Page 41 of Fighting

The hell?

He shuffles to the bedroom and pulls open a drawer, then another, by the sound of it. When he returns, he’s wearing a pairof low slung gray sweatpants. He drops down next to me, hitting Play on the remote, and stretches his arm around me.

“What are you doing?” I frown in annoyance.

“I came home and found my girl waiting for me on the couch. My show is ready to go… well, your show. I figured I’d check it out. I’m getting comfortable. Tell me about your day.”

His lack of concern is unnerving, to say the least.

But that doesn’t negate my excitement. “I finished the next step in the pet adoption portion of the festival process. Want to see?” It takes everything in me not to bounce on the couch cushion. I’m so excited to show him the new members of his staff in the office.

Instead of agreeing, he wraps his arm tighter and pulls me into his side.

“Nah, not yet. I spent the day talking to the folks at the bank, then a construction crew and current management. I need to zone out.”

As the theme song begins to play, he relaxes into the couch.

“You’ll miss the opening,” I protest, trying to pull away.

“Nah.” He holds me tighter so I can’t escape. “This is when the cats come to visit and she screams about having viable eggs.”

Warmth spreads from his touch. My muscles loosen one by one, beginning with the bicep he’s squeezing, then moving on to my shoulders and chest. The hazy sleep I was taken from creeps back in. There’s no harm in a little cuddling. Right?

I’ve almost surrendered to the thought when the dialogue on becoming a cat lady shakes me from the mist.

“Speaking of cats,” I say. “You know how Harebrained needed help with fostering until the event? I helped Jim and a crew of volunteers get set up today.”

“Cool,” he says, barely moving at all as he speaks.

“They’re here,” I respond, going with the same flat tone he used.

Then I wait. And wait a little more. At least five minutes have passed before it clicks.

“Wait, who’s here?” He straightens, eyes wide, and scans the living room, then turns to look at the kitchen. “Was I pants-less while there are other people in my house? How come they didn’t say hi?” He’s now twisting and jumping like a puppy who can’t find his tail.

“No, no.” I stand and tug on his arm, forcing him off the couch. “Here. Walk with me.” I lead him down the hall to the office and open the door, where the animal condos are softly illuminated. “They need names. Want to do the honors?”

He scrubs a hand down his face and sighs.

Thank god. He’s finally bothered by something. I’ve been wanting to get out of here, but I couldn’t miss this look. Is he angry? Frustrated?

I’m ready to needle him, to push him over the edge, when he drops his hand and hits me with a massive grin.

“Yo, this is adorable. They have their ownhouses? I love it. This is exactly what I needed today, and how cute are these guys? They need names, you say?”

My stomach lurches as he bounces around the room, his grin splitting his face.

Shit.

This was an epic fail.

seventeen

Mateo

I workfrom home the next day, spending more time watching the cats napping and bunnies chewing their hay than I should, considering how I can get these furry dudes into forever homes.

“Time to exercise,” I say to the fuzzballs.

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