Page 19 of False Play
She walked to the back door and beckoned us with her finger to follow her. The room was spacious and full of cages with dogs of all sizes, most of them barking and wagging their tails excitedly. The lady continued to the back, where there was a private room with three cats hanging around a fluffy tower.
“Dude!” Hayes slapped my chest with the back of his hand and nodded at the top of the tower, where a big, fluffy black cat was curled up sleeping. And what do you know?It had white paws.
“That one.” I pointed at it. “Is he available?”
“He is, but…” She grimaced. “He has been returned a few times. He has a bit of a separation anxiety problem.”
“Our prayers have been answered!” Hayes clasped his hands, looking up at the ceiling.
The woman stared at Hayes like he’d lost his mind. To her credit, she was probably not far from the truth.
My shoulders sagged in relief. “I’ll take him.”
“Welcome home, Captain Sushi.”Hayes placed the cat crate in the foyer entrance and opened it.
The cat exited his crate, taking slow steps as he looked around, unsure of his surroundings. I left Hayes to deal with our new furry friend as I strode into the kitchen and dropped all the pet store shopping bags on the counters.
“You need anything else?” Hayes asked, striding into the kitchen with Captain Sushi in tow.
I cringed at the thought of the poor cat’s name. I should have changed it. But it suited him. His eyes were this beautiful, strange orange color. I swear, it was like the cat dropped from heaven itself to do me a solid.
“A time machine to go back in time and never meet you,” I grumbled as I took all the toys and food out of the bags.
“The way I see it, you’re a cat daddy now.” He leaned against the kitchen island and crossed one ankle over the other. “Cats are cute as hell, and you get to live with your crush.”
“A cat I did not ask for!” I shouted as I pointed to the pet in question. “And can you stop spreading lies around? Idon’thave a crush on Kennedy.”
Hayes gasped and picked Captain Sushi off the floor then blocked his ears. “He’s yourbaby, and he can hear you.” He brought the cat to his chest in a protective hug. “And please, if you want to live in denial, that’s fine by me. But youdohave a crush, and Ididdo you a favor,” he replied with a shrug as he gave me anI’m-right-and-you-know-itlook. “You can thank me when you read your vows at the wedding.”
“What fucking wedding?”
He stared at me with a blank expression. “Yours and Kennedy’s, of course.”
I closed my eyes and rubbed my temples. I was over the ridiculous conversation. “Get the fuck out before I kill you, Hayes. You’re giving me a pounding headache.”
“That’s no way to talk to the godfather of your child, you know.”
I gaped at him in disbelief. “Godfather?Ha. You can barely take care of yourself, idiot.”
He kissed Captain Sushi’s head. “Don’t listen to your daddy, he’s just nervous because your future mommy is moving in here.”
I took the cat from him and pushed him toward the exit. “Out.Now.”
I finally pushed him out the door and started to close it, but Hayes pushed it back, his head popping inside as he talked to the cat. “Don’t worry, baby. Uncle Hayes will be back in no time with treats and toys.”
“Get out, Hayes,” I growled, frustrated.
“Good lu—” He didn’t get to finish his sentence because I shut the door in his face. He pounded the door once as he shouted, “Dick!”
I rolled my eyes and looked at my new friend. “It’s just you and me now, buddy.”
How was my life even real? I still couldn’t believe I was a pet owner.
The big, fluffy cat looked at me with his majestic, orange eyes and tilted his head like he was trying to decipher my words, or potentially plot my murder.
“Please don’t kill me,” I mumbled and bopped his nose softly. “You’re kind of cute, and I don’t want to die.”
He simply meowed and jumped out of my arms.
