Page 132 of Debts and Desires
“I didn’t think to. He only had an upset stomach for a little. By the time I saw you next, we were fuckin’ like rabbits again and it slipped my mind. And then you asked, and I felt guilty.” He paused, swallowing. “I don’t know if you noticed. I’m not exactly the best when it comes to talkin’.”
“You don’t say?” I responded sarcastically. He rolled his eyes. “But it’s fine. Just tell me next time, okay? Well, I mean, hopefully there won’t be a next time with Mac eating them… but you know what I mean.” He only stared.
“You done?” I nodded. “Good. Because I’m starvin’. Andnotjustfor the food.” His eyes danced over me. “I’ll make up for not tellin’ you about your pills just as soon as we’re done eatin’.”
Jeez.
52. LOOKS LIKE THE CAT’S IN THE BAG
November 18
Day Eighty-Three
Ifound myself crossing paths with Cassie more frequently than expected in the days following. Surprisingly, our interactions were civil, evolving into something resembling an acquaintance. I never imagined that she and I could find common ground, but we did. Cassie even invited me to join her and a unenthusiastic Tyler for Thanksgiving dinner. It caught me off guard at first, but I accepted. I hadn’t had a “real” Thanksgiving in years. By the time I saw Carter, however, I forgot to mention it to him. It probably had something to do with his mouth immediately finding its way between my legs on the office couch. Then we went home for lunch where we ate and fucked again.
As we were leaving to head back to the shop, Mac gave me the saddest puppy eyes imaginable. I convinced Carter to let him come to the shop with us. By the time we got back to the garage, I’d forgotten about the invitation.
I—as always—was nose deep in my notebook, trying to come up with yet another song. I’d already annoyed Carter by asking a million times what rhymed with this word and that word. Towhich he eventually replied, “Do I look like a damn thesaurus, Emogen?”
“No. Just a grumpy old creeper,” I giggled. He took a deep breath, cursing to himself as he stared up at the ceiling.
“Quit tryin’ to bait me. I have to get this done.”
“Fine.” I rolled my eyes, going back to my songs. It’d been quiet for a while that I hadn’t noticed the lack of canine hanging around until he approached.
Mac came trotting into the open bay, stopping in front of me. Despite it being the middle of November, today had been surprisingly nice out. I went to scruff Mac when he dropped something warm in my lap. Something warm and fluffy that mewed once while shaking like a leaf. Mac laid on the floor, looking up at me and the tiny creature he had just given me. I tossed my notebook to the floor and gasped, picking the kitten up.
“What’s wrong?” Carter said, sliding out from under the car he was working on and standing. I hurried over to him and held out my hands for him to see.
“Mac brought it in,” I told him. Carter looked at his dog, anger flashing over him.
“Where the fuck did you get it?” he scolded Mac. Mac covered his eyes with a paw, shrinking behind me. “Don’t cower behind your mama.”
“Be nice,” I scolded back, ignoring the flutter in my chest from Carter calling me Mac’s mama again. “He was just trying to help it.”
“More like eat it, I’m sure.” Carter looked back at the kitten, wiping his hand on his coveralls before touching the top of its tiny head. “Is it hurt?” The kitten mewed again as if answering for itself.
“I don’t think so,” I replied. He held out his hands. I reluctantly gave him the creature.
“C’mere tiny little—” he turned the kitten up and moved its tail, “—girl.” He pulled her to his chest, gently lifting her paws and looking at her. I could hear her purrs from where I wasstanding. “Sweet little thing,” he cooed in such a soft, sweet voice. I could’ve melted. He stroked her fur softly with one finger. She mewed again, stretching her back up to meet his strokes. “She seems fine. Just needs some love.”
“We should look around, make sure he didn’t take her from her mom,” I offered. Carter gave a nod and the two of us headed outside to look. Carter, of course, cursed at Mac the whole time, telling him he better not have stolen the poor thing. “This is why you’re not allowed to come to work,” he said. But our search came up empty, as if she’d appeared out of thin air.
“I’ll call Doc Nelson and see if she can look her over.” I gave a nod.
Carter put the kitten in the crook of his arm as he walked to the counter where his phone sat.
“Hey, Doc. Mac brought me a kitten. Didn’t find any others anywhere. Can I bring her in to make sure she’s okay and then find her a home?”
As I listened to Carter talk to the vet, I looked at the small black thing he was holding over a little more. She looked familiar somehow, like I’d met her before. And then it dawned on me.
Bandit!
“Alright. We’ll be there soon,” Carter said, hanging up a moment later.
“She looks like Bandit!” I beamed. Carter raised a brow. “Bandit? You know, the poster in your office?”
“The one you talk to?” I didn’t dignify him with an answer right away, instead opting to stick my tongue out.
