Chapter 36
Roo
“She’s right, it’s next level.”
Circus hums and shakes the hair back from his eyes. “It gets bigger every year.”
The whole of O’Connell Road is lined with vendors and little pop-up tents, and strings of bunting and flowers are spread overhead between the shopfronts. I have to give it to the committee, it really is something.
Sunbury has always been a backwoods kind of place in my mind. A place where you only stay if you can’t get out. A place where I’ll never fit in.
But as each person walks past and gives me a friendly hello, I can feel myself growing warmer toward the place I always wanted to be free of.
“I’m going to head off,” I tell Circus.
He’s hired a shopfront to display a whole range of photos he’s taken. And he’s actually really fucking good. Most of the work is of Sunbury and Crown Trails, but there are a few models in there too. He’s still evasive about what he does for work, but I guess this is part of it.
“Yeah, all good. I’ll catch up with you guys for drinks later.”
“Not like there’s anything else to do in this town.” And yet, that doesn’t seem like the bad thing it once did.
He lets out a gravelly chuckle that immediately cuts off. “What the f—”
I turn and follow his line of sight to see Rowan Harvey.
“When did he get back?”
“Umm … a week or so ago, I think?”
I turn back in time to see Circus’s nostrils flare.
“You okay?”
“Totally fine.”
The clenched jaw makes me think otherwise. “I’m supposed to meet Tanner now, but if you need me to stay …”
“Nope, it’s fine. Go. Have fun.”
I leave, but I do it reluctantly. I’m not really sure what’s going on there. All I know is that Circus and Rowan used to be friends, and now they’re clearly not.
As I walk down O’Connell Road toward the fire station, I reach up to fix my hair. Awkwardly trying to cover my scar isn’t a habit I think I’ll ever shake.
The fire station is on the last block, right before the show ground, where there’s a huge floral and agricultural display going on. Spring is officially here, and Sunbury is packed with visitors.
As I approach, Tanner is the first person I see. All big and blond as he helps some kid down from the cab of the firetruck. I watch him give the kid a high five, hating the way it turns me all gooey inside.
“Want to give me a boost?” I ask as soon as the kid runs off.
Tanner’s face breaks into a smile. “Sorry, I’m officially off duty.”
“But I wanted a ride in the firetruck.”
He leans in close to my ear. “What if I promise you can ride a fireman later?”
I laugh. “Will you let me slide down his pole?”
“I’ll even let you …” He scrunches up his face. “I was gonna say something about a hose, but now it sounds creepy rather than sexy.”
“Maybe I can put out your fire?”
“Oooh, there we go.”
He chuckles as he steps forward and wraps his arms around my waist. I immediately tense and look around. “Ah, Tanner. Have you actually told anyone here about us?”
“Nope.”
“Then—”
“I’m not gonna. They’ll all find out eventually, but I’m not turning it into some big coming-out thing. Most people have guessed and think we’re idiots for announcing it, and other people will be surprised, but it’s really none of their business.”
I chew the inside of my cheek. “And if some of them are dicks about it?”
“Chief has already said he’ll keep an eye out.”
“Well, okay, then.”
“Okay.” He leans in and presses a sweet kiss to my lips. No one dies. The world continues. Huzzah. “Come on, I told her we’d be there by one.”
“Who?”
“You’ll see.”
Tanner’s like a giant, excitable puppy as he tugs me back in the direction I’ve just come. I hate surprises, but with the way he’s practically shaking as he pulls me along, I’m not about to ruin this one for him.
“How did Circus do? Sell lots again?”
I roll my eyes. “He did. People really love this town.”
“I swear all Mom has at home are his photos of random things around Sunbury.”
“What are we …” I look up at the vet’s clinic and cock an eyebrow at Tanner. “My spidey senses are tingling.”
“Come on.” He grabs my hand and leads me inside.
I refuse to get excited. My stupid body doesn’t listen.
“I remember very early on that my roommate mentioned he wanted a cat.”
My stomach flips over. “No …”
“You know that stray that’s been hanging around?”
“The ginger one?”
“Yup. She got hurt last week, and I helped Margot bring her and her two kittens here. Originally I wanted to see if we’d be able to rehome her, but she’s too antisocial. Her kittens, though …”
Tanner walks through the door into a back hall like he owns the place, and Margot pops her head out of a room and calls us down.
