3. Chapter Three
Chapter Three
Sam
I’d almost given up hope of Soren returning when he reappeared—walking through the front door like a beam of sunshine.
His white hair shone in the light and his light-brown eyes always did funny things to my insides. He didn’t have a single line in his beautiful face, so I always wondered if he’d gone prematurely gray. Only his hair wasn’t gray—it was full-on white.
I swallowed. “Hey.”
“I’m back.” He grinned.
I gestured to the box. “Can I run them to the office?”
“Of course. Take all the time you need. Tibby and I can hang out.” He rested his hip against the counter and Tibby lay down at his feet.
“Great.” I scooped the box and headed to the office. I took only the time to get the kittens set up and then I hustled back to the front of the store.
Soren cocked his head. “Have you eaten?”
I blinked. “Huh?”
“When was the last time you ate, Sam?”
I squinted. Thinking was really hard today.
“Did you bring a lunch, or can I run out and get you something?”
“I’m fine.” Quick. Automatic. Anything that would get things moving along. He’d said he had an idea and then he’d disappeared. Is he going to bring it up? Am I supposed to bring it up? What’s the protocol for this situation? And, while I’m asking inane questions…when might I get to kiss him again?
That thought had tires screeching on pavement in my head. No. I didn’t want to kiss him again. The last time had ended disastrously. Why on earth would I want to do that again?
“If I grab you a sandwich, can you eat it? How about a protein shake you can sip?” Soren’s brow knit.
“I’m really okay. You said something about having an idea?”
The door opened and Mark strode into the store. He waved, then headed to the cat department. He could take care of himself.
Soren moved closer.
I held my ground.
“So, I called Noah.”
I frowned. “Uh, why?” Please let it not be about Christmas. I can’t handle that right now.
“Because I was asking about how to introduce Tibby to the kittens.”
My frown intensified.
Mark dropped a bag of kibble and a box of litter on the counter.
Mechanically, I scanned the items and gave him the total.
He peeled off the money.
I gave him the change.
He saluted and was gone. I’d never known him to be chatty, so I just waved.
In fact, I was only chatty to customers. Outside of the store, I was a downright disaster in the chitchat department. Small talk was not my friend.
I turned my attention back to Soren. “Tibby and kittens.”
“Right. Since I’m going to be helping you, and I can’t leave Tibby alone—” He squinted. “No, that’s not right. Tibby’s fine when I leave her alone. I just prefer not to.”
“You’re going to help me?” I rubbed my forehead. “How does that work?”
“Well—” He shut his mouth. Then he opened it. Tried to speak. Then closed it again.
“Look, I appreciate—”
“I’m just thinking they’d be better off at my place. I can feed them during the day and we can alternate at night. I mean, I guess I could bring my laptop to your place, but I don’t know your setup and—”
I waved my hand. “What are you talking about?”
“Helping you. You obviously can’t handle this alone.
And the kittens are so cute. I was just worried about how Tibby might be around them.
Noah assures me she’ll be fine, but he said he’ll come around tonight to help with the introduction.
So I’m thinking if you move in with me, then it’ll work best. You’ll have a longer commute to work each day, but you can handle that, right?
God, I didn’t even ask if you have a car.
Do you? I mean, you can certainly borrow mine.
Although that would leave me without transportation.
I live on Big Butte Lake. You know that, right?
Picturesque. But isolated. Are you okay—”
I waved my hand. I’d never heard so many words come out of his mouth before. Hell, out of anyone’s mouth. “You’re suggesting I move in with you?”
“Until the kittens are sleeping through the night.” He smiled. “Look, I know plenty of single people raise kids.”
I blamed the fact I couldn’t make the connection on lack of sleep.
“But if you can get help, then why not accept it?”
That was perfectly logical. Sound reasoning. Absolute brilliance.
It also fucking terrified me because being in his company for more than, like, ten seconds had me on edge.
Even as exhausted as I was, things felt like they were careening out of control.
Only maybe that was logical. I was never clearheaded when it came to Soren.
When I’d first spotted him, at Noah and Christian’s wedding, I’d been a goner.
When I discovered, quite by accident, that he was gay, I’d felt… hopeful.
Flirting with Noah had been easy. Whether because we were both Black or because Noah felt safe, I was never able to articulate. Soren didn’t feel safe. He felt anything but.
