Chapter 41 Bookish Dates and Kitten Adoptions
Bookish Dates and Kitten Adoptions
Keaton
“I can’t believe she had another movie made from one of her books,” Charlie chats happily as we come out of the theatre. “Her books are amazing! Have you read any of them?”
Her joy is infectious as she skips into the open mall, her energy swirling around us and tugging a smile from me that I can’t hold back.
“Well, have you read anything by Chaya Hughes before? She’s big, Kea.
Huge. Best horror author I’ve ever read.
” She spins to me, her smile stretching.
“And guess what she mentioned to her readers?” Charlie bounces over to me, her hands smacking against my chest. “A dark romance. Her first ever romance, Keaton. How cool is that?”
When was the last time I saw her this alive? That unmistakable sparkle in her eyes feels like a sunrise I thought I’d never see again.
It’s proof of her journey, a testament to the healing she’s fought for these past two years.
Watching her now is nothing short of breathtaking.
She’s so fucking beautiful.
“No, beautiful. I've never read anything of hers, but I’ve watched all the movies based on her work. Does that count?”
“Boo,” she says, sticking out her tongue. “Everyone knows the books are always better, dragon boy.”
Hearing the familiar nickname has my heart jerking in my chest. She said it without hesitation, which was another sign of her healing.
I asked her once why she gave me the nickname.
She said that because I was always so fierce in protecting her.
In making sure nothing could touch her. She said I guard her as ferociously as a dragon does his treasure.
Just remembering that sends shame coursing through me because I let her down.
I failed her. I was no longer her dragon because a dragon would have never willingly given up their treasure.
To know that she’s feeling secure enough to call me that again, given her reason for blessing me with the name in the first place, sends so much hope through me that I stagger under the weight of it.
Charlie steps away and moves to my side as we walk through the mall.
The loud chatter of shoppers, music playing overhead, and the clang of businesses fill the air. Sweet and savory scents from the food court drift over, making Charlie's stomach rumble.
I chuckle and drape my arm over her shoulder as we head for the food court.
I pick at fries, content to watch Charlie devour her meal.
Afterward, I slip my arm around her waist as we wander the mall, pausing to browse or buy whatever we like.
When Charlie admires something and leaves it, I quietly double back later and sneak it into our bags, loving the secret joy of surprising her.
Charlie pulls us to a stop in front of a bookstore. “Can we stop here?”
“Depends,” I answer, reaching out to grab the bags from her hands.
“On?” Her eyes sparkle with excitement.
“If you’ll make a deal with me.”
She tilts her head to regard me. “What kind?”
“I give you two minutes, and you get as many books as you can. When the timer goes off, that’s it. I’ll buy you all the books you end with.”
“Are you for real?” she breathes.
“Think you can get a few books?”
“A few? Oh, baby. Don’t make a deal like this with a bookworm unless you’re prepared to spend a few hundred.” She turns on her heel and marches into the store. “Basket or cart?”
I shrug. “Your choice. I’ll even be nice and push or carry it.”
Charlie smirks and grabs the cart. “I’m feeling lucky.”
Sliding my phone from my pocket, I pull up the timer. “You ready?”
Eagerness and determination light up her face as she grips the cart handle, her eyes darting across the shelves like a hunter zeroing in on her prey.
“Ready.”
I step up to her back, leaning down until my mouth brushes her ear. “Go.”
Charlie shivers, then bolts with a delighted squeal, making me laugh out loud. I chase after her with the cart as she sweeps books from the shelves in wild, gleeful armfuls.
I check in with her every thirty seconds, taking delight in the way she lets out this half-laugh, half-squeal sound each time.
It’s impossibly cute, and I silently vow to do whatever it takes to keep her this happy. This is the version of her the world deserves to see.
“Five…four…”
She runs through the store as I count down, swiping books from shelves that catch her eye. Employees and other shoppers watch us with soft little smiles, Charlie’s happiness pulling them in.
“Three…two…one.”
She tosses one more book in at the last second, then she leans against the cart with harsh breaths.
I’m not even a little surprised she’s filled more than half the cart. Honestly, I hoped she would. Spoiling her is my favorite thing.
Charlie fidgets, her hands twisting tighter as the total climbs. I quietly turn the screen away, then gently lift her chin so her eyes meet mine.
My thumb drifts along her skin as I keep her eyes on me. “Do books make you happy?”
“Yes.”
I lean in and brush my lips over her nose. “Making you happy is what matters most to me. Let me do this. It’s only money, beautiful, and I can’t take it with me when I die.”
The employee starts to say the total, but I shake my head and pay. I'm not wealthy, but the thousand dollars I just spent on books for my girl won't hurt me much. Honestly, I'd go broke if it made her happy.
Arms overflowing with bags, we head for the exit until Charlie spots the pet shop sign. She juggles her haul and tugs me to a sudden stop.
“Oh, no,” I say with a laugh, shaking my head. “No animals.”
Charlie peers up at me with begging eyes, her bottom lip poked out.
“No,” I repeat.
She steps closer, her lashes fluttering. “Please, dragon boy?”
Fucking not fair.
“Dammit,” I laugh. “Fine, let’s go.”
Charlie giggles, rises on her toes, and plants a quick kiss on my lips, leaving me frozen in place.
My heart hammers in my chest. It always shocks me when she initiates contact between us.
She tugs on my hand, pulling me from my stupor. “Come on.”
It’s harder to navigate through the crowded area with our hands full. I keep Charlie between my arms as best as I can so she doesn’t get knocked around too much. She stops in front of an area with an ankle-height white wooden fence. Kittens run, jump, and play throughout the space.
I feel myself melt just watching Charlie dissolve into pure joy in front of the kittens.
