Page 111 of Failure to Match

Toebeans froze. His fangs retreated. His ears flicked.

“That’s right,” Jackson murmured, “you recognize my voice, don’t you?”

I bit into my lower lip as Toebeans and his one brain cell tried their best to slot the puzzle pieces together. Why did the half-giant crouching in front of him sound like his palace overlord? It made no sense!

“Here’s the deal,” Jackson went on, daring a small step forward. Toebeans watched him warily but didn’t show any new signs of aggression. “I am going to use this hand right here to reach into the cupboard beside you, and I’d very much appreciate it if my skin wasn’t shredded in the process.”

Another step forward.

I couldn’t decide which was more amusing—my wide-eyed, dumb-struck cat, or the duck-walking half-giant at his mercy. I did, however, know which one was more endearing. How could I not, when it was making my heart want to burst?

“You may sniff me if you’d like.” Jackson held out a cautious hand with his next step, but Toebeans didn’t move.

It took almost a full minute of patience and stillness, but it... it worked. My lips peeled apart as Toebeans took one tentative step forward. Then another.What the hell?

“Come on, little one. It’s all right.” The coax was so soft, so gentle, that it made my chest ache.

My lungs seized when Toebeans leaned his head forward, but instead of sinking his teeth into Jackson’s outstretched arm, he carefully sniffed his fingers.

“Good boy. Well done.” Jackson smiled and it broke a piece of my heart clean off. “You see? I’m not so bad.”

While Toebeans was busy trying to decipher why this man sounded and smelled exactly like his new favorite place on earth, Jackson reached over with his other hand, opened the cupboard I’d referenced earlier, and successfully retrieved a small silver tin of cat food.

“Here.” He peeled back the lid while Toebeans watched, keeping his movements smooth, slow, and steady.

Toebeans eyed him, trying to gauge his exact level of threat as his breakfast was served. Jackson didn’t push him, though.Instead, he lowered into a seat right beside the food bowl, stretched out his legs, pressed his back to the cabinets, and feigned focused interest in the content labels of the empty can.

Toebeans watched him cautiously, waiting to see what he would do. When Jackson remained disinterested in further engagement, he chirped a soft, questioning “Meowr.”

“Bluefin tuna, mussels, and quinoa, huh?”

“Meowr.”

“Sounds rather foul. Is that why you’re not eating it?” Jackson turned his attention to me. “Has he ever tried Wagyu beef?”

I pressed my twitching lips together and shook my head.

He held up the tin and frowned down at Toebeans. “This isn’t gourmet anything, Cat. You’ve been duped by Adolf.”

“Adrien,” I corrected. “And that’s not why he’s not eating.”

“Why aren’t you eating?”

“Meowr.”

I walked over and took a seat beside Jackson’s feet, facing the two of them. “Go on, cutie. I’m watching.”

He continued to hesitate, still somewhat unsettled by Jackson’s presence. Eventually, though, the hunger won. He ate slowly at first, not taking his eyes off the potential threat. But once it was clear that Jackson had no interest in stealing any of his mashed-up tuna, he munched faster, bushy tail swishing happily.

“Can’t believe you pulled it off,” I said to Jackson. “This is honestly impressive. Other than Adrien, we’ve never been able to get him to warm up to a man before. Not even my dad.” And it hadn’t been for a lack of trying.

“Send me a recording of his voice. I’ll have Cat obsessed with him in no time.”

I huffed a laugh as Toebeans crawled onto my lap for his mandatory post-feeding cuddle time. Scratching his neck andears, I began asking him a string of nonsensical questions in between head kisses.

Smooch. Who was the most handsomest boy in the whole wide world?Smooch.Who had been such a good and patient boy while waiting for his breakfast all morning?Smooch.Who was the most majestic kitty king with the most majestic kitty palace anyone had ever seen?Smooch. Smooch. Smooch.

It was all fine and great until, from the corner of my eye, I saw Jackson’s hand twitch. And damn it to hell, another piece of my heart snapped off.

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