Page 105 of The Pushy Pixies Are Going Down
Win was already sitting down. I opened my mouth to ask him about the damn marshmallows, but he was on the edge of the loveseat with a cat wand toy in his hand, making Odin run around in circles while he giggled.
Giggled.
That giggle made me stop in my tracks and stare.
It wasadorable. Holy crap.
I set down my haul, covering the coffee table with snacks, and sat down for the long haul.
The second my butt hit the couch, Winter dropped the toy and moved over to sit beside me. He pulled me in close, and I settled into his side. I ended up with my back against his chest and side so I could lean my head against his shoulder and still watch the show without being at an awkward angle.
It was nice, this calm peacefulness I always felt when he touched me. This warmth inside my chest from the care and affection he showed.
We even had all three animals hanging out with us.
Goliath was on the couch on my other side, lying on my feet—something he did often and made Winter smile. The first fewtimes, he’d tried to get the Great Dane off me, but once he realized I didn’t mind, he was amused.
Sola was on her perch, playing with a ball and bell concoction that was hanging from a string. Winter had bought it for her last week, and it was now her favorite toy in the whole house. I was pretty sure she only liked it that much because it was from her favorite person—well, second favorite if you counted me.
And Odin was in Winter’s lap, curled up in a ball, asleep but still purring. He’d also taken a liking to my boyfriend. Win had bought him some toys and treats over the past few months, so he was his new best friend.
Not to be outdone, I’d been buying Goliath things too, which was probably why the giant liked to lie on my feet all the time, or sit so he was leaning against me. It was super sweet, and I kinda loved it.
Sitting here with Win and the three of them felt like… home.
Yes, we were technically in my house, but having them here with me somehow made the place feel even homier.
I wasn’t sure how else to explain this feeling of contentment I felt down to my marrow.
A knock on the door interrupted our peacefulness, making me startle so bad that I scared Goliath, and he almost fell off the couch.
“Oh my god, sorry, Golly.” I hopped up, and Winter smacked my ass as he reached for the remote to pause our show.
When I peeked out the peephole, I was surprised to find Aeson standing there. “It’s Aeson,” I called over as I opened the door. “Hey, Ace, you okay?”
The kid was biting his lip as he looked at me, and I startled again, but this time for a different reason. His eyes were red-rimmed, like he’d been crying.
“Come on in, kiddo.” I waved him in, and once he passed me, I stuck my head out the door, looking for Chaos. “Where’s your brother?”
“He had to work today.”
I looked out the door again and didn’t see their car. “How’d you get here?”
“Walked.”
That was a pretty far walk, for crying out loud.
“Hey, Ace,” Winter said, joining us near the front door.
I waved Aeson toward the living room. “Come on in. Have a seat.”
He bit his lip again, glanced at the three animals that Winter had somehow convinced to stay in the living room rather than rush the teen, then looked at me and opened his coat. “Um… I’m not sure I should go in there with this?”
I glanced at his chest, and my eyes widened. Right in his palm was a ball of fur. It only took a few seconds for me to realize I was looking at a tiny kitten. A really, really young kitten, from the looks of it.
I glanced at the animals waiting patiently for us, then gestured toward the dining room. “Maybe we should sit in here for now.”
Both of them followed me, and we settled at the table with the kitten tucked tight to Aeson’s chest.
