a deposit, and I’ll send it or add it to next month’s rent.

Levi

Jesus, Owen. I’m not going to charge you a deposit. I know where you live. I know where your mom lives.

Owen

But you can if you want!

Levi

I don’t want

Owen

Thank you!!!!!!!

“What did he say?” Barrett asked from behind the driver’s seat.

After our brief squabble over who was paying—we both lost and Ryan gave the visit on the house—we’d returned to the car so I could text Levi and get permission for my new roommate.

“He said yes! Levi is going to stop by tonight and meet her.”

“Perfect. Have you thought of a name yet?”

“No, not yet. I’ll know it when I hear it. Can you take me home, please?”

“Home? Don’t you need to go to the pet store?” Barrett asked me in a tone.

That tone. The one he used when a fraying thread held his patience. The tick in his cheek throbbed like the beating heartit represented. His white-knuckled hands gripped the steering wheel like a vise. We’d been friends long enough that I knew exactly what it meant.

“Between today and yesterday, you’ve done more than enough. I don’t want to take up all your time.” My attempt to placate and soothe didn’t hit like I’d hoped it would.

“Do you want to get away from me or give me an out to get away from you?” Barrett asked through a clenched jaw.

“I don’t want you to feel obligated to me.”

“Obligated?” he repeated. “I don’t feel obligated to you. I’m going with you to the store because I want to go with you. That’s what a fucking friend does, and I’m fucking doing it.” It would have been better if he’d yelled, but he just sounded sad.

“Got it.”

My voice was smaller than usual. I hated that I’d upset Barrett. He rarely got mad with me, and I had caused this one. Our shoddy attempts to navigate our new reality were, so far, an abject failure. I wasn’t sure how we’d get back to an even keel, but I knew I wouldn’t ever regret my night with Bear. There was no one else I’d wanted my first time to be with, and if he was the only one, I couldn’t regret that either.

With an aggrieved huff, Barrett finally started the car and drove us to the pet store. I occupied myself by playing with Not-Lucifer through the holes in the cardboard box. Her soft mewls sounded more curious than distressed, which made me feel slightly better about keeping her in a box. The drive to the pet store only took about fifteen minutes, but it was long enough that I felt slightly more settled.

Once parked, we headed inside for what I hoped was a quick trip to get the essentials. I should have known better because I’d shopped with Barrett before. There was no such thing as a quick shopping trip. He had to go down every single aisle. Every. Single. Aisle.

He held up the cat so she could see the fish and birds through the holes in the box. Surprisingly, she truly seemed to be looking and responding to his observations. He insisted we go through the dog aisle because he swore they had better pet beds, which wasn’t a fight I was prepared for today.

“We need more than one bed for Not-Lucifer,” Barrett said in his mulish tone that always signaled I was about to lose the argument.

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