Page 58 of Marcus in Retrograde
“Well, yes. I’ll strip the bed if you get the shower going.”
I tried to spring out of bed, but it didn’t work very well. My foot got caught on the dog at the side of the bed and I went down, dragging all the sheets with me. Pollux woofed indignantly as the sheets covered and trapped him.
“Shit, the kittens.” Marcus popped off the bed with ease after I had taken the sheets out.
He trotted into the living room, buck naked, covered with my release which did funny, primitive things to me—and damn that was a nicegood morningfor me, and laughed loudly.
“Chase, the kittens are learning to climb.” The amusement in his voice was undeniable.
I grabbed my boxers and slipped myself out of the sheets and into them. Snagging his, I walked over and handed them to Marcus.
The kittens had definitely learned to climb.
There was one hanging on the curtains on the window. Another had managed to get to the top of the bookcase. The last two were perched on a shelf above the couch.
Pollux barked and walked into the room. He sat down and barked again. Marcus shook his head, pulling his boxers on. “Well, let’s get them down. Then you can run the shower and I’ll join you quickly because you jump started the bed stripping.”
“I can jump start—”
His hand covered my mouth. “Shh. Shush. Keep those ideas for the shower.”
“Ooh, really?” I asked, walking into the living room, and heading for the curtains.
“It’s Saturday. The vet opens at nine, and it’s just past eight now,” he answered, heading for the bookshelf. “Keep your ideas for the shower.”
We were almost late for the consultation.
MARCUS
One month later…
“MC!” CHASE CHIRRUPEDWALKING INTO hisapartment.
I laughed, watching Pollux play fighting with Proust as MC sat on the back of the couch. Chase walked straight to her and she looked up at him. “Mrrrow?”
“How’s my baby kitty?” Chase scooped her up and cradled her against his shoulder.
“I’m good, mister human.” I mimicked a high-pitched kitty-ish voice. “I have shat in the proper place today, and didn’t break the skin on other mister human’s finger when he gave me my pills.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “Do you really think she sounds like that?”
“She’s a cat, Chase, she sounds like a cat. Some meowing, a few purrs, the occasional hiss, and gets scared by her own farts.”
“Hmph.” He turned and walked into his now-back to normal bedroom, making soothing sounds at his cat.
I shook my head and went back to stirring my risotto.
Two minutes later, he appeared in a light T-shirt, cargo shorts and no shoes, with MC following him back into the kitchen. “What did the vet have to say?”
“She’s fine,” I answered. “He’s thrilled with her results, and we just need to keep an eye on the incision and make sure it’s looking as good as it did today. Her blood came back perfect, and she’s even gained a half a pound, which made him unreasonably happy. He wants two more weekly checks and then we can go to a month.”
“And the other kittens?”
“I’m bringing Tarzan to Sorcha tomorrow. Princess and Bubbles are settling in with their new home perfectly.” I leaned over, and stared straight into his eyes. “Everything is fine, babe. Don’t stress. All the animals are perfectly fine.”
I was forever grateful that MC’s cancer had turned out to be a slow growing, self-contained tumor that the doctor was able to cut right out. She’d had some chemo to make sure that it was out of her system, and she was home with Chase. None of it was cheap, but Chase had a huge network of friends who chipped in and helped us pay for her care.
I was being sucked into the circle. I’d give Chase shit for all his friends, but I didn’t mind hanging around with all likeminded guys and girls in the group.
