Page 41 of The Love Destroyers

“He’s dead,” I say, which is no answer at all. Shadow takes another small step in our direction. “She’s close enough for us to get her out, I think.”

“Move over, Emma,” he says, trying to move me. But my mind imagines a different phrase leaving his mouth—bend over, Emma.

“No,” I object, although whether it’s to the thought or to him, I can’t be sure.

“I’m taller. I’ll lean in and scoop her up.”

“What if you get a second concussion?” I ask, turning to him. His face lowers so he can look at me, our faces nearly as close as the one and only time we’ve kissed. A butterfly tries to take flight in my chest, but I mentally smash it with a fly swatter.

“If leaning in and scooping up a cat gives me a second concussion, than I’m in bigger trouble than we thought.”

He’s right, and a part of me wants to share this moment with him. It feels only right for it to be ours. He recognized that Shadow was in there, and we worked together to get to her.

“Who’s going to hold the cloth to your wound while you do it?” I ask.

He gives me a pointed look.

“I don’t like blood.”

“Complain to your mother.”

Fair point. I edge away from the opening after taking one last look at the kitten. Once Seamus is in position, I press my fingertips firmly to the cloth, making him flinch.

“Sorry,” I murmur.

“Can I smash the paperweight later to avenge myself?”

“As long as you don’t smash my mother. I’m mostly convinced it was a mistake.”

He’s laughing slightly, the vibration of it passing through the cloth, as he bends over the hole and lowers his arm inside,moving slowly and with purpose so as not to frighten the little kitten.

There’s such gentleness in the movement—something I wouldn’t have expected from a man like Seamus, and emotion clogs my throat as he lifts the little cat out. It’s small and fuzzy and filthy, covered in dust and probably asbestos and who knows what else. It’s a miracle that she’s alive.

I move with Seamus to keep the cloth pressed to his wound, and he holds the kitten one-handed to take over from me. I go to take the kitten from him, and he holds her to his chest.

Smirking at me, he says, “Not so fast. I want shared custody.”

“Excuse me,” I say, putting a hand to my hip. “Shadow doesnotcome from a broken home.”

“How traditional of you. But I’ll be going for 50-50 custody.”

I raise my eyebrows at him. “And who’s your lawyer?”

“You. You’re going to have a real fight with yourself over this one.”

A warm fondness fills me up, making me woozy. I don’t want to like him like this, but only my skin is stone, and he’s already gotten under it. I like that he wants to do this together, even if it makes no sense since we neither live together nor are a couple.

“Do you honestly want to share her?”

He holds my gaze and nods. “Yes, but that might be the concussion talking. I’ve never had a pet.”

“I killed a succulent.”

He raises the little kitten up in his arm. “You, Shadow, are probably fucked. I’m guessing getting sprung from that wall was the worst thing that ever happened to you.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

SEAMUS

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