Page 11 of Pretty Little Kitty

“I’m dealing,” Macey insisted. “I don’t need to update you every single time...” She grabbed the spoon off the counter, stirring the rice as if it had somehow wronged her. It was anger with nowhere to go. Trauma surfacing in safe places. Her brows were furrowed, her movements tense and abrupt.

Suero leaned casually against the counter, arms crossed, towering over Macey’s petite frame. “I ran into him today.”

The lid clanked as she placed it back on the pot. “Who are we discussing?” She finally looked up at him, brows slightly arched. “Kia?”

Though she was Percy’s mom, Macey had no clue about the shifter world. Suero had to tread carefully. He couldn’t tell her that Kia had entered wolf territory without permission.

“He was at Carver’s Hardware.”

Macey wiped her hands on a duck-patterned kitchen towel, eyeing him closely. “Did you talk to him?”

Suero already shared with her about Kia ghosting him, and she’d said it was Kia’s loss. But she knew how much it had affected him. For some reason, Suero confided in her about things he would never share with anyone else.

“Yeah.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I was supposed to take him home.” Not a complete lie. Suero had been ordered to take Kia to the territory line, which was in the same general direction as Carver’s.

“But you didn’t.” She kept studying him.

Suero chewed on his lower lip. “He’s scared of motorcycles.” He hadn’t asked why. Just recalled Kia mentioning it in one of his texts, and was reminded of it again today.

Macey playfully tapped his arm with the back of her hand. “I can tell you’re dying to talk about what happened. Quit giving me bits and pieces and just tell me everything.”

“You gonna feed me?” He eyed the pot of rice with a sudden hunger.

“As long as you don’t offer to clean my entire kitchen again,” she teased, making Suero blush. He still felt awkward around her, but he was gradually learning to relax. Sort of.

When Macey tried to make him a plate, he insisted she sit while he served himself. He placed a small bowl of rice in front of her when she declined the ribs.

After grabbing two bottles of juice from the fridge, Suero sat across from her and began to share what had happened.

“Suero!” she exclaimed, her face turning red. “Maybe keep some of the details to yourself.”

He averted his eyes, mistakenly thinking he could be completely candid with her. They were both adults but he’d clearly crossed a line.

She reached across the table and gently grasped his wrist. “You didn’t do anything wrong, honey. I’m just not used to anyone being that open with me. Don’t ever feel like you have to censor your words around me. You just caught me by surprise.” She chuckled, letting go of him. “How do you feel about what happened?”

“Fantastic,” he replied honestly.

“I meant your conversation with him, not your intimate moment, dear.”

“Oh.” He bit his lower lip. “Do you think I gave in too easily?”

“Was he being genuine with you?”

Suero shrugged. “I think he was.”

“Then why make him squirm?” She sighed. “I’m no expert, Suero. Look at my marriage. But if he’s a genuinely good guy who was just scared, I would forgive him. That’s just my take. You need to do what feels right for you.”

Already, he missed Kia. If it had been up to him, Kia would have stayed the night. Suero was going to have to talk to Matias. He wanted more time with his kitty cat, but the only way to make that happen was to get his alpha’s approval.

“Oh my god.” Suero smacked the table with the palm of his hand as he chewed then swallowed the rice. “This right here?” He couldn’t even finish his thought. “Perfecto, cariña.”

She blew across her nails, smirking at him. “Tell me something I don’t know.”

He chuckled, shaking his head, inwardly exhaling. “Habría matado por tener una madre como tú. Eres una bendición en un mundo lleno de violencia. Siempre apreciaré lo que tenemos.”

I would have killed to have a mother like you. You are a blessing in a world filled with violence. I will always cherish what we have.

Her cheeks flushed a rebellious shade of red. “Touché to whatever you just said.”

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