Page 77 of All I Want Is Love
They are a Maine Coon mix and will probably become huge cats. The orange one is my favorite, mainly because it’s clumsy and a little stupid. It’s adorable, and it clings to me a lot. “I will have a hard time letting you go, Cracker,” I mutter.
Leo gave them all food-related names, which is another adorable thing he did. “Leo really shaped my everyday life,” I tell Cracker. “I got so used to having him around, and I haven’t even known him for long.”
Cracker yawns, stretching his paws and showing off his cute little toe beans.
“You like him too, don’t you?” I ask. “And Barkley.”
Bernese Mountain dogs are such a kind breed. Barkley immediately took a liking to the cats, especially to bold, braincell-lacking Cracker. One afternoon, I even spotted him sleeping between Barkley’s huge paws.
“I don’t want him to leave,” I say.
My own words make me pause. “Oh fuck, that’s it, huh? I keep telling him that I don’t want to be in his way, but I can’t have him leave either.”
But how can I ask him to stay?
Cracker tilts his head and looks at me through his soulful eyes. “What about Barkley?” I ask. “Will Leo take him along? I don’t think he will be able to leave him behind.” I groan. “My god, I am going insane.”
I grab my phone again, contemplating my options for a moment, and then ringing the one person I know will always pick up no matter at what time I call.
Robin picks up on the fifth ring. He mutters and grumbles under his breath, and I can hear some rustling in the background. “Robin?” I ask.
“Is that really you, Soren?” he asks, sounding drowsy.
“Robin, what if Leo finds somebody better once he leaves?”
“For fuck’s sake, Soren,” Robin groans. “What… do you know how late it is?!”
I glance at my clock. “2 a.m.”
“Why are you still awake?”
“I just can’t sleep,” I say.
“And Leo?” he asks tiredly.
“He isn’t here,” I say. “He went with Aspen, and I think he is staying at his place.”
It’s quiet for a long while, making me believe Robin fell asleep again. “Robin?”
“I am still here.” Robin sounds a tad more awake and a lot more alert. “What did you do?”
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“Soren!” He groans. “You call me in the middle of the night, so you better tell me what you did. And why do you think Leo is going to date someone else?”
“Well, Michael offered him his job back,” I say.
“Yeah, we all caught up on that part,” Robin says. “And?”
I hesitate, not sure how to continue. Robin is right… And?
“He will leave,” I say quietly.
“Did he say that?” I hear Robin walking around and switching on his coffee machine.
“Not in words,” I admit.
“So, he didn’t say it,” Robin concludes. “I am still missing a crucial part, though. You talked during the fair, right?”
