Page 119 of Take My Love
“Would this be a bad time to tell you I’m gettin’ another one?”
“No…no way,” I argue, grabbing my sweats off the floor and aggressively putting them on.
“He needs a friend!” she whines, climbing out of bed with Teddy in her arms. “He’s lonely.”
“Then you be his friend. I—no…no more rats, please.”
“C’mon, what’s wrong with him? He’s so stinkin’ cute!” She squishes her face into his. “Just hold him.”
“Not gonna happen.” I shake my head and go out the door.
“Just one time!” She chases me down the hallway.
I can’t help laughing when we’re at a stalemate around the kitchen island. It’s so ridiculous, but I refuse to give in.
“Marjorie released him for a reason. She wants you to be his buddy.”
“Marjorie’s lucky I let her stay here.”
Posey scoffs. “You mean, you’re lucky she letsyoustay here.”
Crossing my arms, I roll my eyes. “Let’s compromise.”
“Whaddya have in mind?”
“I willpethim while you hold him.”
She playfully narrows her eyes and whispers to Teddy, presumingly to ask if he’s okay with that, and then she nods. “Okay, deal. But you gotta pet him for one minute.”
“Thirty seconds,” I counter.
“Forty-five.”
“Forty.”
“Forty-two and a half.”
“Fine.”
She beams, then walks him over to me. “Be gentle rubbin’ over his head and down his back.”
I hope she realizes how strong my feelings are that I’m willing to do this to make her happy. If it were literally any other animal, it wouldn’t bother me so much, but I fucking hate rats.
“Alright…start countin’.”
And she does, except she counts them in Mississippi, so it takes nearly twice as long.
“There, now he thinks you’re besties,” she praises once I’m finally off the hook.
“How wonderful,” I deadpan. “I’m gonna go boil myself in the shower now.”
“Sodramatic.”
Two hours later, Posey and I are downtown shopping for wedding attire. I’ve also been looking at home decor and furniture ideas since I still haven’t bought any, but I’ve not been eager about moving either.
“Any chance there’s space for two in there?” Posey smirks, scanning her eyes in the dressing room. “’Cause you in this shirt with the sleeves rolled up is makin’ my clit throb.”
“Jesus Christ,” I choke out a laugh at how unexpected her words were, but I’m not complaining.
