Page 42 of Impurrfections

“No. But I’ll tell him you were looking for him.”

“Tell him I’m sorry. Tell him I’ll do whatever it takes to go back to where we were.”

Arthur paused. “I’ll tell him you’re sorry. You can do the rest.”

“If he lets me.”

“Well, yeah. Theo, I’m sorry you broke up?—”

“I don’t think we were ever together.”

“Sure you were. Anyone looking at the two of you could see it. I don’t know if you can get back together or not, but Gaynor Beach isn’t that big of a town. Chances are, you’ll run into him again.”

Which meant I needed to figure out what I was going to say. What magic words wouldn’t have Shane Webster turning on his heel and walking away with his cat? “Okay. Thanks.”

“Are you all right?”

I looked around the dark kitchen. It was still an ugly, bitter place, but it didn’t loom over me the same way it had half an hour earlier. “No, but I’m working on it.”

“If you need a hit of furry love, you’re welcome to come on by.”

“And pick up poop?”

“And hug Ebony or sit in the kitten room and let nine kittens crawl on you, if that’s what you need. You’re my friend too.”

That made my eyes well up again. Stupid eyes. I rasped out, “Thanks,” and ended the call.

Now what?I should think about how I’d approach Shane if I got the chance, but my skin felt raw and my thoughts bounced off the walls of my skull. Dinnertime was approaching, but I didn’t want to eat.

My phone rang in my hands. I gasped a breath, but of course, it wasn’t Shane. He didn’t have a phone, or my number.Melissa.

“Hey, Theo,” she said when I answered. “Sorry to bug you late on a Friday afternoon, but we had a problem with the inspection.”

“You’re kidding me.” Although a problem I could actually handle came as a relief of sorts. I focused my attention on real estate. “What?”

“I forwarded you the report. If you want to meet with the inspector to go through his concerns, he has time tomorrow at noon.”

“Is this some kind of play to make us drop the asking price after the fact?”

“Read the report. Shall I tell him you’ll be here tomorrow?”

I didn’t want to leave town with Shane back out on the streets. On the other hand, what was I going to do? Cruise up and down, hoping I’d spot him? And then what? That sounded creepy. Maybe going away for a day would be a smart thing. Help me get my head on right. “Yeah, tell him I’ll be there.”

“See you at noon, then.”

“Yep.” I cut the call and stared down at my phone. I could pull up her email, but Ireallywanted to get out of this place.

At the door, I hesitated. I could lock it now, but if Shane came back, I wanted him to be able to get back in.I wish he’d taken the key. I wish…Grand-mère had a French saying about wishes. I shoved it back out of my brain, scanned the floor with my light, and found that spare key.I could put a name tag on it— “Shane’s”— show I meant it for him.

I’d think about that later, too. Shoving the key in my pocket, I slipped out and made sure the door was shut but not locked. I’d go home, shower, and pack for a couple of days. Not too long, though. I’d be back.

CHAPTER11

SHANE

I hadn’t plannedto show up at Arthur’s, but after four days of busking and sleeping rough, what I missed was conversation. Well, and Theo, and sex, but mostly just another damned human being who knew my name and cared what I thought. Just a couple of weeks spent with Theo and I’d gotten fucking soft and needy.

Arthur pulled his door wide. “Come on in.”

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