Page 25 of Unforeseen Love

I ignore him and sit down, opening both pizza boxes and slicing up the Hawaiian first, tilting my head for him to take a slice.

He picks it up. “Oh no, I’m using my hands,” he says in his usual mocking tone, and I’m tempted to poke out my tongue, but the memory of his remark the last time prevents me from doing it again.

Sniffing it, he eyes the slice in his hands suspiciously and then brings it to his mouth. For the first time, I notice how full his lips are, and I watch as he eats. There is something powerful in the way he swallows. All too soon, he’s finished, flicking his tongue out to lick his thumb and forefinger.

But it’s the smug look on his face that has me swallowing hard.Shit.

ChapterSixteen

Theo

I couldn’t resist last night with the pineapple pizza, and to be fair, it wasn’t even all that bad, but I wasn’t about to tell her that, not when she’s indebted to me and I plan on collecting. Do I know what I have in store? Of course not, but will it be fun holding it over her head when I see fit? Abso-fucking-lutely.

She was up most of the night with those kittens again, and I even ended up helping this morning again too. Something will have to give though, no way can this carry on for much longer. I cannot afford for her to end up too exhausted to work, not now anyway.

Truth is though, those little fuckers sure know how to wrap you around their little paws. Now that I think about it, that actually gives me an idea.

Grabbing my phone off my dresser, I hit dial.

“Teddy? Is everything okay?” My aunt asks.

I glance at the clock. Seven twenty, fuck.

“Yeah, sorry, I didn’t realise it was still early.”

Sitting up, I rest against the headboard.

“Don’t worry, I’m always up with the birds,” she says in her sweet, comforting tone.

“I actually rang because we’ve found ourselves in a bit of a dilemma.”

I hear the sound of the patio door opening and know she’s probably going outside to check the bird bath has water.

“Oh, what’s that then?”

“Well, hmm, Sienna was putting the bins out the other night and found a box with some abandoned kittens.”

My aunt lets out a gasp. “Oh no, were they all right?”

I nod but remember she can’t see me. “Yeah, but they were covered in fleas and can only be about four weeks old.”

She tuts, and I can imagine her frowning in disgust.

“Anyway, Sienna and I bathed them, and we got some bits for them, but as you can imagine, they’re proving a handful with the feeding and stuff. And the rescue centre hasn’t gotten back to us.”

“Ewan,” she calls out but must be covering the phone or holding it away from her mouth. “Teddy found some kittens that need looking after,” she says. I hear a muffled reply, but not what he actually said.

“It would only be until we can get them fostered,” I assure her, hoping she’s still listening to me. “It’s just there’s no way we can keep up with the amount of care they need and still handle work,” I say.

“Of course we’ll take them,” she says.

“Yeah, just until we can get something more permanent sorted out.”

I make all the arrangements to drop them to theirs later this evening, already feeling a little better knowing they’ll be in good hands.

Phil: Everyone up for a zoom on Sunday?

Smiling, I quickly reply.

---