Chapter 12
12
MAY
“ I think I got myself a sugar daddy .” Mousey meows from the back seat. Her paws peek out the window. I spot Carson coming toward the car. His arms are loaded with bags. I snort a laugh and jump out of the car to help him.
“What?” Carson pauses.
“That’s more than what was on the list,” I point out. We stopped at the pet store to pick up a few things before we go by Carson’s place to drop Mousey and everything off before dinner. I’d given Carson a list of things she’d need in order for us to stay with him.
As much as I love animals, pet stores are not my favorite place. Not when there are rows of kittens and puppies begging to get out. I can’t resist going over to them, and then I’m heartbroken when I can’t rescue them all, especially when they sometimes beg me to take them with me.
At the shelter, it is different. I spend time with all of them and form some bonds. I know they are being taken care of, and we’re searching for their forever homes. The pet store is just so depressing.
“I wanted to make sure I got it all.” An almost sheepish expression crosses his face, making my insides melt.
The fact that mere hours ago he didn’t even like cats and now he is going out of his way for Mousey warms my heart. If I’m not careful, this man is going to make me fall in love with him. Carson reminds me of the husband you send out for cereal you’re craving from the store, and he returns home with ten boxes of all different kinds.
“You’ll turn her spoiled rotten,” I tease, opening the back so that he can put everything inside.
“ Don’t ruin this for me !” I roll my eyes at Mousey. “ No one treats me with this much respect in that other place. Let me have this .”
“It’s already starting.”
“What did she say?” Carson asks curiously.
“That she got herself a sugar daddy.” His eyebrows rise, making me laugh more. I shut the back. Carson, being a gentleman, once again goes around and opens my door for me.
“Thanks.” I slip back inside.
“ Now don’t get jealous that he’s buying me things .”
“I’m not jealous.” I’m smitten is what I am.
It doesn’t take us long to get to Carson’s place. I’m a bit taken aback when I step off the elevator into an open loft layout. The place is nice. Like, really nice. Everything is modern and updated. It gives off more of a staged feel because of how clean and minimal it is when it comes to the furniture. There aren’t many personal touches from what I can see at first glance. He did say he has a few homes, so I suppose he doesn’t spend much time here. It’s a far cry from what I’m used to back in California, though I’m perfectly happy with what I have. As long as I can give the shelter animals a promising life, that’s all I need.
“ Whoa .” Mousey lets herself jump right up on the couch. “ This place is swanky. A girl could get used to this .”
I glance over at Carson, expecting him to tell her to get her paws off the couch, but he doesn't. Not that she would listen. He brings in everything he bought, dropping some stuff by the elevator door and taking the rest into the living room area to place in the center.
I set my own bag down, along with a few of the bags I helped Carson carry up. “This place is really nice.”
Carson flicks his eyes around the loft like he’s taking it in for the first time and shrugs. “It works for what I need it for.”
I shift on my feet suddenly, feeling uncomfortable. I’m unsure of what he means by “what he needs it for.” Is it some sort of bachelor pad? The thought alone makes my stomach turn. Not only that Carson is rich. Not just well-off but rich . It’s a reminder that he’s so far out of my league.
“You okay?” Carson starts going through the bags and tosses out a cat toy that Mousey turns her nose up at.
“Yeah.” I go over and start digging into the bag too so I can get Mousey set up. Carson snags me by the wrist, stopping me.
“I got this. You should go get ready for dinner.”
“Get ready?” Does that mean there’s something wrong with what I’m wearing? I don’t think I have anything better. I hadn’t planned on doing anything fancy.
“I thought you might want to freshen up?” he offers.
“Right.” I step back, but Carson still keeps his hold on my wrist, so I don’t get far.
“ What the hell ?” Mousey pokes around at a stuffed bird. “ He’s trying to drug me !” she accuses, but that doesn’t stop her from flicking the bird off the couch and chasing after it. “Catnip!” Mousey scratches before pouncing on the stuffed bird. She rolls over onto her side, holding it with her front paws while her back ones kick at it.
“You got Mousey high,” I playfully accuse him.
“What?” Carson turns to see what she’s doing. I manage to slip my wrist free from his hold. “She’s playing.”
“Catnip!” Mousey screeches again, tossing the bird into the air before jumping and catching it before it can hit the ground.
“It’s got catnip in it.” I giggle. “The toy.”
“She’ll be okay, right?” He starts to gather up the other toys he got out already.
“It’s fine,” I reassure him. “I’ll go freshen up.”
“The bathroom is that way.” He points toward a hallway.
“Thanks.” I grab my bag and make my escape before Carson tries to interrogate me. I lock the bathroom door behind me. Not that it would stop Carson, I’m sure.
I worry my bottom lip between my teeth and dig through my bag to find another dress. I pull out my favorite holiday one, but it’s not fancy. It’s a soft green with red poinsettias on it. I sewed my own pockets onto it, which I tend to do to all my dresses.
When I put it on, I hate it now because I know it’s not going to be nice enough. What if I faked a headache, I ponder while brushing my hair.
Ugh. It won’t work. I’m the worst liar in the world. He’ll never believe me. It will show all over my face. I’ll turn firetruck red. I decide that I’ll suck it up. I can do this, I tell myself in the mirror. My face starts to heat.
I can’t even lie to myself.