Page 43 of Faking Romance

“Whoa!” I call out, chasing after her, but she’s a crafty one. She manages to slide right under my sofa. And when she doesn’t appear again. I get down on my knees and peek into the darkness.

“What the fuck?” I say to myself when I see absolutely nothing until I shine my phone light and see two little eyes open. “Well, shit, you really blend into the darkness, don’t you.”

I stand and walk into my kitchen, grabbing black licorice out of a jar and chewing on a piece while I contemplate what to do. My sister once said black licorice was my only vice. Not sure I agree with her, but it definitely is one of many vices.

I’m considering moving my entire sofa when I hear a “meow” and suddenly this little cat comes waltzing into my kitchen like she owns the place.

She looks up at me and lets out a loud, “Meow!”

“Oh, now you’re hungry,” I grumble as I lean down to pick her up. She tries to grab the licorice out of my other hand. “I don’t think so.”

I stick the rest of it in my mouth and take her back to the bathroom where I fill up her food bowl. She barely waits for the food to hit the bowl before she places her entire head inside it and starts eating it like her mouth is one of those giant claw things on a construction site.

I close the door and grab a shower. I need to go practice for my upcoming guest appearance with the orchestra.

I pull out my phone to text Roxy and see if I can drop this kitten off with her until we can figure out what to do with it when I see a missed text from Pierce.

Pierce: Hey, Haven and I are going up to the lake house this weekend, do you and Roxy want to join us? I’ve invited my brother, Kallen, and his wife, Amber.

I walk straight down to the bookstore. This is a conversation we need to have in person because I’m betting that we will need to share a room and I’m also betting that Roxy will not like it.

I open the bathroom door, and the cat is sitting there.

“Meow!”

“Yeah, yeah. You’re real fucking cute. Come on…Licorice,” I say as I pick up the kitten. She curls into a ball in my hand, and I hold her against my chest while we walk downstairs.

I tap on the door to the bookstore and Jocelyn opens it.

“Awww! Is that the kitten? Roxy told me all about her. Come see your auntie Jocelyn,” she says as she swipes the cat from my arms and trots off toward a bookshelf.

“Hey,” Roxy calls out from the back, waving a hand to get my attention.

“Hey,” I reply because I don’t know how to start this conversation.

“What’s up? How’s the kitten?” she asks as she stands and wipes her hands on her jeans.

“Licorice? She’s fine,” I reply, glancing back over at Jocelyn who is holding the kitten up like the lion cub inThe Lion King.

“Licorice?” she asks.

I rub my temple. “Yeah, I was eating black licorice, and the name sort of stuck.”

She grimaces. “Black licorice. Ew! That’s, like, the worst kind!”

“No, it’s the best kind.” I give her a hard look and she rolls her eyes.

“Whatever. I can’t really watch the kitten. Our soft opening is next week and I need to work on some things,” she says as she motions around the store.

“Oh, I was hoping you could kitten-sit while I go to practice,” I explain as I feel my brows furrow.

“Well, no can do. Maybe Jessa or Troy can watch her?”

I nod and swallow hard because Roxy seems to be giving off “not in the mood” vibes. What the hell?

“So, Pierce just texted me. He and Haven invited us to their lake house Friday night,” I start.

Roxy full-on frowns. “Friday?”

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