Page 114 of Always Salty

“So what the hell are we going to do with them all?” I asked the group of women.

Milena, Nastya, Brecken, and I stared at the cats that’d all been separated into crates.

“There are fifty left,” I stated. “And all of them are mostly kittens.”

“I can’t believe that your brother took the Serval.” Brecken laughed.

Copper had taken the Serval.

Their personalities right now suited each other well.

Both of them were cranky and angry at the world.

And neither one of them got along with Chevy right now.

Shit.

“They suited each other well,” I echoed my thoughts. “We can take them to the club again. See who wants one from there.”

“I have a friend that I think might take one or two,” Brecken offered. “I met her at the school this year. She’s a brand new first year teacher, and she’s looking for a new furry friend.”

“Oh, I have a few I can ask, too,” Desi, Nastya’s stepdaughter, cried out. “Let me make a few calls!”

I loved Desi.

She was so peppy and excited all the time, unharmed by the dark part of life.

It took us two hours, but between our social media posts, our friends, and family, all of the cats but seven were adopted.

We delivered them all, until we were left with a random smorgasbord of kittens.

“Hey, didn’t you say that Natasha’s friend took care of the cats when she was busy?” Desi looked over to me.

My mouth opened slightly, and a dawning sense of horror washed over me. “I forgot all about her.”

I immediately called Dima, who muttered a few choice words under his breath.

“He’s on it,” I added.

We’d just met up for a quick drink at Milena’s coffee shop when a woman charged out of her car, heading toward the bakery.

“What is that about?” I wondered.

“Maven’s not there,” Nastya called out. “The bakery is closed for the day!”

The woman looked over at me and her eyes widened.

Dorie.

Oh, boy.

“Oh, boy.” Milena echoed my thoughts, having recognized her.

“I was supposed to pick up a cake for my engagement party an hour ago, and I forgot!” she cried out, then her eyes narrowed. “New friends, Keely?”

I rolled my eyes. “Family.”

Her mouth curled into a sneer as she realized Milena was the one speaking to her now.

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