Page 96 of Crazy Love

“How does everyone know it’s my birthday?” Sam laughs, his cheeks pink.

“It’s big news around here,” Penn says, shrugging. “Our boy istwelve.”

Every time he says it, he looks like he might cry, but he snaps out of it.

Greer and Wyndham give Sam an enormous chocolate shake with whipped cream, sprinkles, and sparklers sticking out of the top, and Winnie is happy with her strawberry shake with fresh strawberries and whipped cream.

A little bit later when we pass Pet Galaxy, Sam’s eyes light up. “Oh! Can we go in?”

Penn and I exchange a tentative look. Every time we’re around our friends and their pets, Sam and Winnie are in heaven. Theyloveanimals.

“This is dangerous territory,” Penn whispers.

“Yeah, it’s all fun and games until someone falls in love with a creature,” I whisper back.

But Sam’s already looking at us with those big eyes, and Winnie’s pressing her hands together under her chin like a cartoon princess.

“Okay,” Penn says. “But we’re not leaving with any animals.”

“Mm-hmm,” I chime in.

Famous last words.

We picked the worst time to stop in…well, depending on who you ask. Because it’s pet adoption day at Pet Galaxy, which means there are dogs wagging their tails in crates, and cats lounging on plush beds or chasing each other. Jerry, the guy who’s been at Pet Galaxy for as long as I can remember, is chatting with all the customers. Sam and Winnie walk toward the pen of kittens when suddenly Sam stops short.

When Penn sees what he’s looking at, he lets out a terrified, “Ahhh!” He shakes his head. “No. What is that?”

Big ears. Wrinkled, hairless body. One green eye and one blue eye.

“I’ve never seen a Sphynx cat in real life,” Sam breathes.

“Oh, hell no,” Penn says.

“She’sbeautiful,” Winnie whispers in awe.

“She’s terrifying,” Penn argues, shuddering.

Jerry ambles over, smiling at us. “I see you’re admiring our majestic Jezebel.”

I laugh at the name.

“She’s been here a few weeks.” Jerry shakes his head sadly. “No one seems to want her.”

“Nobody wants her?” Sam repeats, his eyes going wide.

My heart clenches. Oh no.

“Aww,” Winnie says, stepping closer. “I want her.”

“Me too,” Sam says softly.

“Aw, hell,” Penn mutters. He looks at me, resigned. “That’d be crazy, right?”

I laugh. “Completely. But we seem to be all about the crazy.”

He leans in. “I’ve never seen anything scarier looking than that thing.” He stares at the cat like it might launch itself at his throat.

“It’s hard to not be wanted,” Sam says quietly.

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