Page 11 of New Year, New You and Me

“Here, attach the fluid bag to the hanger like that,” I instruct. “Then hang it to your shower curtain rod. It’ll help the fluids flow more quickly which means you and Pigeon can get this over faster.”

“That’s smart.” Molly does as I’ve instructed. Then, under my guidance, she makes a little bed for Pigeon on the ground and sets out some of her favorite treats.

Once the cat is happily perched on the makeshift bed chowing down on her treats, I show Molly the best place and way to insert the needle.

Pigeon doesn’t make so much as a peep as the subcutaneous fluids start to do their thing.

Molly practically collapses against the bathroom wall. I settle in next to her, and she turns her head to look at me.

“I…” She shakes her head. “I don’t have words. Thank you hardly seems like enough.”

“It can be overwhelming at first.” I reach out to take her hand. I stroke her knuckles with my thumb. “But if anyone can figure out how to do it, I know you can.”

Molly stares at me for a moment. Then, without another word she narrows the distance between us. She presses her lips to mine. I groan as their soft fullness firmly mold against me.

With a groan, I slide my hand to the back of her neck, angling my head to deepen the kiss and get a better taste of her.

Warmth and excitement flow through me. It’s more than desire, though there’s plenty of that. There’s more than want or need, though God knows I want and need her so much I hurt.

What strikes me most as our mouths move together is a sense of rightness. A feeling that this is where we were both supposed to be all along.

FIVE

MOLLY

“You have to be kidding. He really did that?”

My throat swells, and I have to clear it twice before I can finish telling Angela about what happened last night.

“No joke,” I say, my voice thick. “He gave Pigeon her fluids with the skill of a vet tech who’s done it thousands of times.”

I suppose he has probably done it hundreds—if not thousands—of times with his own Charlie.

“I haven’t even told you the best part.” I take a deep breath. “He made up a song for Pigeon. It was silly”—not to mention that his voice is super pitchy—“but she purred the whole time he sang it to her.”

On the phone screen, Angela’s jaw drops practically to her chest. “And then what happened?”

“Well…” I chew on my bottom lip, a smile tugging on the sides. “I did what any person in my situation would do.”

“Please say you pushed him up against the bathroom wall and stuck your tongue in his mouth.”

“I didn’t push him up against the wall.” My smile cracks at last. “But, yeah, I did. And, oh my God. It was so freaking hot.”

Angela lets out a scream. From her perch on the edge of the couch, Pigeon lifts her head and gives a raspy meow of complaint.

“Sorry, sweetie,” Angela says. “I’m just so excited that your mommy has finally found you a daddy.”

“Hey, let’s not get carried away with ourselves.” My heart pounds a bit faster. “It was one kiss after one kind gesture. We’re not exactly setting a date or booking a church. I’m not even sure I even like the guy.”

“Oh, please.” Angela rolls her eyes. “The two of you have had this whole will-they-won’t-they thing going on for way too long. It’s always been only a matter of time before the two of you finally quit fighting it and banged.”

“Maybe this was just a one-time fluke.”

“Fluke my ass. You’re falling for him. And he’s clearly crazy about you.”

“I don’t know…”

He was so helpful. So in command yet understanding and sweet. Has he always been this way, and I was too busy keeping my guard up to see it?

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