Chapter 23
Erin
The sudden chorus of desperate meows pierced through the post-coital silence, jarring me back to reality.
I bolted upright, guilt flooding through me as the tiny ball of fur inside her makeshift bed looked up with wide, imploring eyes.
"Oh no, poor Nyx. You must be starving." I quickly slipped into my clothes that lay scattered around the room.
I scooped up the kitten, pressing her gently against my chest.
"Hey, do you think it's okay if I give her some tuna?" I asked Ashton, who was threading his arms through the sleeves of his wrinkled t-shirt. He glanced at the kitten, a hint of concern in his eyes.
"It's not ideal, but yeah, she can have a little to hold her over until we get some proper kitten food." His face softening as he watched me cradle the hungry creature. "Just make sure it's only a bit. We don't want to upset her stomach."
Descending the stairs, the kitten nestled in my arms, I could already smell the coffee brewing. Laurie was humming a tune in the kitchen, her back to us as she poured herself a mug. She turned at our footsteps, and her eyes instantly widened at the sight of the kitten.
"Aw, look at this little one," Laurie cooed, abandoning her coffee to come closer. "What's her name?"
"Nyx." I smiled despite my worry about leaving her side. It would only stress her out taking her to the pet store with us.
"Hi, Nyx." Laurie chuckled, reaching out to let the kitten sniff her finger. Nyx's tiny body vibrated with purrs. "She's so precious. Where'd you find her?"
"Under the front porch," I said with a grin. "We actually need to get her some supplies. Would you mind watching her for a bit?"
Laurie's face lit up like it was Christmas morning. "Would I? Oh, my gosh, I'd love to. Go, go—I've got everything under control here."
"Thanks." I handed over the kitten.
Ashton touched my arm gently. "She'll be fine with Laurie. Let's go get what she needs."
I nodded, casting one last glance at Nyx, who seemed content in Laurie's arms. We stepped outside into the warm morning air, and I followed Ashton to his gray SUV. He opened the passenger door for me, and I climbed in, my thoughts lingering on the tiny creature we'd left behind.
As we drove toward town, the only pet store within miles coming into view, I felt an odd twist in my gut.
It was silly to feel so attached so quickly, but Nyx had clawed her way into my heart with her tiny paws and needy meows.
I resolved to make this trip quick; Nyx needed me, and I needed to make sure she had everything to start her new life right.
The aisles of the pet store were narrow, a maze of colorful packages and enticing squeaks from toys designed to delight any feline.
Ashton led the way, his shoulders broad with an easy confidence in his step.
I trailed just behind him, my fingertips brushing against the soft fabric of his shirt, tracing the muscles of his back as I walked around him to examine a row of plush mice.
"Think she'd like these?" I asked, my voice a murmur.
"Definitely." He turned to face me, his hand finding its way to my side, a light but possessive touch that sent warmth cascading through me.
We moved together, our bodies gravitating toward each other with an unspoken agreement.
The casual touches evolved into something more; his fingers lingering a moment longer, my hand resting on his arm as we debated over collars and name tags.
It was intimate in a way that shopping never had been before, yet there we were, unable to keep our hands to ourselves, wrapped up in the newfound connection between us.
"Look at this one." I held up a tiny pink collar adorned with rhinestones. "Nyx would look adorable in it."
"I think she's more of a leather and spikes kind of girl," Ashton said with a grin, selecting a black collar with a single, shiny bell attached.
"Compromise?" I picked out a simple red collar.
"Perfect."
We filled our cart with an array of toys—a feather wand, a tunnel, and even a little motorized mouse that scurried when activated. Then came the essentials: clumping litter, a sleek litter box, and both wet and dry food tailored for kittens.
"Should we get some of this kitten milk?" I asked, holding up a carton. "Just to make sure Nyx gets all the nutrients she needs?"
"Good idea," Ashton said, and I tossed it into the cart. "She's probably old enough not to need it, but if she's been hungry, she might be a little malnourished."
"Feels like we're new parents stocking up for our first child," I said, but the thought made my heart flutter with a strange, unexpected joy.
"Seems like it." He chuckled, his hand brushing mine as we steered the cart toward the checkout line. Our eyes met, and I saw the reflection of my own feelings mirrored there—the excitement, the tenderness, the sense of embarking on something new and wholly unexpected.
With our purchases made, we headed to the SUV, our steps in sync and the bags rustling between us. I was eager to return home, not just to Nyx, but to explore whatever was blossoming between Ashton and me.
