Page 34 of Teaching the Kot'oll Coach

But I’m supposed to keep my distance. This isn’t going to work. I...

He says, “I can drive you back in mine and I can... Um... Drive you to work tomorrow.”

“No thanks. I’m really fine.” Except I want to stay with him, but I know I shouldn’t get too close to anyone. That isn’t even because Telke is bad.

“I know you’re fine, I just... Okay, I understand.”

I take a breath. “Maybe you can drive me home.”

What the fuck am I thinking?

He cups my cheeks in his hands. “Let’s get going then.”

My heart skips a beat. He walks off, so I follow. It looks like he is very fine, so...

Something about him keeps tugging at me. I don’t understand.

The drive to my place isn’t long. It takes almost no time before we’re at the door. He still has the handsome smile on his face. My heart skips a beat as he waits for me to go inside.

But...

“Um... Have you seen a cat before?”

What am I saying? What’s wrong with me?

He blinks. “The animal humans love that has four legs and pointy ears?”

“Yeah, that.”

“I have seen a few. But it sounds like you have one behind the door.”

“Yes. Have you touched one before?” Oh well, Ossa isn’t going to be happy about this.

He shakes his head. “I’ve been hoping to pat one, but I don’t know anyone who has one.”

I gesture at the door. “Now that you’re here, may as well...”

He blinks. I’m not sure whether this is a good idea. I... I do want to spend more time with him, but at the same time...

He says, “Sure, if you’re comfortable with that. See...” He flexes his arms. “I know some think I’m intimidating. It has been that way since... I mean, it would be great if I can meet your cat.”

“His name is Ossa.” I open the door. “Give me a second to locate him first.” I hope Ossa won’t end up hurting Telke, he has some sharp claws after all.

“Okay.” Telke grins and folds his arms as he waits.

I get into the house. My heart pounds in my chest a bit too strong for me to ignore. My cheeks are burning, and I can only hope he didn’t see that.

Why must he mess with me with his existence all the time?

Ossa is on the couch. He watches me with lazy eyes, doesn’t seem to see what’s coming. He can be a well-behaved cat when he wants to, but cats being cats...

I go to him and stroke him. “Look, my friend is coming. You don’t scare him, okay?”

He says nothing. What am I expecting, anyway?

I pour cat food in his bowl. It doesn’t take a blink before he is there already. Maybe he has been there the moment I took the bag. “Here you go, don’t embarrass me.”

He purrs. I’d pretend he agreed.

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