Page 96 of Blindsided
“I still have my key,” I say, fingering the key in my pocket and knowing damn well I shouldn’t have used it but not giving a shite.
Allie hisses, “Mac, that is a gross misuse of that key. You and Freya aren’t even speaking right now. How do you think it’s okay for you to let yourself into her flat?”
“I have a present for her,” I reply, my hand gripping the handle nervously. “I need to give it to her right away. It can’t wait.”
“What kind of present?” Allie asks curiously.
I take a nervous breath before replying. “I bought her a rescue kitten, all right? I got it from this guy Roger who we both know, and I have this wee thing with me now, and I just need to find Freya.”
There’s silence on the other end of the line. “Mac, you can’t just give her a kitten. Not after everything that’s happened. It’s only been a week since your grandad’s funeral. Give her some time.”
“I’m not just giving her a kitten, Allie,” I growl and flinch when I realise how angry I am. “I’m trying to win her back. I love her, Al.”
Allie inhales sharply. “I’m happy to hear you finally say what we’ve all freaking known for the past year, Mac.”
“I get it, Allie. I’m an idiot. I’m trying to make it right, so will you please tell me where she is?” I ask, not even trying to hide my desperation.
There’s a pause, and I don’t like the sound of it. “You’re not going to like what I’m about to tell you.”
“What?” I ask, my jaw clenching in preparation.
“She’s on a date.”
“With who?”
“Some Tinder guy. They’re at The Rooftop St James restaurant. I’m on call if she needs a rescue.”
“Christ,” I growl under my breath, my muscles tensing at the thought of Freya being on a fucking date. Also, what is it with her and rooftop dates? “Has she been on a lot of these dates?” I ask, terrified of her answer.
There’s a quiet pause on the other end that I do not like the sound of. I begin murmuring my displeasure, and Allie interrupts. “Mac, what are you going to do?”
I swallow the knot in my throat, and reply, “Whatever it takes.”
As soon as I hang up, an orange figure strides out from the darkened hallway. It’s Hercules stalking straight towards me with slow, measured steps like he’s preparing to pounce.
I drop down on my knees, setting the pet carrier beside me. “Easy, lad. I’ve just come to bring you a friend.”
Hercules turns his blue eyes from me to the pet cage on the floor beside me and approaches it with great caution. The wee kitten releases a high-pitched meow, and Hercules jumps but doesn’t run away. Instead, he leans his nose forward and touches his nose to the metal cage and lets out the loudest, most contented purr I’ve ever heard.
“Do you like him, Hercules? Do you want to meet him?” I ask, reaching out and running my hand down the wee monster’s back. He curls into my hand and then lays down in front of the cage, placing the pads of his paw on the door, almost like he’s asking me to open it.
With a wry grin, I reach over, and the cage door squeaks as I open it, freeing the small, fluffy grey kitten out of his pen.
He pounces playfully in front of Hercules, who’s watching him like a hawk. When the wee kitty steps closer to the big orange, overweight monster, Hercules does something I never expected.
He rolls on his back and opens his paws to the kitten. The kitten pounces, his tiny toothpick-like teeth gnawing into the big cat’s ear playfully. Hercules lays there like a corpse, letting the wee thing have his way with him as though this is just a normal Tuesday.
“Are you two going to be pals?” I ask, reaching out and rubbing Hercules’s cheek.
He replies with a thunderous purr, and I bite my lip excitedly. This is a sign. A really good sign.
I’m on a date.
I’m on a date on my birthday.
This must be what thirty-somethings do, right? They swipe right and meet complete strangers in a restaurant to hide the fact that it’s their birthday, and they have no one special to spend it with?
To be fair, Allie tried to plan a party for me. Begged, even. I was able to push her off until the weekend when I told her that I had a date lined up for the night. I know I should be spending my birthday with people I’m close to, but I honestly just wanted this date. On this day. It feels like a sense of accomplishment to be back out in the world and dating after everything that happened with Mac.
