Chapter 49
He wasn’t supposed to find her today. If this doesn’t go over well, I’m really not ready to say goodbye. Where will she go? Back to the streets? A shelter?
“Yes?”
I’m ready to plead on her behalf. I put my chin in my hand, trying to look cute so he won’t be mad, even though I’m still sprawled across the floor in the narrow hallway.
“Please tell me this cat somehow managed to get in here undetected, right now, and you’re not actually harboring a stray.”
“Pru is not just a stray.” I hop to my feet and walk in the bathroom — she’s weaving through Dom’s ankles while he’s got half a shower curtain held up over his head. She’s purring so loudly, there’s no way he’s not at least a little charmed by her.
“You named it?” He looks horrified.
Okay, he’s not a cat person. “Her. I’ve named her .”
“No, no, no, no. She’s not staying. The island is full of strays. You can’t just take one home with you.”
“She’s been helping me get over my writer’s block whenever I have it. I’ve been . . .” How do I begin to explain this to Dom without sounding completely unhinged? “I was lonely when I first got here.”
“When you first got here?” He locks his jaw. “How long has it been here?”
“ She’s been here a few weeks. I already took her to the vet and the shelter a few weeks ago. No one has tried looking for her, and she’s healthy as a horse.”
He answers me with a glare.
“I’m a New Yorker! I’m used to having people around everywhere I go. So Pru here has given me someone to talk to when I’m home. Besides myself.”
Admitting to Dom in the same breath that I’m not only talking to myself, but that I’m also in the habit of talking to a stray cat I brought in from the street — it sounded better in my head than it does streaming out of my mouth at warp speed.
“Phone a friend if you need someone to chat with. Come out with my friends again. Have dinner with me.” He sets the curtain rod down. “I’d like to keep this place cat-free.”
He eyes Pru, wearily, then sits on the closed toilet lid, scooping Pru up between his biceps. She looks tiny in his arms. This unexpected sight of him being all cuddly with Pru suddenly makes me want to introduce him to Toby too. I’ll make him a cat person.
“She doesn’t have fleas?” He looks concerned.
I shake my head. “Please?” I put my hands together in unofficial prayer. “You said you have some renovations you want to do to this place anyway. You could just add anything she might mess up. Plus, she’s been here nearly a month and hasn’t ruined a thing.”
“A month? Where has she been hiding when we’ve—” His mouth is hanging open.
I smile and shrug. “No need to focus on the past.”
That gets a laugh out of him. “Pru, you said? That’s her name?”
“I thought she looked like a mashed-up prune.”
I walk over to him and stroke her long back, down to the tip of her tail. It ticks back and forth like a metronome, counting down the seconds to his verdict. His eyes crinkle up at the edges when he laughs, and that dimple in his chin I’ve grown to love deepens.
“The whole place is tile,” I say. “She really can’t do that much damage. I’ll let her outside again before I go anywhere, so she isn’t left alone, if it makes you feel better. And I’ll keep an eye on her when I’m home.”
He mulls this over while she purrs and nuzzles into his neck, like she knows this is her only shot. I have no idea what I’ll do with her once I’m back in New York. Toby is the man of the house — I don’t think he’d like the idea of a sweet little stray from Hawaii taking over his home turf. But I’m sure I could find another home for her here before I go back. Anything it takes from keeping her out of the local animal shelter or, even worse, the streets.
“Please?” Our hands brush between Pru’s fur, and I lean in to kiss him.
“I can’t believe I’m going to say this . . .”
I grab her out of his arms. “Pru! You hear that!” I hold her up and dance around the tiny bathroom.
“If she’s that important to you, I’ll just replace the whole interior of this place if I need to.”
I beam at him.
“You wouldn’t do anything to hurt Dom’s rental, would you, Pru?” I hold her up to my face — she licks my nose. “He’s going to let you stay!”