Page 105 of Waiting Game

“How do you know I found her?”

Shit.

Me: I mean, did you adopt her or buy her?

“Adopt don’t shop.”

Her outrage covers for me.

“And I found her at this bar where—” Mia clears her throat. “—I used to work. She was trash can diving. I lured her in with tinned salmon and ever since, she thinks she deserves that.”

Me: And she helped you find your other cats? How many do you have? You’ve never said.

She goes on to tell me about her other cats, and how she found them.

That’s when I ask:

Me: You have more tattoos than cats.

“You noticed them?”

Me: How couldn’t I?

“Cupid wasn’t my first cat. I lost some along the way.” She lifts her shirt and shows me the one with the cat pawing a star in the sky. “Celeste. They don’t stay with us long enough.”

Me: I agree.

“Do you have pets?”

Me: No. I don’t have a lifestyle that permits any.

“That’s sad.”

Me: I guess it is.

Me: I used to, though. When I was a kid.

“What kind of animal?”

Me: Horses.

“Ohh, really?”

Me: Yes. I’ve always loved them.

“Couldn’t you have a horse? I mean, not to be funny, but you can afford to pay me fourteen grand a week so I’m going to assume you could afford to keep horses.”

My lips twitch.

Me: I could. I never thought about it.

“Why not?”

Me: I don’t know. I lost my heart horse and ever since, I guess I struggle with the idea of replacing her.

“You can never replace them, but our hearts are big and they find spots for themselves in there.”

Me: You think so?

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