Page 1 of Hell's Kitten

CHAPTER 1

Jessie

In hindsight,this is probably going to be one of those funny stories I tell. Largely because this is entirely my fault.

But right now, it’s the most unfunny thing I’ve ever experienced in my twenty-three years of life.

“Jessie?” my boyfriend, Parker, says in surprise as he opens the door to his apartment. No. Not in surprise. In horror. “What are you doing here?”

My stomach threatens to drop, but I always stubbornly cling to hope and optimism even when disaster is staring me in the face. It worked when my mom was diagnosed five years ago, and it’s going to damn well work now. My boyfriendisexcited to see me. He just doesn’t realize it yet.

“I start classes next week, remember?” I say cheerfully. “You said I could stay with you.”

His eyes widen as his gaze falls to the large suitcase on wheels sitting next to me. It’s covered in various cat stickers, so there’s no missing that it’s mine. “I said you could come over whenever,” he said slowly. “Like usual.” I can’t stop the dread that’s pooling in my stomach. His eyes are still wide, and he’s breathing pretty heavily.

He’s not the only one.

Okay, so, yeah. Normally, I message him beforehand, and we make plans for me to visit over the weekend or whatever. We’ve been dating for a couple of years ever since he swung by Cincinnati that time and we matched on one of the apps. He sometimes visited me in the city, but with me living at home and Mom’s illness, it made sense for me to come here more often than not. I know the drive with my eyes closed, and his apartment feels like home as well.

Or at least it did until about thirty seconds ago.

“Are you moving in?” Parker splutters. He makes it sound like an accusation, and he’s still glaring at my suitcase like it’s a bomb about to go off. I try not to think of all the rest of my stuff in my car outside.

“Uhh…” I say, feeling my cheeks heat up. “I thought you said I could stay once I started school?”

I’m rapidly feeling like a complete and utter fool. When it was clear that my mom’s cancer was clearing up and I could finally start living my life again, coming to Paddle Creek to be with Parker seemed like the obvious choice. Sure, the town is kind of a dump, and the college is hardly Ivy League, but what does that matter when I’m in love?

This was supposed to be my second chance. I adore my mom and don’t regret one second I dedicated to her care or a single cent I put toward her treatment. But I can’t lie. It was pretty devastating giving up my cheerleading scholarship to Northern Kentucky University and watching all my friends leave town.

But now I’m here, and crashing with Parker means I can afford to get my degree. I’m all enrolled. This is happening.

So why is he looking at me like I’m a complete stranger?

“I never said you could comelivewith me, Jesus,” he says, shaking his head. He’s clinging to the door like it’s propping him up. He’s only opened it a foot or so, like he’s using his body as a shield to stop me from barging in. “I know you mentionedcollege, but you didn’t say anything about our arrangement changing. What the hell, man?”

I wince. He knows I hate it when he calls me ‘man,’ but he always seems to forget. Just like how he’s apparently forgotten telling me that he’d take care of me and that I shouldn’t worry about a thing. Was he evenlisteningwhen we made these plans?

WhenImade these plans, I guess.

There’s only so much my natural positivity can cling to when faced with the horrible, dawning realization of what’s going on here.

He doesn’t want me to move in with him.

I know we only see each other every couple of months, but that was why this was so exciting. It was going to be the next phase in our relationship! Doesn’t he want that?

“Uh, s-sorry,” I stutter, not sure what else to say. “I must have misunderstood. It’s okay. I can maybe see if there are some dorm rooms left or something…”

The community college isn’t big, so they don’t have much accommodation as they expect people to commute from home. There might be a cheerleading house, but I’m not even on the team yet. I have to try out, and after five years I’m pretty rusty. But there’s got to be a solution if I look hard enough. I can get a part-time job to pay for rent. Sure, I wasn’t factoring that in when planning my finances and justifying college at all, but I’m kind of committed now.

“You’re enrolled at Paddle Creek?” he says, still sounding incredulous.

Finally, I go from feeling shocked to angry. “Yes,” I snap back, equally incredulous. “I came here to be with you. I’m doing this for us. I didn’t text ahead because I thought it would be fun to surprise you, but clearly, I’m mistaken. What’s going on, Parker? Don’t you want to be with me?”

He just stares at me for a few seconds, his mouth hanging open like a goldfish.

Then a voice comes from behind him.

“What’s going on, babe? Everything all right?”

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