Page 37 of Under the Mistle-Foe

“Don’t mind him. I like to think he’s doing a ritual to fight off nightmares,” Jett commented when he returned from brushing his teeth. He handed me a new toothbrush so I could go do the same.

I found him cuddled in bed when I returned. Spice had settled down and was lying between Jett’s legs while Sugar was on his stomach. He looked up from his phone with an eager smile, patting the space beside him.

I slid under the cool sheets, careful not to disturb the little kitties, but my movements must have jostled them anyway.

Sugar jumped off Jett’s stomach to cuddle his side away from me, and Spice didn’t seem too pleased that another human had invaded his bed. He shot me an annoyed look before whipping his head away like he didn’t want to look at me.

“I don’t think he likes me very much,” I said. Jett laughed and leaned forward to give Spice a long stroke, which had him leaning into the touch, requesting more.

I told myself I couldn’t be jealous of a cat, but when the damn cat gave me the smuggest expression I’d ever seen, I couldn’t take it and grabbed Spice. I held his front paws, so he was standing on his two back legs facing me and gave him a stern talking to.

“Listen, you may not like me, but you’re just gonna have to get used to it, ‘cause I’m not going anywhere,” I said sternly. His ears twitched, and just as I thought my words were getting to him, he broke out of my hold and whacked me in the nose. At least the little bastard was considerate enough to keep his claws sheathed.

I wasn’t going to take the beating sitting down, though, soI gave back just as good. I mostly swung my hand in front of Spice, because I didn’t actually want to hurt him, but I’d make sure he learned who was the top dog around him.

Spice didn’t back down either, and used both his front paws to launch an attack against my hands. After a few seconds, I couldn’t tell if I was teaching him a lesson or just being used as his entertainment as he jumped around trying to get at my hands.

Jett suddenly barked out a laugh from beside me. Almost eerily in sync, Spice and I both whipped our heads toward him, which only made Jett laugh even harder.

“Oh, you think this is funny? I’ll give you something to laugh about,” I warned, then tackled Jett to the bed and launched my tickle attack. Jett kept laughing as he tried to push me off, but I didn’t back down until I had both his hands pinned above his head. Jett’s eyes were wet from, I assumed, all the laughing as he took calming breaths.

“You’re not going anywhere?” he whispered the words, letting his vulnerability show. I loved seeing him all open for me, and I wanted to always be that safe space for him to let him show this rare side of himself.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I repeated and sealed the words with a soft kiss.

His lips yielded under mine, firm but pliant, as we relished in the taste of each other. It was a new experience for me.

Kissing my exes was only a means to get off in the end. We’d never kissed just for the sake of kissing, and I had to admit it was nice.

I’d never given relationships or my sexuality much thought. Like I’d told Jett, I had more important things to think about rather than question why I’d never had crushes like all my classmates had in school.

After Mom passed, I considered it a blessing that I mightnever like anyone and have to go through what Dad went through. But now Jett had his tight grip on me and held me like I was something precious.

Maybe letting someone into my heart wasn’t such a bad thing after all.

CHAPTER 16

JETT

I wokeup sleeping on my side at the edge of the bed. Warm purring snuggled into my back, threatening to push me closer to the ground. I turned around, trying my best not to squish the fur babies behind me. They did their big stretches and decided they’d rather lie on top of, instead of beside, me now.

I’d woken up a while ago when it was still dark outside to Remy leaving the bed. He’d softly told me he needed to go home to get ready for work before tucking me back under the covers. I had the faint feeling of a soft kiss on my forehead before slipping back into dreamland.

Though I wasn’t able to wake up with Remy, he’d stayed the night. We’d cuddled together and did so much more, andI think we’re boyfriends now too!

I hugged Sugar, squealing into her furry belly and kicking my legs like I was a lovesick teenager. Always the goodest girl, Sugar didn’t complain and simply slouched her body over my head. Meanwhile, I could feel Spice trying to tackle my flailing feet.

When I’d finally had enough of lying in bed, I did mymorning routine while checking my phone to find a text message from Remy saying he’d made me some breakfast and left the plate in the microwave.

I was practically floating as I fed the cats, then warmed up and ate my own breakfast. I sent Remy a picture of me enjoying the meal he’d made me, and he immediately texted back that he wished he was there to give me a good morning kiss.

My phone almost flew out of my hands with how shocked I was to get that text, then I naturally took a screenshot of our messages to immortalize it forever. I quickly finished my meal, and even though I’d just seen him a few hours earlier, I was already missing Remy.

I made sure the cats had everything they needed and gave them some extra loving before leaving the house to head to the diner. I smiled when the mistletoe arch that stood in front of the diner’s door came into view. Remy and Adam must have started adding to it since there were now a dozen or so little ornaments and charms hanging from its leaves.

I’d witnessed this tradition happen years ago when Remy’s mom was still here. They’d fill the entire arch up with happy memories from throughout the year, and I always thought it was a beautiful thing to end the year with, so I was glad they were continuing this tradition to highlight the happiness life had to offer them.

Walking through the mistletoe arch and entering the diner, I suddenly felt a bit shy. We’d never really talked about how we’d act after last night. When we were in public, did he want to act like nothing had happened?

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