Ch. 5 – Jax
J ax tugged down the hem of her shirt again as she scooted to the left, out of the TV camera’s line of sight. Why the hell had Everly given her a small-size shirt? Her boobs were practically trying to make a prison break. A medium-sized shirt would have sufficed, though Jax would have preferred a size large.
Question number two, why was Jax even here? It surely had something to do with the exactly million and one texts Everly had sent over the past two weeks begging for volunteers and punctuated with dozens of praying hands emojis. But it was something else, too. Jax had wanted to help; had wanted to pay back the kindness Everly had already shown in helping her with Styles. But no one had said anything about too-tight T-shirts or, for that matter, insanely handsome reporters.
“If you’re looking for the purrfect new pet, make your way down to Pet Palace in Yucca Hills,” Rico Torres said into his microphone a few feet away from her. The reporter oozed pure-grade charm. Next to him, Everly rocked on her heels, grinning like an absolute loon.
“The pet shop will be holding a kitten adoption fair throughout the weekend, and we’ve got plenty of adorable kittens that need a good home,” Rico continued, “including this little guy.” He chuckled warmly as he cradled an energetic orange kitten in the crook of his arm .
“His name is Butterscotch,” Everly said, bending forward to speak into Rico’s microphone.
“I’m here with Everly Forstrom, the tireless kitten advocate who puts on these fairs,” Rico said, placing a hand on Everly’s shoulder. If possible, Everly’s smile arched higher. Her eyes practically sparkled with glee. If heart bubbles could happen in real life, they’d be floating above Everly’s head in droves.
Keep ’er steady, Jax thought to the older woman. This was Everly’s one and only chance to make a good impression on her dream guy. All she had to do was act normal—well, as normal as was possible for Everly. Though utter cynicism was typically Jax’s go-to whenever the topic of love intruded into her life, she couldn’t help but silently root for Everly.
“So, Everly,” Rico said in his smooth-as-caramel voice. “What should viewers consider before adopting a kitten?”
Everly grinned at him. Kept grinning.
We’ve encountered some heavy turbulence, Jax thought.
“Everly?” Rico asked.
“Um . . . hi, Rico,” Everly responded. “What was the question?”
“What should people know before adopting a kitten?” Rico patiently repeated.
Don’t worry, folks. Just stay calm, Jax thought, trying to somehow broadcast her words to Everly. We just need to steady out and it’ll be smooth sailing.
Everly swallowed hard, then seemed to gain her footing. “Um, so, I know these kittens are cute, but they’re also a big responsibility. You’ve got to be prepared to care for your pet for up to fifteen years or more. Kittens need lots of attention, play, and love.”
Rico nodded solemnly as the orange kitten crawled up his shoulder on shaky legs. It was freakin’ adorable .
“And what kinds of supplies should people purchase before adopting a kitten?” he asked, lobbing another softball at Everly. As she answered in a shaky, breathy voice, Jax studied the reporter.
Damn , he was even more gorgeous in person. Proof positive that the universe played favorites. Someone at the human-making factory had clearly filched a bucketful of good genes from the assembly line and inserted every single one of them into Rico Torres.
His skin was a smooth golden brown, his voice warm and glorious, like a steaming cappuccino on a blustery fall day. His jaw could probably open beer bottles, and his eyes were full of dark, liquid bronze. As if all that genetic perfection weren’t enough, his snug blue button-down hinted at a muscled frame beneath. Jax could imagine well-defined shoulders and a six pack just a few buttonholes away.
Her fingers started to itch. Jax quickly folded the traitorous digits into her palms and refocused on the interview taking place just a few feet in front of her.
“—and you’ll need nail trimmers, which can be typical clippers, guillotine clippers, or grinders,” Everly was saying. “A lot of pet guardians have their own personal preference—I’m a guillotine clipper girl myself—but they’re all fine. You’ll also need several litter boxes, of course. There are many different kinds to choose from. You’ve got your standard scoop box that takes clay litter, as well as electronic, self-cleaning boxes, hidden boxes, boxes with openings on top, boxes with openings in the front…”
Put the wheels down and land the plane, Everly! Jax thought desperately at the other woman.
Everly leaned closer to the microphone. “There’s a lot of debate about litter boxes in this community. It gets really heated on the cat message boards, trust me. And don’t even get me started on different types of litter. That’s a field of landmines right there. ”
Rico, his smile a little tight at the edges, gently maneuvered the microphone back to himself. “Well, Everly, I’d love to hear more, but I think Miles and Rachel might get a little jealous if we took up all their airtime.” He gave Everly another warm chuckle as if they were in on some little joke together, then turned to the camera.
“But if you want to hear all about the great litter debate, come down to Pet Palace in Yucca Hills and give one of these cute kittens a new home. They won’t be available for long, folks, I guarantee you. I’m Rico Torres. Back to you, Rachel and Miles.”
He stood stock still for a second, grinning widely. Next to him, the expression on Everly’s face conveyed a level of misery somewhere between painful gas and seconds away from projectile vomiting. The silver-haired cameraman gave them a thumbs up, and Rico relaxed.
“Was that as terrible as I thought it was?” Everly asked glumly. “It’s all a blur, but I have this vague memory of listing cat supplies for five minutes.”
Rico offered a warm smile that started a defrost cycle in Jax’s heart. “A lot of people get nervous on camera,” he told Everly. “It’s normal. This guy was the real star.” He lifted a shoulder to indicate the orange kitten gripping his shirt with its tiny claws. “One look at him and viewers are going to be beating down these doors tomorrow.”
Everly smiled and seemed to relax. Jax released a small breath, too. Okay, folks, we’re circling the airport and preparing to land.
“You really know a lot about cats,” Rico said as he handed the mic to the camera guy.
