29. Drew
DREW
I didn’t expect to drive Violet home in the middle of the night.
Or that she’d be holding a tiny, newly rescued menace in her arms.
But here we are.
“She’s settling,” Violet says softly from the passenger seat, glancing down at the furball in her lap.
“She?” I repeat.
Violet looks at me. “Feels like a she.” She shrugs. “I’ll check when we get home.”
I give her a sidelong glance. "Home?"
"My home," she corrects.
I don’t say anything.
“Pretty sure the kitten’s female.” Violet strokes her head. “She’s feisty like a girl.”
I glance over at her again and smile. “Okay. She.”
Silence settles between us.
It’s easy, not awkward.
My eyes move from the road to her again. She’s staring at the kitten like she’s making sure it’s still okay. Still safe.
There’s something about the way she looks at it. Gentle and focused. Completely present.
It’s… kind of adorable.
“You’ve done this before,” I say.
She looks up. “What?”
“This,” I nod toward the cat. “Calming down a terrified animal in under thirty seconds.”
She shrugs slightly. “I like animals.”
“She’s gonna need a name.”
“Yes, she does.”
I think for a second. “What about… Storm?”
Violet’s lips curve faintly. “Because she tried to attack you?”
“That was an aggressive introduction. Like an unexpected storm.”
She hums softly, considering. “I don’t hate it.”
“High praise.”
She makes a cooing noise at the kitten. It purrs louder.
I watch them bond, and something in my chest tightens.
“What would you name her?” I ask softly.
Violet’s gaze drifts back to the little fluff ball in her arms. “Something softer,” she says. “Something that doesn’t match what she did earlier. Something that fits her now that she’s calm.”
I glance at her. “Like?”
She hesitates for a moment, then says, “Luna.”
I repeat it quietly. “Luna.”
The kitten shifts again, a soft sound coming from her like she approves.
I huff out a quiet breath. “Yeah. Okay. I like that.”
She beams at me.
Before I can stop myself, I blurt out, “Our kitten’s going to be spoiled.”
I freeze.
Something cold slides down my spine.
Why the hell does that feel… right?
Violet doesn’t say anything.
Doesn’t react.
But I feel the shift.
Why did I say that?
I clear my throat.
“I mean—your kitten,” I correct quickly. “Since you’re taking her home.”
Smooth. Very smooth.
Freaking idiot.
“No, you’re right. She’s ours.” Violet’s tone is soft, and so is the expression on her face. “We both found her.”
That’s true.
Although “found” isn’t the word I’d use for my initial meeting with Luna.
More like… ambushed.
I swallow hard.
Violet’s stirring things inside me I’ve never felt before.
She and I went on a date. Or, I think it was. We didn’t officially label it, but it seemed like one.
And now we’ve jumped straight from that to sharing a cat.
I don't know what I'm supposed to think anymore.
We pull into her driveway a few minutes later.
I take in the large house in front of me. Even in the dark, it’s large and imposing.
I put my vehicle in park and glance at her. “You want me to just—”
“Come in,” she says.
I shut off the engine, glancing over at her. “Yeah. Okay.”
Inside, the house is warm and quiet.
I look around at the expensive furnishings.
Definitely out of my element.
I wonder what she sees in me.
Why she’d want me here.
Violet’s still holding Luna.
She studies my face for a moment before saying, “Come on.”
I follow her to the kitchen, passing a large set of carpeted stairs with a shiny wooden banister that leads to the second floor.
Violet gently sets the kitten on the counter. She looks around, still cautious, but no longer puffed up like she’s ready to fight the world.
“There you go,” Violet murmurs softly, stroking her gently.
“Hey, Luna,” I say, stepping closer.
She releases a tiny meow. It’s the cutest sound I’ve ever heard.
I reach out, running a finger gently down her back. She leans into it immediately. “Pretty girl,” I murmur softly.
A voice drifts down the stairs. “How was your night stalk—”
The sound cuts off.
I look up.
A blonde stands halfway down the stairs, frozen. Her eyes flick from me to Violet, then back to me.
“Callie,” Violet says calmly. “This is Drew.”
Callie clears her throat and descends, bare feet silent on the carpeted stairs.
“Hi. I’m Violet’s sister.” She holds out a hand, her composure back.
“Hi.” I take her hand, studying her. I see the resemblance, despite the differences. Same confidence. Same intensity.
“Did you say... stalking?”
She laughs, waving a hand as she gives Violet a cursory glance. “Nope. I said walking.”
Violet’s shoulders relax. “Right. Because I left and went for a walk.”
“Oh,” I say, puzzled. “I thought you said—”
“Walking,” Callie finishes firmly. “I definitely said walking.”
That was… definitely not what I heard.
“She wasn’t sleeping when I left.” Violet turns now, her expression completely composed. “I told her I was going for a walk and not to wait up.”
Callie nods quickly. “She told me to go to bed. But I was worried about her being out so late at night by herself.”
It’s a reasonable explanation.
So why does something still feel... off?
Callie releases my hand. “I’ve heard so much about you,” she adds.
“Really?”
I glance at Violet.
She’s already focused on the kitten again, as if nothing happened.
Like this whole thing isn’t… weird.
“Oh my gosh,” Callie says, looking at the kitten. “Adorable. Yours?” Her violet eyes flick to mine.
I feel like I have whiplash and am not comprehending things well.
“Ours,” I blurt out.
Callie’s eyebrows raise before she beams at me. “How cute! You guys are parents now.”
I nearly choke on air. “We’re what?”
My gaze drops to the kitten, then back to Violet.
Parents.
I don't even know Violet’s middle name.
Violet just smiles. “You make a good kitten dad.”
Callie nods. “Incredible.” She claps her hands together, bouncing on her heels. “Make sure you include this sweet baby in your wedding.”
My eyes are wide.
I’ve gone insane.
Did she just say... wedding?
We haven’t even set up a second date.
“Of course we’d include Luna.” Violet studies my panicked face. The way my chest heaves as I struggle to breathe.
“But we’re not there.” She exchanges a look with Callie. “We just rescued the kitten tonight.”
Callie nods. “Makes sense.”
“Makes sense,” I parrot, still stuck on Callie calling us parents and marrying us in the span of two minutes after meeting her.
I have the strongest urge to flee. To sprint out the door, jump in my car, and slam my foot on the gas. Straight to the police station to ask how restraining orders work.
Violet meets my gaze. Calm. Steady.
She mouths, “Ignore Callie.”
Ignore her?
Impossible.
Violet turns back to the kitten. “First feeding,” she says, grabbing a small bowl from the cupboard. “You should stay.”
That’s the last thing I should do.
I hesitate... looking down at the kitten. At the way she’s curled into Violet’s hands. The way she looks...safe. Content.
“…Yeah,” I say quietly. “Okay.”
I’m staying for the kitten.
Because I’m already invested in Luna.
Even though I just met her.
“Some food should win her over.” Violet grabs my hand and places it on Luna’s back. “Don’t let her jump.”
And then she’s breezing by me like nothing happened.
Like her sister didn’t just marry us in the kitchen.
I frown again, my fingers idly petting Luna.
When Violet opens the cabinet, my eyes catch on the rows of cat food and treats inside.
Wait.
Why does she have all that?
I don’t see any cats around.
Maybe she bought them for Mr. Pickles.
Weird.
But somehow... not?
Before I can think too hard about it, Callie reaches over and starts petting Luna, drawing my attention away.
Maybe I imagined the comments. The tension.
Maybe I’m just tired. Reading too much into things.
Yeah.
That has to be it.