Still, I needed help. “Okay.” I let out a breath. “Moving in with you feels…extreme.” I scratched my scalp. “But you staying with me would be even more crazy. I have an SUV, so going back and forth isn’t a problem.” I sighed. “Is this really the answer?”
He nodded—as if this idea was no big deal. “Why don’t I arrange for Noah to come out to my place about seven? That gives you time to pack after the store closes and head my way.”
The door opened, and I customer I didn’t recognize stepped into the store.
Soren stepped back.
The lady with a shock of long, red hair approached me. “I just rescued a cat and although the shelter sent home a few supplies, I know I need more.” She pulled a sheet of paper from her massive purple purse. “Help?”
I smiled. “Sure.”
Soren waved. “Just before I go, can I get your phone number? I can text my address. Don’t worry about dinner and all that—I can take care of it.”
The lady glanced between the two of us. “Is this a bad—”
“Absolutely the perfect time. Rescue pets are the best.” I snagged her list. I took a few seconds to write my phone number on a sticky note, hand that to Soren, and then head to the cat aisle. I didn’t have a chance to say goodbye to him, but somehow, I knew he’d understand.
By the time the redhead left, I’d sold several hundred dollars’ worth of cat paraphernalia. I loaded everything into her car.
She gave me a hug—whether from nervousness at her new adventure or just sheer joy, I couldn’t be certain. Still, once she was on her way, I checked on the kittens, grabbed the crackers I kept for busy afternoons, and tackled doing some restocking between serving customers.
At some point, my phone buzzed. The text from Soren with an address and a reminder to just bring the kittens and whatever clothes I would need.
Oh, and anything else, and I would have my own bedroom, and…
In the end, the text proved to be as long and rambling as he’d been.
Why? He’s always so self-possessed. Does this have something to do with Christmas?
Avoiding the topic felt safe—that it would probably come up felt like an inevitability.
Five o’clock arrived. I packed up the kittens, set the alarm for the store and locked it up for the night. I did a quick run to the bank to deposit some cash, then I headed home.
During a lull this afternoon, I’d carefully created a list of everything I needed to bring with me.
That turned out to be helpful as I was almost asleep on my feet as I packed.
I fed the kittens once more, put everything in my SUV, and then headed to Soren’s.
A diet soda with caffeine helped keep me awake for the half-hour drive, but I knew I’d pay for that transgression tonight.
Is Soren going to comment on the fact I’ve lost weight?
I hadn’t specifically done it for him—because that was the least successful way to keep the weight off.
Nope. I’d gained the weight after the car accident—both while dealing with the pain of my injuries as well as the responsibility of caring for a grieving nine-year-old.
Food became my comfort. Now, ten years later, I came to the realization that I needed to improve my health.
For Quinta’s sake as well as my own. After Christmas, I’d invested in a set of weights as well as some good walking shoes.
Slow and steady had been my mantra, and my doctor had been thrilled when I’d seen her last month for my check-up.
All my numbers were looking better, and she was impressed with the weight loss.
To celebrate, I’d decided on a new haircut and, to my shock—as well as Quinta’s—adding some color.
The blond hadn’t quite turned out as I’d hoped.
Which my stylist had warned me about since I had black, curly hair.
Still, the golden color had been nice. For about a day.
Then I’d questioned what I’d been thinking.
Short of shaving my head, though, I was stuck.
Slowly, the color was growing out. Seeing the hairdresser to get a close cut was on my list of things to do in the next few weeks.
Goodbye golden whatever. Back to just curly black.
Yeah. And with the kittens? When are you going to find the time for that?
I didn’t know.
They were in a carrier that was secured with a seatbelt in the back seat. They had a hot water bottle, and I’d fed them just before we’d taken off.
My GPS directed me to turn onto a road that was a little rougher than the previous one. Civilization was long behind me at this point as I was outside the official boundary of downtown Foggy Basin.
I nearly missed the driveway for Soren’s cabin as he didn’t have a sign.
The trees were big, and the bushes were overgrown.
Almost like he doesn’t want visitors out here.
Oh God. What if he doesn’t want visitors out here?
That thought hadn’t occurred to me. He’d made the suggestion so casually—I assumed he regularly invited people out.
Maybe not virtual strangers with three kittens in tow, though.