Page 57 of Fall Hard

“Oh, no. No, I couldn’t.”

“You don’t have the room?”

“Well, I—”

“Or you’re too busy for the commitment?”

“No, I just—”

“You’d rather she went to someone else?”

“No,” I said somewhat sharply and then glanced down, my gaze ensnared again by the kitten. “Ky,” I decided, smiling at May. “Her name is Ky. Short for Valkyrie.”

“I love it.” May nodded approvingly and I laughed breathlessly as I jiggled Ky in my arms. Mine. She wasmine. “I own a cat,” I said wonderingly and May laughed.

“Almost, anyway. You can bring her back here with you when you work if you like, so we can keep an eye on her together.”

I signed the contract she held out with a quick glance over it and reached below the desk to pull my card out of my bag. “Then let’s make it official.”

We stored the forms away in a locked cabinet beneath the desk before we took Ky back out to the kitten pen and left her there until I finished my shift.

“I can’t wait to tell Bryn.”

“You two will make excellent moms.”

I blushed. “Oh, we’re–we’re not together.”

“Sounds like you’ve got your work cut out for you then,” May said with a wink and I snorted.

“You have no idea.”

* * *

Kit and Leo met me after my shift, pulling up outside and honking once as if I couldn’t see the light blue truck out of the window of the shelter.

“Hey,” I called as I stepped outside, my arms full of kitten supplies. “Little help?”

Leo hurried around the side of his truck to grab some stuff and place it in the back. “Um, when you asked us to meet you here, I didn’t realize you would have an animal with you.”

“Don’t worry, Ky’s in a carrier.”

“Ky?” Leo said, eyebrows rising and Kit looked intrigued.

“IfKypoops in Leo’s car, he’s likely to have a coronary, just so you know,” he muttered to me as I shoved the rest of the kitten supplies onto the back seat.

I rolled my eyes as I turned away and headed back inside the shelter to collect Ky. “I’ll see you in a couple of days then, May?”

“Looking forward to it.”

I cooed at Ky in her carrier as I pulled open the door, the cool air sneaking in and making her dark eyes fly wide as she huddled at the back of her blankets.

“Is that…. a kitten?” Leo hesitantly peered inside, his blonde hair waving in the slight breeze and Kit brushed Leo’s hair back absently as he smiled at Ky.

“Yep, and she’smine.” I knew my grin was likely taking up the majority of my face and showing off all my teeth, but I didn't care. I’d started the day by dropping out of college and I’d finished it with a successful first shift at what was rapidly becoming my dream job, as well as a brand new kitten to look after.

“Bryn is going to freak out, she loves cats.” Kit gave me a shrewd look and I rolled my eyes.

“I did this for me, not her. But I’m glad it won’t drive her away.”

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