Page 9 of Romanced By the Rat
“If you’ll have me,” I reply, hand over my heart, just as I was told.
“Oh, um.” She tucks a strand of dark hair behind her ear, and her eyes dart nervously. This was a horrible idea. What does this fucking rat know? I’m being too forward, scaring her away.
“I’d love to!” Her voice cracks slightly.
Ramsay whispers more orders. “How about tomorrow at noon? We can have a picnic at Ghostlight Falls.” The town’sfamous waterfall stands right on the other side of Ratcliff’s overlooking the water tower. It’s a great suggestion on Ramsay’s part—romantic, unique, secluded. My mind wanders to forbidden places, and my slacks tighten.
“That sounds wonderful.” She beams, hands clasped together.
“Great! It’s a date. In the meantime, I’ll put in an order for ratatouille and some Honey Holes.” I back up and wink before turning and walking back to the server station. “We fucking did it!” I whisper once I’m out of earshot.
“Yep,” Ramsay replies. “Now you just have to not fuck it up for your date tomorrow and the rest of your life.”
My heart beats faster. “Wait, no. I can’t go on the date on my own. You have to come with me.” I type in Charlotte’s order on the POS, almost hitting the wrong button, but Ramsay pulls my finger to the correct spot.
“What are you going to do? Wear this little hat on your date?”
I think for a second. “I can wear a baseball hat. I’ll cut out a hole and insert mesh so you can see!” Maybe I’m not an idiot after all.
Ramsay’s silent for a moment, and I resist the urge to beg again. Having him near makes me a more confident man. Of course, this can’t last forever, but I just need him until I’m comfortable around Charlotte. Then I’ll be able to take the reins of this relationship.
He sighs. “Fine. It’s not like I have anything better to do.”
“I could kiss you right now.”
“Please don’t.”
I laugh.
“Okay, Romeo. Let’s see if I can’t help you make a decent amount of money tonight.” He yanks me away from the computer and to the drink station. I’d almost forgotten that I had an entire shift to work tonight. Somehow, the thought isn’tas terrible as it was when I clocked in. I won’t be alone. I’ve got a furry companion guiding me around this war zone.
Chapter six
Ramsay
Istand outside Ratcliff’s entrance, my stomach in knots. Jeremy should be here any moment, but my mind can’t stop whirling with worst-case scenarios. What if he forgot to set his alarm clock? What if he gets into a car accident? He’s a grown man who spent his entire life without my guidance, but after last night, I don’t know how he made it so far without me.
To give him credit, he’s not completely incompetent. I don’t think he realizes how wound-tight he is. His nerves heighten and completely take over all of his cognitive reasoning. Thank God he decided to pursue bodybuilding instead of joining the military. He’d find some way to bomb the whole town.
We spent four more hours together last night. Not only did he secure a date with Charlotte because of me, but he also had his best night of serving yet, walking away with 300 dollars in his pocket. The guy is anything but ungrateful. He wouldn’t shut up about how much easier the night was with me guiding him away from mishaps. He seemed so excited to use his money to help fund his future bodybuilding competitions. We talked about our hobbies; I with people-watching, and he with working out andletting others judge him. We’re nothing alike, but we make a tolerable company.
He offered to share half of his earnings with me, saying he wouldn’t even have made ten dollars without me. I declined, because what the fuck am I going to do with money as a rat? But I appreciated the gesture. I can’t deny that the night benefited not only Jeremy. I crawled back to my makeshift nest in the attic above the refrigerators, feeling fulfilled and excited for a new day. I can’t remember the last time I fell asleep so easily—not even as a human.
We made plans to meet at the entrance of the restaurant, where Jeremy would pick me up before his picnic date with Charlotte. I gave him a detailed list of what to pack, but I have little faith in his ability to follow it. I would have insisted on coming home with him so I could ensure the shopping and packing went smoothly, but we had just met. I didn’t want to sign up to be this guy’s pet yet. I enjoyed the ounce of my independence I still had.
Just as I’m about to start yanking my fur out with worry, I catch Jeremy pulling up in his beat-up Volkswagen. He swerves in the spot closest to the entrance and stumbles out, an avalanche of water bottles following him. I shake my head as he grabs the picnic basket from his trunk and walks toward me, stopping once he realizes he forgot something and turning to retrieve a baseball hat from his back seat. His face lights up after searching the ground near a tall flower pot and catching me. “Hi! Sorry, I’m late. I couldn’t figure out what to wear.”
I size him up. His cream button-down, paired with tan shorts, was a good choice, except that the buttons don’t line up and the hem is crooked. We don’t have time for adjustments, so I remain silent as he picks me up and shows me his hat, which he stayed up late last night to cut out the black canvas in the front and replace it with a tight mesh. From the outside, it’s completelyindistinguishable, and I’m surprised when he places me on his curly locks and covers me, and I can still make out the outside in front of me. I suppose the guy is skilled in arts and crafts. Who would have known?
“Where are you meeting her?” I ask as Jeremy starts toward the pebbled road leading away from the restaurant and to the crashing water in the distance.
“Near the entrance.”
“Nice.”
“Was that sarcastic?”
“I mean, you could have offered to pick her up, but by the state of your car, I’m guessing that wouldn’t have been a good idea.”
