Page 87 of Catching Feeling

She comes around the corner and looks so fucking cute I want to walk over and kiss the fuck out of her.

Her hair is down and wavy today, with purple little clippy things holding it back from her face, and she’s wearing a pair of acid-washed, holey jeans with a strappy purple tank top tucked into the front.

Purple. Because my girl loves purple. Fuck, I missed her.

She skids to a stop as her jaw drops, and her eyes widen. For a second, she just stares silently until she finally says, “Reese… what is that?”

“Um… a kitten?” I feign innocence. Clearly, it’s a kitten, but… it’s a kitten that wasn’t here this morning.

Her eyes are wide as she speaks. “I see that, but why is there a kitten here… in your lap?”

I scoop up the little ball of fur into my arms, then stand and cross the room toward her. “Well, because I got her for us. Surprise.”

Her throat works, emotion flickering over her face. “You bought us… a cat?”

“Yep. I mean, technically, I didn’t buy her. I adopted her from the shelter. But I guess we could always take her back if you really don’—”

“No,” she interrupts me urgently. “No, you can’t take her back!” Reaching out, she rubs the top of the kitten’s head softly, and the tiny little thing twists in my arms to go to her. I feel ya, little one. I always want to go to her too.

I hand her over and watch as Viv snuggles her into her arms and kisses the top of her little head as emotion settles on her face. “She’s really going to stay?”

I nod. “Yeah, Sweet Tart, she’s gonna stay. If you want her to.”

“I can’t believe you remembered, Reese,” she says lightly, her blue eyes full of emotion as she looks up at me.

Of course, I remembered. Because when it comes to her, I pay attention. To all of it. All the little details. I know that she hates when her socks don’t match and that she loves the smell of books. Grapes disgust her, and she likes to paint her nails every week and really fucking hates the commercials on TV with the sad animals and that Sarah McLachlan song because they always make her cry.

And of course, I remember that growing up, she was an only child and always wanted a cat.

So I got her one.

Not just because I want to do anything in the world to make her happy but also because I’ve realized that I don’t like that she's going to be here by herself when I’m on the road for games. And I don’t know… I’ll be on the road a lot when I’m drafted, and if we somehow end up together, if she ever wants more with me… I don’t want her to ever feel alone again. If I can’t physically be there with her, now she has our cat to be with her.

“I remember everything, Viv, and I’ve been thinking about it since you told me. I called Rosie to help me find a place that was at capacity, and when she did, I went there as soon as I got home today and adopted her.”

I wasn’t entirely sure if I was ready to be a cat dad yet, but the moment I saw this kitten, I knew she was the one and that I wasn’t going to be leaving there without her. How could I when she is so fucking cute?

She was stretched out on the windowsill of the shelter, her black coat gleaming in the sun as she basked in the sunlight, and when I reached down to rub her head, she meowed and lifted her white-colored paw in greeting. All four of her paws are completely white, a stark difference to the rest of her body. She looks like she’s wearing little boots.

“What should we name her?” Viv asks as she gazes down at her, scratching behind her fuzzy ear.

“What about… Boo? Short for boots because of her paws.” I run my finger along her front paw, and she swipes playfully at it. She’s purring like crazy, and I read online that means they’re happy and content. Judging by the way she’s immediately taken to both Viv and me, she was the perfect choice.

Viv nods, a small smile curving on her lips. “Boo. I like that. I think this is the one. God, Reese, I can’t believe you got us a cat! She’s so perfect.”

Not as perfect as she is. But the kitten is pretty damn cute.

I’m committing this moment to memory in hopes that I never forget how happy Viv looks right now, how radiant she looks when she’s content. How her smile fully reaches her eyes, how I feel like she’s taken root in my heart and ensnared me since the first night that I met her.

I realize this makes me a simp, the way that I feel about her, and I also don’t give a shit anymore.

I’m so fucked-up about this girl that I don’t even care how whipped I seem.

I bought her a damn cat. That’s how bad I’ve got it.

Granted, I fell in love with Boo at first sight, but still. I think it goes to show that she could ask me to rope the goddamn moon, and I’d somehow make it happen.

Because I want to. I want to be the one that makes her smile like this. I want to be the one that takes care of her the same way she takes care of everyone but herself.

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