Page 57 of The Bones in the Yard

Pet, as I’d expected, was furious with me, setting up a yowl-fest as soon as I came in the front door.

“I’m sorry, baby,” I told her. “But you would not believe what happened.” I put some food in her bowl, which she all but attacked, although she kept yowling at me through the first few bites before the crunch of kibble became more important to her than yelling at me.

I stripped off my clothes, stuffing them directly into the washing machine, which I immediately started, then hit the shower.

Clean again, I dressed in jeans and a dark grey t-shirt before going to the kitchen to make coffee. While I waited, staring at the coffee maker as it gurgled, Pet decided I could be forgiven and wound around between my ankles.

My phone buzzed.

He okay?It was Ward.

Shaken up, broken wrist, but he’ll be okay, I texted back.

A minute or so later, Ward sent a response.Tell me you’re with him.

Feeding Pet, I replied.

You’re going back, though.

I winced. Even my fucking boss knew that I was a total self-sabotaging dickhead.Yep, I sent back. As soon as I could throw my laundry in the dryer.

Good. See you Monday maybe.

Well, that was a dismissal if I’d ever heard one. Especially since it was Thursday, and he’d just basically told me to take tomorrow off, too.

Call or text if you need me, I sent back. I wasn’t going to completely blow off my job. And there was probably at least something I could do from a laptop—which I should probably put in a bag and take over to Taavi’s. Just in case.

And then it occurred to me that I should probably give Pet extra food, too, just in case.

And maybe pack some clothes. Just a clean set.

And a toothbrush.

Hoo, boy, I had it bad.

11

I’d cavedand not only given Pet extra food, but a not-Sunday can of tuna, so she didn’t give two shits when I walked toward the door with a small duffel and a laptop bag. She had enough food and water that if I stayed another night with Taavi, she’d be more than fine.

I felt a little guilty about leaving her alone, but she’s a cat, for fuck’s sake. She was going to sleep and lay in a sunny patch and maybe bat a toy around for ten minutes. I’d make it up to her later. Probably with more tuna.

I wondered what she would make of Taavi.

And, honestly, what Taavi would make of her. He hadn’t said anything positive or negative about cats in general when I’d mentioned her, but that didn’t mean much given the shit he was dealing with.

Taavi hadn’t seemed to mind Ward’s cat, but he’d also been a dog at that point, so it wasn’t like he’d been able to express much of an opinion—especially since he wasn’t rude enough to be mean to some poor cat in a house where he was a guest.

But we’d deal with that hurdle when we got there. I might be a callous dick, but I’m not heartless enough to get rid of my cat just because my boyfriend might not like cats.

My… boyfriend.

The thought stopped me at the doorway, my hand on the knob.

Because I hadn’t had one of those in a very long time.

Dates, yes. Here and there.

But a boyfriend?

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