14. We’ll make sure he’s safe
Fourteen
WE’LL MAKE SURE HE’S SAFE
Liv
We return to the bed-and-breakfast, greeting Holly as we pass. Viv wants to nap and shower, so it might be nice to start on the new book I snagged from the bookstore this morning.
I slip my key into the door and make kissing sounds for Sunny. The room looks tidy. The bed is neatly made, the bathroom counter wiped down, and Sunny’s litter even looks shaken and settled neatly in the litter box. A faint scent of lavender floats in the air.
“Sunny. Where are you, cat?” More kissing sounds. Maybe after they came in and cleaned the room, he went to hide under the bed. Crouching down on all fours, I peer under the bed.
Not there.
I look behind the armchair—not there either.
“Sunny?” I slide open the closet door and look into the corners, behind the ironing board, and in my suitcase. My heart thrums erratically against my chest. Where is he? He’s not in the bathroom either. I’m running out of options. He’s not here.
I race across the hall to Viv’s door, banging frantically.
Her door flies open. I must look as terrified as I feel because with a quick scan of my face she leaps into questions. “What happened? Are you okay?”
“Sunny isn’t in the room. I can’t find him!” I’m looking around at the floor in her room, the hallway. He’s nowhere.
“Okay, okay. Let’s think.” Viv closes her door and meets me in the hallway, rubbing her temple. “My room was cleaned when I came in. Was yours? Maybe he slipped out? Let’s ask Holly.”
We walk quickly and round the corner to the front desk. Holly’s expression grows wide and worried when she sees us. “Are you guys okay?”
“Our rooms were cleaned today, right?” I ask, trying to keep my voice calm and under control. Sunny is my guy, my baby. He’s my little spoon. I need to find him.
“Yes, I-I did. Is something wrong?”
“I have a cat with me in my room. Did you see him when you came in to clean?”
“The orange cat, right? I assumed he found a really fantastic hiding spot because I didn’t see him anywhere—” Suddenly, Holly’s face pales.
“Oh no, the door. The door was left cracked so I could get to the laundry and supply cart.” Her voice trails off at the end.
My eyes burn, and my throat is too tight to swallow.
Viv takes the lead. “Okay, then, he got out of the room. We can figure this out. Maybe he snuck upstairs or something. He’s an indoor cat who’s never tried to go outside.
I can’t imagine he’d slip out the door now.
Let’s look around the house before we assume anything worse could happen, okay?
” Viv stops her thoughtful pacing to look at me, probably to gauge how much I’m listening and following along.
She knows that she’s trying to talk me off the panic ledge.
I nod. “He hides well, so—”
Luke rounds the corner. All five feet eleven inches of him, in his beautiful muscular glory, cradling a fluffy orange cat like a baby. My cat. Sunny is pawing Luke’s face like he wants more attention, while Josh trails closely behind him.
“Hey, Hollybush, look at this cute little—” He stops and looks at us all staring at him. My jaw must be hanging open. Luke has one hand splayed across the soft fur of Sunny’s chest and Sunny is totally okay with it. Sunny never lets Viv pet his stomach. Only I’ve ever been able to.
Viv, standing next to me, leans her face into mine and, not as quietly as she might think, murmurs, “Now that’s a man who knows how to handle a pus—”
“Vivian!” I say through clenched teeth. Though I have to admit, she effectively diffused some of the tension in my shoulders.
She shrugs dismissively. I turn back to Luke, who is still holding my now purring cat, whose eyes appear to be closing, fully relaxed.
“What’d I miss?” Luke questions.
“That is my cat, Sunny.” The pounding in my ears ebbs. “He was missing from my room when we got home. Where did you find him?” Watching this big muscular man so tenderly holding and cuddling my cat is threatening to turn me into a puddle. This is about as cute as baby animal videos on the internet.
“Oh! Well, here you go.” He holds Sunny out for me to take.
I reach over and pull him into me, holding him too tightly.
“He was asleep, curled up on the couch in the great room. I was straightening up a bit and saw him. I’ve never seen him around here before, and thought Holly might know who he belonged to.
” Luke runs a hand through his hair, looking concerned.
“Are you okay?” His gray-green eyes fixate on me, as if scanning for injuries.
“Yeah, I’m okay now. I was really worried. Sunny’s never been just out and about. At home he never leaves my apartment, and here, well, I guess I just assumed he’d stay in the room.” I’m still so rattled. Never in a million years did I expect he’d be gone from the room when I got back.
I’m certain no one else understands just how much this cat means to me. He’s been with me through bad dates, Gram's passing, failed opportunities, and new beginnings. Sunny is about as steady as Viv and Pop in my life. A source of unconditional love, and I don’t know what I’d do without him.
“He’s okay.” Luke sends a reassuring smile my way, seeming to sense that I’m still on edge. “He was just having a nap in the sun.”
Josh looks around the room, taking inventory of the situation. “Well, this looks like the perfect time to offer a drink!” he says, rubbing his hands together. “What’s the saying? It’s five o’clock somewhere!”
“While that sounds enticing, I’m going to pass. I have a nap and a shower calling my name.” Viv scratches Sunny’s head and then gives me a “You good?” look. I nod. “’Kay. See ya later, guys. Glad he’s safe,” she whispers before heading back to her room.
“Who naps at three in the afternoon?” Josh questions.
“Viv does.”
“Weird.” Josh rocks back on his heels, looking down the hallway where Viv retreated.
“Still on the clock, Joshy, otherwise I’d join ya,” Holly says, shrugging and sitting back down behind the desk. I don’t remember her standing and leaving the desk, but then again, I was borderline frantic.
Josh’s shoulders droop upon realizing that he’s down to one potential drinking buddy. Those dreams are quickly squashed, too.
“No can do, cousin. I have to clean the boat and get her ready for the cruise at five. Which, by the way, you’re helping me with, so getting drunk isn’t really an option for you either.” Luke pats him on the shoulder.
“If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to take Sunny back to my room and relax for a bit. Holly, Viv and I are going to stay in tonight and eat dinner here.”
“Okay, I’ll get that set for you. Sorry again about Sunny, I feel terrible.” She seems genuinely horrified that she let Sunny escape.
“It’s okay, really.” I’m not sure if I’m reassuring Holly or myself at this point.
Luke reaches out to give Sunny another scratch on the head. “I’m sure that was scary,” he says, his voice low.
My eyes threaten to spill over with tears. The fear I felt was too sudden and unexpected, and now, coming down from the adrenaline of the moment, emotions are flooding me. I can’t look at Luke. I nod, unable to meet his gaze.
“Trip,” he reaches his index finger under my chin and gently tilts my face up. Meeting me halfway, he crouches down just enough to catch my eye. His expression softens. “I promise you, we’ll keep an eye out for him. If he gets out again, we’ll make sure he’s safe.”
“Thank you.” I swallow the lump in my throat and try not to focus on the stinging in my nose as I work desperately to keep the tears at bay. “I’m going to go…”
Luke steps back, nodding, but I can feel the heat of his gaze on me all the way to my room.