“Keaton, look at them,” she coos, setting her bags on the floor and squatting in front of the fenced area.
“I see them, beautiful.”
“Sit down,” she orders.
“Yes, ma’am.”
The moment I sit beside her, a tiny black kitten with blue eyes charges over and bats at my pant leg, then dashes away, only to spin and race back for another playful attack. This time, I scoop up the little troublemaker, peek under her belly, and laugh.
“You’re a feisty little thing, aren’t you, girl?”
“Bunch of high jinks,” Charlie croons.
She scratches the kitten’s chin, laughing when tiny teeth nip at her fingers. We fall into a comfortable silence, lost in play with the little ball of fur.
Then Charlie pulls the kitten into her arms and peeks over at me with pleading eyes.
“No,” I state, somewhat firmly.
Her little lip pokes out again as she pulls the kitten towards her face and turns them both to me.
“No, Charlie.”
Charlie edges closer, rests her head on my shoulder, and deposits the kitten in my lap. The little one kneads my thigh, spins in a circle, and curls up against me. I try to set her down, but she keeps returning, head-butting me for attention.
“She likes you,” Charlie says quietly.
“And I like her, but what the hell am I going to do with a cat? If you want her, you should take her.”
“But she likes you.”
“Dammit, Charlie,” I mutter, giving the little rascal a scratch under the chin as she prances back to me.
Charlie chuckles and brushes a kiss against my cheek. “I’ll go get a worker to let them know you want this one.”
I wrap one of my hands around the back of Charlie’s neck and hold her in place. “You’ve got me wrapped around your fucking finger. You know that?”
Charlie’s eyes warm as she softens against me. “I didn’t know.”
“If it makes you happy, then I’ll do everything I can to give it to you.”
She swallows hard and leans her forehead against mine. “I…I…”
I don’t know what she’s struggling to get out, but I lift a finger between us and put it over her lips. “You don’t need to say anything, Char. I just wanted to be honest with you.”
Charlie pulls her head back and lifts her hand to cup my cheek. “You’ve come a long way, do you know that? I’m proud of you.”
Heat hits my cheeks, and I shrug. “I didn’t like who I was when I looked in the mirror anymore.”
She pulls away with a huge smile. “Well, I happen to like the man I’m looking at now.” She glides her mouth against mine quickly again before leaning away. “I’m going to get the paperwork for you to adopt her now.”
I shake my head at the kitten as Charlie disappears into the store.
“I’m absolutely crazy about that woman. I can’t believe I ever messed up and lost so much time with her.
” The kitten purrs as I stroke her dark fur.
“You’ll need a name, won’t you? What do you think?
” She bats at my fingers, nipping before pushing them away.
“Jinx. Those eyes are full of mischief.”
The kitten scrambles up my chest and perches on my shoulders, her tiny tongue flicking out to lick my cheek.
I laugh. “You like Jinx, huh? It suits you perfectly.”
I can’t believe I’m actually going home with a damn kitten.
But it’s that look Charlie gets in her eyes when I make her happy.
I crave it, I live for it. She’s always been easy to please, with simple requests and never too much.
I failed her when I let Rianna into our lives.
Charlie never asked me to end that friendship, but she made her discomfort clear.
The rest was on me, and I let her down. Never again. Not if I can help it.
“Okay. So, I filled out as much as I could. You’ll have to fill in the rest and then sign. Then you need to pay the adoption fee,” Charlie says, interrupting my thoughts.
Her happiness is evident as she holds out the clipboard. “I can’t believe you’re adopting a kitten.”
I laugh and wrap my fingers around her ankle with a gentle squeeze. “We are.”
“What?”
“We’re adopting a kitten. I’ll keep Jinx at my place, but she’s our kitten.”
Charlie drops to her knees beside me and brushes her fingers through Jinx’s fur while keeping her eyes on mine. “We’re getting a pet together?”
I can’t tell from the tone of her voice if she’s happy about that or not, so I backpedal. “She can just be mine if you don’t want to get her together. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have assumed you’d be okay with it.”
“Stop,” she says softly, reaching her hand out to brush her fingers over my cheek. “I think I’d like to get a pet together.”
“It’s not too soon?”
Charlie glances at Jinx and then back at me. “It’s a step, Keaton. If I didn’t want to take it, I wouldn’t. I think this is another good small step forward.” She passes the clipboard to me. “Finish filling this out, then you can take this pretty girl home.”
Once the papers are complete, we take them up front while Jinx stays curled into Charlie’s chest. The employee takes us around the store to load up on all the shit we’re going to need for the recent addition to my household. The basket is full by the time we carry it back to the front.
The rest of the night, Charlie and I bond with Jinx in my apartment. I can’t stop watching the gentle way Charlie cares for her, as if Jinx were her own child. It sends my thoughts spiraling in directions I probably shouldn’t go this soon into reconciliation.
Are we even reconciling? We’ve never put a label on what we’re doing. Maybe we should, but the thought terrifies me. This has been her timeline since the day I broke her trust. If she’s not ready for labels, I can live with that.
We’re taking it slow. Dates, conversations, and just living in the moment.
Sometimes we talk about the past, and it gets heavy.
Every day, we’re both healing, making peace with my mistakes.
My infidelity will always be a scar, a reminder of how far I fell when I stopped cherishing what I had.
Complacency was just as much to blame. I let our relationship grow stagnant, gave my attention elsewhere, and failed to nurture what mattered most.
Charlie fought for us until the day she found me in that pool house, betraying her. After that, she fought for herself. The battle for our relationship became mine alone, with no promise of a future together.
There are so many signs we’re moving forward that I can’t help but believe we’ll make it. I know the road ahead won’t be smooth, but I’m ready for every bump along the way.