“Wait. I’m getting a kitten?”
“Aw, look how excited you are.”
“You said no to a pet.”
“I did. Because I work all the time and I had no idea if you’d be sticking around.
But since you’ve decided to stay here, and with any luck I’ll be able to work just one job, plus us maybe getting our own place …
” Tanner stops in the doorway and turns to me.
“I didn’t actually think about it at all, and then I saw this little guy and he kinda reminded me of you. ”
I cock my head. “Is he an asshole cat?”
Tanner laughs. “Come see.”
Margot shows us to one of the cages set in the wall, where two kittens are playing.
One is completely ginger, like the stray that’s always around, and the other is …
I guess tortoiseshell is the best descriptor.
It’s speckled with different browns and black and ginger. There’s no pattern; it’s … a mess.
I’m in love immediately.
Warm breath hits my ear as Tanner leans in. “Reminded me of your freckles.”
God, my heart. “Can I hold her?”
“Of course.” Margot opens the cage, so I reach inside and pick her up.
Damn, she’s fluffy. And teeny. And soft.
Yup, definitely in love here. I snuggle my face into her fur as the kitten swipes at my nose and gives me a grumpy look.
I can’t hold back my smile. “Can we keep her?”
Tanner sighs. “I’ve lost you to a cat, haven’t I?”
“One hundred percent.”
He exchanges a look with Margot, who laughs. “I hope you’re keeping her. Tanner already paid for the microchip and spaying.”
“You bought me a cat?”
“Yeah, yeah.” He grabs a carrier and plonks it on the metal table in the middle of the room. “Ready to take her home?”
I settle the kitten into the carrier as the one behind me lets out a pathetic little meow.
Uh-oh. I turn back to see big hazel eyes watching me curiously. I stare at it. It stares back.
I turn to Tanner.
“No.”
“But—”
“Definitely not.”
“Ta-nner.” I draw out his name and push my bottom lip out as far as it will go. “We can’t separate them.”
“We can, though.” He closes the door on the cat carrier but doesn’t make a move to go.
The kitten meows again. It’s like the bastard is trying to make me feel bad.
“Roo …”
“My heart is breaking.”
“So fucking dramatic.” He hangs his head back with a groan. “I’ll learn to say no. One day, I swear to God, I’ll learn to say no.”
“You are such a pushover,” Margot teases as she opens the cage door again.
I eagerly scoop up the ginger cat and hold it close. “Hands down, best day of my life.”
“I thought us getting together was the best day of your life?”
“Didn’t we just cover this? You’ve been replaced. Now you’re third in my heart.”
He gives me a dry look as he swings the door open again, and I reunite the ginger with its sister.
“As long as I’m still the first human, I think I’ll survive.”
Tanner picks up the cats, and we follow Margot back out front, where we pay for the second one and leave. I wind my arm around Tanner’s waist as soon as we’re in the street, and he wraps a big arm around my shoulders.
“You really do love me,” I tease.
“Just so you know, that look you gave me won’t work on everything.”
“Past experience says otherwise.”
“I can say no.”
“Sure you can, sweetie.” I pat his chest.
“Hey, Tanner. Royce.” Ms. Rasserman nods at the carrier. “What you got in there?”
“A bear cub,” I answer with a straight face, and her mouth drops.
Tanner shakes his head. “It’s kittens.”
Ms. Rasserman gives me an exasperated look before sending an indulgent smile Tanner’s way. “It’s already at the getting-pets-together stage, is it?”
“I guess it is.”
We keep walking, and I start to laugh. “You realize everyone in town will find out we have pets together before we’re even back home.”
“Good. Then everyone will know.”
“That we’re dating?”
“That we’re serious.” He kisses my head. “And you’re mine.”
I grin up at him. “You know, some people would think we’re weird for talking like that.”
“Then they don’t have what we have. And in that case, I feel sorry for them.”
I do too. Because I know what it’s like to live without Tanner, and it’s not something I want to go through again. We haven’t talked about marriage or any of that shit, because I don’t think it’s something I’m all that keen on. All that matters is that I have him. Forever.
And I’m the luckiest asshole in the world that he feels the same way.