Page 42 of Not My Fault

“They are adorable! Are they friendly?” Emily asks, sitting on the floor near them.

“Truthfully, they’re usually shy at first, so I’m shocked they’re even out right now,” I admit.

“Hello,” Emily says in a baby voice to Bitsy and holds out her hand.

Both cats walk over and sniff it before deciding they like her and rubbing their side along her legs. Emily pets their bodies as they each lay on either side of her and I watch in amazement. It took Kenzie months for them to warm up to her like this. I was shocked they were so warm and welcoming. I guess it’s because they can tell I trust and like her? The real test will be Cat Burglar, he is the most temperamental of the bunch.

“Oh my goodness, he’s so pretty!” Emily says as Cat Burglar comes out of the bedroom. Probably because the others are purring under Emily’s touch.

“He’s not as friendly as the others, so just beware,” I tell her.

But of course, he does the opposite and goes right up to her, rubbing his back along her back and looks up at me like I’m some kind of a liar. Of course he does. I toss my hands in the air in defeat.

“Clearly they like me.” Emily laughs.

“Well, I’ve had them for years and I can say they aren’t like this with anyone else.”

“I’m very much a cat person. I want to get one, but Georgie is allergic.” She sighs.

“Well, you can come visit them anytime you want.” I smile.

She looks back at me, beaming, a smile as big as her face. Sitting with my cats, she looks relaxed as can be. Eventually they decide they’ve had enough and leave to sit in their spots by the window to soak in the last bit of the sun. It’s summer, so the sunset is still late in the day. Emily takes a seat next to me on the couch and I look at her. Blonde hair tightly wound in a ponytail, a pink T-shirt with her slogan on it, and sweatpants that hide curves I know she has. She is so gorgeous without even trying.

“Why does your face look like that? Do you have to poop?” Emily asks and we both start laughing.

“No.” I playfully shove her arm, and she relaxes.

“I thought I’d have a better way of saying this, but I guess I’ll just say it.”

“If you’re trying to break up with me, I swear I’m going to hit you with this pillow,” Emily says, eyeing the throw pillow next to me.

“No, just the opposite, actually.” I rub the back of my head awkwardly.

“What?” She looks at me, confused.

“I don’t want this to be fake anymore. I want a chance to be your real partner,” I say quickly.

Emily’s face is unreadable. I have no idea if she’s trying to think of a way to let me down gently or tell me she loves me.

“Okay.” Emily nods.

“Okay?” I’m going to need a little more of a response than that from her.

“I-I like you too. But I never would’ve had the guts to say it. I thought you were ending this and that’s why you wanted me to come over.” Emily laughs nervously.

“You like me too?” I relax a little as I repeat her words.

“Yes, but I wasn’t sure you felt the same.” Emily picks at the fuzz on the pillow and avoids eye contact with me. I tilt their chin up to look at me.

“Can I kiss you?” I know we’d kissed before, but this is different, and I want to be sure this is what she wants.

“Yes.” She smiles and her cheeks turn pink.

Leaning in, I slowly press my lips to hers and we both smile. Trying again, I keep my eyes shut as I kiss her, soft lips disappear into mine. Holding her face in my hands, I feel her cheeks warming up. My heartbeat quickens as she slips her tongue in my mouth. Mine tangles with hers, and it becomes a mess—we’re unable to tell whose is whose. The kiss deepens and I melt under her. I’ve kissed her before, but it was nothing like this. This isn’t some show kiss, it’s just for us. We don’t care how we look or if anyone is watching. This is for our pleasure only.

“I like kissing you,” I say as we both stop to catch our breath.

“I like kissing you too.” Emily bites down on her bottom lip and I groan.

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