We stepped out of the pet store, a slight breeze tousling my hair as I juggled the bags in my arms. Ashton reached over to help, but our movement halted at the sight of a familiar face.
"Hey, Ashton. Erin," a voice said. We turned to see Skye waving us over with a broad smile on her face. Beside her stood a man with a small bundle of fur wriggling in his arms.
"Drake, hey," Ashton said with equal warmth. "What do you have there?"
"Meet the newest member of the family." Drake lowered the puppy so we could get a better look. The little creature licked at my fingers, and I couldn't resist the coo that escaped my lips.
"Isn't she adorable?" I turned to Ashton, who nodded, a soft smile playing on his lips.
"Erin, this is my best friend, Drake. Drake, Erin," Ashton introduced us, and Drake offered me a hand, which I shook lightly, still distracted by the puppy's playful nips.
"Nice to meet you, Erin," Drake said. "I just adopted this little one from the shelter. I figured since I'm back in town for a while, I could get me a dog."
I glanced between Ashton and Drake, piecing together their shared history in my mind. "So, you both were out of town?" I asked, a bit puzzled.
"Sort of a joint adventure, you could say," Drake said with a chuckle, looking over at Ashton, who had an unreadable expression on his face.
"Interesting." Curiosity bubbled inside me, but something in Ashton's demeanor suggested he wasn't ready to dive into that story, so I let the conversation drift to the pets we'd each welcomed into our lives.
"Bye, Skye. Nice to meet you, Drake. Enjoy the puppy." I waved as they walked away with their new furry friend.
"Ready to head back?" Ashton asked, his hand finding its way to the small of my back again.
"Sure," I said, though my mind was still turning over Drake's comment. "So, you and Drake both just got back into town?"
Ashton let out a soft laugh, the corner of his mouth lifting in that half-smile I found so endearing. "Yeah, it's a funny coincidence, huh?"
"Is there a story there?" I probed gently, hoping for a bit more.
"Maybe," he said, his eyes locking onto mine before he glanced away and changed the subject. "Let's get home. Nyx is probably wondering where we are."
I felt a twinge of frustration at his evasiveness but decided not to push it. We were still treading the waters of our new relationship, and if there was something he wasn't ready to share, I could respect that. Still, the unanswered questions lingered like shadows at the edge of my thoughts.
We arrived home, and as soon as we walked through the door, Nyx in Laurie's arms her meowing filled the space. She sounded more demanding than distressed, and I smiled at her tiny, authoritative voice.
"She started as soon as she heard you coming up the stairs," Laurie said apologetically.
"She’ll have heard Erin’s voice, recognized her savior." Ashton explained, taking the small kitten into his large hands.
"Look at all this stuff we got for you, little one," I cooed as we set down bags filled with kitten supplies.
"Here you go, baby." Ashton opened a can of wet food and scooped some onto a small plate. "Not too much now. You'll overeat and give yourself a belly ache."
Nyx dove into the food with gusto, and I laughed, watching her tiny tongue lap up every morsel.
Ashton's gentle tone and the careful way he watched over Nyx made warmth spread through my chest. Despite the lingering curiosity about his past, those little moments showed me more of who Ashton was than any story could.
"Easy there, Nyxie." Ashton stroked her back as she ate. "You have to wait a little bit longer before you can have more."
The sight of this big, powerful man being so tender with a kitten melted my heart. It was in those quiet moments I felt myself falling even deeper for him.
"Aw, Ashton, can we give her a bit more?" Laurie asked, as we watched Nyx finish the last bits of her meal, licking the plate like she could make more appear.
"No," he said without looking up from unpacking a scratching post. "She needs to digest that first."
"All right." Laurie wandered to her room while I sat down on the kitchen floor next to Nyx. Her small body vibrated with purrs as she nuzzled into my hand.
"Could you grab the litter box?" Ashton's voice pulled me out of the moment.
"Sure." I stood and fetched the box from one of the bags. We worked together, setting up Nyx's new space in the laundry room off the kitchen in silence.
"Let's show her where it is so she knows," I said.
Nyx sniffed around the box, her tiny nose twitching curiously. She stepped in, then out, seemingly satisfied with the discovery.
"Looks like she's going to be just fine," I said.
"Yeah, she's a smart little gal." Ashton smiled, and I wanted to run my fingers along the little smile lines that appeared.
The warmth returned to my chest, watching him with Nyx. It was easy to forget the questions that had been nagging at me earlier. For now, this was enough.