Page 163 of Home Game

I picked up the kitten and kissed her face. “It was tricky of Ryan but one look at this face and I wouldn’t care if this cat came from Putin.”

“I have cat stuff in the car.”

The cat stuff included a climbing post, a cat bed, cat food, a cat brush, a litter box, and a ridiculous amount of cat toys.

“Did he buy out the pet store?”

“You know Ryan. He does nothing half-ass.”

I waiteduntil the game was over before I picked up my phone.

Me: Thank you. So much.

Ryan: You’re welcome

Me: Ikea is the best cat in the world

Ryan: You’re keeping the name?

Me: It suits her

Ryan: Does she like your apartment?

Me: She loves her new forever home

Ryan: So are you doing okay?

Me: I applied for school

Ryan: That’s great, Zoey

I stared at my name on the screen, wishing more than anything I could hear his voice.

Me: Anyway, thanks for Ikea. She’s the best gift anyone has ever given me

Ryan: She won the jackpot becoming your roommate

Me: Night

Ryan: Sleep tight.

It wasn’t until I finished brushing my teeth that I realized he never asked to talk.

Spring had hit Vancouver.Ikea grew by leaps and bounds. The flowers were blooming, the trees were getting green, and I had just gotten a scary-looking letter. I took ten minutes to work up my nerve to open it.

“Dear Zobenia, Congratulations on your acceptance to the University of British Columbia.”

I screamed so loud, Ikea dove beneath my couch.

When I told Frank, he took off his glasses and smiled. “I guess this means we need to have a celebration dinner.”

That night, Frank drove Wanda and I to the restaurant. I squealed when I saw Krista, Justin, Dylan, and Mica waiting for me.

I looked back at Frank. “You planned all this?”

“You think I can’t make a dinner reservation?”

We all ordered our drinks and then Frank asked the group. “Should we give Zoey her gift before or after the meal?”

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