Page 118 of Burn Bag

“No, I don’t. I’ll just get rides when other people are going out.”

“And what if no one wants to take you?”

“Then I’ll get a taxi.”

My eyebrows shot up in surprise. “In this small town? Where’s the taxi coming from?”

“Kansas City,” she snapped.

“Do you have any idea how expensive that would be?”

“Yes,” she fumed, “but there is no way I’m getting behind the wheel of a vehicle again!”

I knew this was going to be hard on her, but it had been over two weeks since the accident and she was still just as determined as the day it happened to never get behind the wheel again.

“Baby—”

“Don’t you dareBabyme. I said I’m not doing it.”

“And what if I’m injured and need to get to the hospital?”

“That’s what ambulances are for.”

“What if an ambulance isn’t available?”

She barked out an incredulous laugh. “Unavailable? That’s what they do. They answer emergency calls!”

“What if there’s a major accident somewhere and all the ambulances in the county are at that site? Are you going to leave me bleeding out on the floor?”

Snarling, she held up her fingers. “One, you work with medics. I’m sure one of them could tend to your wounds. Second, we live on a property with a bunch of ex-Army Ranger action heroes. I’m sure one of them could figure out how to drive you to the hospital. And three?—”

I quirked my eyebrow, waiting to hear what three was. “Yes?”

“Well, I don’t have a number three yet, but I’m not getting behind the wheel and you can’t make me!”

She turned and marched up to the room, slamming the door behind her. I winced at the sound and sat down in my chair, sighing when Tigger jumped into my lap. The little Ashera cat had become my friend over the past few weeks, snuggling up to me any chance he got. There were still way too many cats in the house, even though Daphne had been able to find homes for all but five of them.

And if I was being honest, I was getting used to having the cats around, even if I was still terrified they would use my balls as chew toys. But this guy was okay. “You still love me, don’t you, Tigger?”

I rolled my eyes. Great, I was talking to a cat. That was fucking perfect.

When the doorbell rang, I got up to answer it, letting Tigger crawl up my arm until he was wrapped around my neck. His tail swatted at my face playfully as I pulled the door open.

“Christ,” Eli muttered. “She got to you.”

I stepped aside as he shoved through the door. “Got to me, how?”

“You have a fucking cat around your neck.”

“Yeah, I do. He’s a cute little guy.”

“Well, you have to take ours back. He’s a demon cat.”

I found that hard to believe. “I’ve been living with all the cats for weeks. They’re not that bad.”

“Not that bad?” he laughed. “Do you remember what happened to you?”

“Yes, I remember, but they’re just kittens. They’re just playing.”

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