Page 23 of Unforeseen Love

Sienna

I wake, stiff, having fallen after the third of fourth feed of the night, I can’t even be sure, but it’s not my uncomfortable body which roused me but the noise coming from nearby.

Squinting, I blink away sleep until I can make out the source. Theo is sitting on the floor, leaning against the sofa, with Morticia in his lap as he feeds her. I bring my wrist into view and check my watch to see it’s just after seven.

Groaning, I move into a sitting position. Theo’s head turns in my direction.

“You were out for the count, so I thought I’d take the early shift.”

I throw my legs off the couch.

“What, no wakeup call with a saucepan?”

He actually chuckles.

“Touché.”

Reaching into the basket, I give the other kittens a quick stroke and then glance over to my right when something catches my eye.

“What’s that?” I ask, walking over for closer inspection.

It’s a dedicated space for the kittens. The cat bed is in the corner with a section of floor covered in newspaper and the litter tray in the other and toys scattered. It’s a small, enclosed area, so they’ll feel safe when they’re left alone.

“You did this?” I ask and immediately want to face palm. It’s a stupid question, obviously he did.

He comes up behind me and places the sleeping kittens from the laundry basket onto the cat bed. He smells fresh out of the shower and I’m suddenly very aware how I must stink. Not that it should bother me… what he thinks about me is irrelevant, right?

“Thought it might redeem myself in way of an apology.”

And that’s when I remember that bloody TikTok. I neither confirm nor deny I accept his attempt at an apology.

To be fair, I watched it a few times and found myself laughing, not that I’d admit it to him, of course.

Besides, payback is a bitch, and I’ll get my retribution when he least expects it.

By the end of the day, I am exhausted. Between work and rushing back to take care of the kittens, I’m literally sleeping on my feet. And I still have to look after them throughout the night too. I’ve emailed a local cat rescue centre, hoping they might be able to help, or at least offer some kind of foster home. It’s not that I don’t already love them, it’s just four kittens is too much.

“Did they get back to you?” Theo asks as I’m tucking into my extra-large pot noodle. He eyes the container and I pull it closer to me, I don’t need to see his judgement.

I shake my head. “No, not yet.” I cover my yawn with the back of my hand.

“I was going to order pizza; did you want anything?”

My eyes glance up to him and back to the noodles already wrapped around the fork. I won’t lie, pizza does sound good.

“What toppings do you like?”

Slurping the noodles, I quickly swallow them down to answer. “I don’t mind, as long as it has no mushrooms or chicken.”

He cocks an eyebrow. “What about pineapple?”

I nod. “Pineapple is fine. Just hate mushrooms and I just can’t stand chicken on pizza, it’s suspicious.”

Scrunching up his nose in disgust, he says, “But pineapple isn’t?”

He’s tapping away on his phone.

“Oh, you’re one of them.”

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