“Crazy cat lady.” Everly raised her hand. Her eyes popped wide with worry. “I mean . . . uh, you know, cats are okay.” She wiped her hands on her Meow Catnip, Meow Problems T-shirt. “I mean, I kinda like them. I have three—Drake, Legend, and Beyoncé— and, of course, my fosters. There’s Peanut Butter, she’s the mom. And Butterscotch, Chocolate, and Whipped Cream, who are all up for adoptions today.”
Mayday, mayday! We’ve lost navigational control. The words blared in Jax’s mind as she watched Everly thrust her phone at Rico.
“Here they are, my babies,” Everly said. “There’s Chocolate, and that’s Whipped Cream, and you know Butterscotch, of course.” She swiped the phone. “Oh, and here’s Peanut Butter yawning. And there’s Whipped Cream sleeping. Actually, the next ten are of Whipped Cream asleep, but he’s in a different position each time . . .”
We’re in an uncontrolled spin. Repeat, uncontrolled spin. Jax watched as Rico’s face glazed over. She had to do something. Should she fake a heart attack to draw attention away from her friend? Maybe call in for an immediate helicopter extraction?
Shit , she didn’t have nearly enough money to hire a helicopter. Fake heart attack it was.
Before Jax could act, Rico took matters into his own hands. “Wow, every picture is cuter than the last,” he said, “but I’ve actually got to start wrapping up. I’ll need to work with my team to polish this piece so we can get it on the broadcast tonight and make sure we get lots of people out here over the weekend.”
Everly nodded. Her smile wobbled. “Do you . . .” Her words cracked. “Do you believe in true love?”
Woman down . Repeat, woman down. Jax wanted to tackle Everly or maybe Rico. Something. Anything to stop this implosion.
To his immense credit, Rico didn’t laugh or recoil. After a flash of uncertainty, his easy smile returned. “I’m the last person you should be asking about love.” He gave her a self-deprecating wink.
Everly opened her mouth. No words came out. She looked moments away from releasing a tsunami of tears .
“It was great meeting you, Everly,” Rico told her. “Keep up the good work here.” He patted her on the shoulder and turned to consult with his camera guy.
Ouch . Jax winced. That was the most cringe scene Jax had witnessed since . . . well, possibly ever. She made a mental note that Everly’s next drink at the winery would be on the house.
Now that the camera was off, she scooted back over to her two assigned cages. Somehow in the last five minutes, Bond had managed to knock over his water dish.
“Meow?” the black-and-white tuxedo kitten said innocently.
“You don’t fool me one bit, Bond,” Jax told him as she opened the door to the cage and turned the bowl right side up. “You’re a troublemaker.”
“Nothing wrong with causing a little trouble now and again,” a smooth voice said from above. Jax nearly dropped the water bottle in her hand as she glanced into the delicious brown eyes of Rico Torres. Operating that much hotness without a permit shouldn’t be legal.
Jax swallowed, then carefully refilled the water dish before closing the door to the cage.
“I’m Rico Torres,” he said as she stood.
“I know. Kind of hard to miss you recording a news broadcast in the middle of the store.” No way was Jax going to let on about all the sudden flutterings in her stomach.
He laughed. “Fair enough. And you are?”
“Jacklyn, but everyone calls me—”
“Jacklyn, a beautiful name for a beautiful woman,” he purred. The orange tabby kitten crawled across to his other shoulder.
He was as cheesy as soggy movie theater nachos, but Jax’s body responded in a primal way that terrified, excited, and infuriated her. She couldn’t look away from his eyes. They held promises that lit a molten heat in her belly.
Rico’s gaze slid down her body, stopping on the school pin she’d attached to her belt half-ironically during orientation last year. The small, round SCC pin had stubbornly survived several washings, earning her grudging respect.
“You go to Sagebrush Canyon College?” he asked.
She shrugged. Then nodded.
His eyes lit with interest. “I went there for two years before transferring to UCLA. Not many people know about it, but SCC is a great local school. What are you studying?”
A flurry of movement behind Rico’s shoulder snagged Jax’s attention. Behind his back, Everly made urgent gestures.
The hell?
Everly pointed to herself, then made a heart shape with her hands, followed by a begging motion.
Yup, understood. Jax gave her friend a subtle nod, then looked back at Rico.
“So, how about Everly?” she said. “She’s such an amazing person. Been putting this adoption fair on for years. She has such a big heart.”
Rico frowned in confusion. “Yeah, she’s great, but—” The kitten crawled down his arm.
“Everly is such a character,” Jax interrupted him. “But not in a bad way. In a good way. And she makes the best cookies. You should really try Everly’s cookies.” Behind Rico, Everly began a new series of ESL— Everly Sign Language. She pressed her hands over her heart, pointed up to the sky, and started doing jazz hands. “She’s, uh, really into . . . fireworks?” Jax guessed.
Everly slapped her forehead in anguish. Rico looked over his shoulder, and suddenly Everly was bouncing a cat toy in one of the cages .
“Fireworks, wonderful.” Rico stepped close enough that Jax could smell his cologne, a pleasant woodsy scent of pine and moss. Some deep part of her began to throb, a place that had been cold and dark and empty for so long. “But I’m more interested in learning about you.”
He touched her arm.
NO!
The word screamed through her, and she flinched away from him, almost stumbling over the kitten cage. The fire in the pit of her stomach turned to ice in an instant.
“Sorry.” Rico held up both hands, his eyes filling with concern. “Did I scare you? I didn’t mean to.”
Scare her? Of course not. Why would she be scared? Jax opened her mouth to tell him she was fine. Completely fine. Never better.
“What’s wrong?” Rico took a step toward her, then stopped, his face contorting in surprise as Butterscotch the kitten released a stream of piss down his arm.