Chapter Thirty-Five
The next few days manage to both go by fast and drag as I anxiously await for Keegan to get back to the city. I throw myself into work and have a meeting with Dr. Parse about my desire to spend years two and three at Jamaica Queens. I also begin my new rotation in endocrine and robotics, where I’ll be for the next four weeks of my residency.
“Are you ready?” I look up at Raven as she enters the changing room. “We have about two hours until Keegan lands, and we need to get your kitty a few things.”
“Ready,” I say, slamming my locker door shut. “The pet store is only a few blocks away, so we should have plenty of time.”
Raven helps me pick up all of the supplies we’ll need for Thor. I grab a litter box and a couple of cat castles, which will be such a contrast in Keegan’s apartment. I hope he understands what he committed to. I pick up food, bowls, and a few toys. And as I’m in the checkout line, I see an adorable bowtie and decide to throw that into the cart as well.
“Are you kidding me?” Raven says when I open the door to Keegan’s place. “This is where he lives?”
“Pretty nice, right?” I start to unpack the bags and get everything organized.
Raven looks around the place. “Maybe I should go into cardiothoracic surgery.”
“Well,” I say. “I have a feeling he gets a lot of his income from being faculty for industry partners.”
“Damn,” she says, looking into the bedroom and office. “This place is incredible. It makes our apartment look like a shack.”
“Come help me figure out this litter box.” I read the directions, and Raven comes to my rescue.
“I talked to Forest today,” she says, kneeling beside me. “He asked if I was free Saturday night to go out to dinner with him, you, and Keegan. Some Italian restaurant near his house. Keegan’s favorite. That’s a good sign, right?”
“It’s a start.” I click the pieces of the litter box together and walk it to Keegan’s laundry closet. “Keegan and I have talked about our strategy. There will be zero affection. And I want things to feel as normal as have always been when we all hang out.”
“And Forest will have to not think about the fact that you’re most likely going to come to this castle afterward and do his best friend.”
“Raven.” I throw a hand towel at her, and she laughs.
“Seriously though,” she says. “I know I’m only starting to get to know Forest, but even in a week, he’s gotten to a better place. He’s going to be fine.”
“I know,” I say. “But in the meantime, I don’t want anything thrown in his face.”
When I hear a key in the door, I run to greet Keegan. He walks in with a bag slung on one shoulder, and a loud and scared kitten in a carrier in his other hand. He puts everything down just in time because I launch myself at him and wrap my legs around his waist. I nearly forgot that Raven is here. So much for being discreet.
“I missed you,” I say, holding him tight, showering kisses all over his cleanly shaven face. I breathe in the intoxicating scent that is Keegan.
“Hi, Keegan.” Raven steps out into the entryway, and he smiles when he sees her.
“Raven,” he says. “Thanks for helping Luna get everything ready for Thor.”
He walks in her direction and hugs her. I already know Keegan’s heart. He’s going to hold everyone dear that I do. It’s who he is.
“Of course,” Raven says. “And now I have piles of laundry to do and an early morning tomorrow, so I will leave you guys be.”
“Thanks, Raven,” I say, embracing her. “For everything.”
She opens the door but then turns to me. “Love you, Luna.”
When the door closes behind her, Keegan reaches for me and pulls me in for a kiss. “I missed you.” He cups my face and stares into my eyes.
“How’s our boy?” I bend over to look in the carrier and open it for Thor. “Everything is ready for our little Thoracotomy.”
He meows as he walks around the place, sniffing it out.
“Hopefully that was Thor’s first and last flight,” Keegan says, shaking his head. “Everyone on that plane wanted to kick me off. But you are a sight for sore eyes.”
Thor brushes up against Keegan’s leg, and he lifts him. Thor cuddles into his chest, and I lean over to kiss our adorable orange kitten.
“Now that you’re a cat mom, we’ll have to figure out a parenting schedule,” Keegan says as he puts down Thor. “I’m thinking you’ll have to spend a lot more time over here.”
“Hmm.” I nod my head. “That’s what I was thinking too.”
Keegan bends over to grab his bag, and I follow him to the bedroom. Thor is only a foot behind us, as he refuses to let Keegan out of his sight. We reach the room, and Keegan turns to face me. He kisses me so tenderly that I sigh into his mouth.
“I’m thinking takeout, wine, and bed,” Keegan says, holding my hand. “I feel like I need about thirty hours of sleep before starting back up at the hospital.”
“That sounds like the perfect evening.” I sit, and Thor jumps up on my lap. Keegan joins me, and we both fall back, laughing.
Keegan reaches over Thor to kiss me, but Thor gets between us, very protective over Keegan.
“I see how I rank now,” I say.
Keegan pulls me toward him and buries his face in my neck. “You are forever my number one.”