Page 47 of Goalie Interference

“It doesn’t look like it. She could have jumped down already if she wanted. Why don’t I get you some water while you’re figuring it out.”

He nodded, but I wasn’t sure he was listening. There was a groove between his eyebrows as he watched the two animals.

I pulled out a glass and filled it with cool water from the fridge door. I set it on the counter by Remy and nudged him.“You should drink. If they start something, you grab your dog’s leash and I’ll tackle Goober.”

He turned to me and smiled. Damn, that was a good smile. The left side tipped up a little more than the right, giving him a charming lopsided appearance. His eyes creased at the outside corners. “I’m not sure which of us would be in more danger in that situation.”

I was smiling back at him before I’d even thought about it. “I’ll use oven mitts.”

He picked up the glass and swallowed. I turned away to get myself some water.

Remy set down the empty glass and checked on the animals. “Thanks, Sophie. I needed that.” His face hardened. “We’re heading out to Finland tomorrow, so we were at a thing. I had a little too much to drink.”

“Finland?” He nodded. “Why?”

“Oh. Global series. We play Florida there for a couple of games.”

That sounded odd, but I could check it out later. “You didn’t drive, did you?”

“Uber.”

“Good.” For a few moments, we just watched the animals. “I’m surprised Beast hasn’t escaped before.”

“I’ll be more careful.”

“It’s not a big deal. I don’t think he can get out of the fence, so he should be safe. Since Goober doesn’t seem to be threatened by him.”

“I’d rather not take the chance. My luck, Beast would find a hole and head right out onto a road.”

It didn’t seem, by the way Beast had run in front of me, that he had a lot of car sense, so the fear was reasonable. I looked at the animals again. “How long do you think they’ll keep it up this time?”

He shook his head. “No idea.”

I took his glass, filled it up with water again and set it down near him.

“So whatdoyou think they’re doing?” I asked.

“It’s not dominance, I don’t think. Your cat has the high ground, but they’re not showing any aggression. And I don’t think it’s territorial, since the behavior has been the same at my place as here.”

He’d been thinking about this. “Maybe they’re flirting,” I suggested.

He turned to look at me again. “Flirting?”

I shrugged. “They’re simple animals, right? They have their physical needs met, so they’re not hungry or thirsty. We’ve ruled out dominance and territory. What’s left?”

“Loneliness?”

Something in his expression… Remy understood loneliness. Maybe not being alone—he played on a team—but being lonely. That hooked something inside me. I knew that feeling too.

I turned away. “Cats are supposed to like being on their own.”

“Not dogs. They’re pack animals.”

And humans? Most of us didn’t like to be alone. “How long are we going to wait on them?”

Remy looked my way. “Sorry, we’re keeping you up?”

“That’s fine. Just wondered if I should plan breakfast for them.”

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