Page 72 of With Us

Veggies.

Bed.

Cage.

“Dahlia!” I heard from near where the little boy had been. I couldn’t see anything but a veined hand, holding open a door that hadn’t been there. Theo called for me again, the rest of the crowd going silent. “Dahlia, come with me.”

I shook my head. “I can’t. I need my paycheck.”

“No, you don’t. I told you, I can take care of you.”

My shaking became frantic. “No, no, no. You’ll replace me with someone special.”

“Never.Youarespecial.”

“You keep me in a cage.”

Theo’s arm went into the cage, pointing at the counter, apartment, and store that were all much,muchcloser than they’d been. “Yourlifeis the cage, gattina. I’m trying to free you. I want to give you a better life. Trust me.”

“C’mon, Dahlia,” I heard other voices call.

As they began calling out their encouragement, I realized it was Theo’s family.

Inching closer to the open door, all I saw were shadows. “I’m scared,” I admitted.

“That’s okay,” Theo said from somewhere in the darkness. “Just trust that I’m here.”

I looked around at my life closing in on me, a growl growing louder and louder.

“I trust you,” I said. Taking a deep breath, I jumped as a deafening roar sounded behind me.

Jolting up, I looked around, completely disoriented and bleary-eyed. I knew I wasn’t in my own bed since there wasn’t a spring in my back, and my butt hadn’t dipped into the indented area.

I glanced to the side and saw Theo, his face relaxed as he slept.

“Stupid dreams,” I muttered to myself, closing my eyes and flopping back down. I curled onto my side.

“Rawr,” I heard again, though this time it was more of a squeak and not the eardrum rattling roar I’d heard in my dream.

Still, my eyes flew open, and I found myself nearly nose-to-nose with a tiny kitten. It’s wild orange and white fur was fluffed out everywhere.

“Mrrow.”

“Yeah, meow to you too, buddy,” I whispered, tentatively reaching out to pet it. I rubbed its head a couple times before stopping, knowing enough about cats to not test his fickle mood.

I yawned and stretched, trying to get my bearings.

After a quick visit with Doctor Coran that had included an uncomfortable, but upkeep free, IUD insertion, Theo and I had stopped at my place to grab a few things. Since I didn’t have much, it’d been a fast stop. We’d grabbed a quick dinner before heading to Theo’s for a movie. Five minutes in, and I’d decided to close my eyes for a minute.

That was the last I remembered, meaning Theo must’ve carried me to bed. Since I was naked, he must’ve also undressed me.

Both of those things made me feel warm in two totally different ways.

When Theo wrapped his arm around me, pulling me closer so his body was curved along mine, the hotter of the heats won out. Especially when I felt him hard against my ass.

I think it’s time for a wakeup call.

“Hey, uhh… cat. You’ve got to scram.” Gently pushing, I expected it to go running.

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