Page 56 of True Honey
“What?” August’s gaze moved from Ella to me, shocked and confused.
“Do you want a cat?” I asked him again.
“Mom says—”
“Auggie,” I cut him off, “doyouwant a cat?”
Ella stared at me like I was out of control but I was enjoying the tiny adrenaline rush I was getting from doing something I knew would probably blow up in my face later. A cat was permanent, it was what August wanted, maybe what he needed and I was in the position to give it to him. Was I crossing the lines of the contract between Drew and I? Maybe, but in that exact moment, the look of pure excitement on her son's face.I didn’t give a shit.
Cosy looked between us, “I can unlock the shelter. We have a few cats that could be a good fit…” She said quietly.
“It’s up to Auggie,” I said, never breaking eye contact with him.
“You have to tell Mom,” he said, “she’s going to hate this.”
“We can take the truck,” Van said and Zoey squealed with excitement, collecting her bag.
“Can I come?” Dean asked and Cosy shrugged.
The six of us made our way down to the closed shelter, it was quiet inside aside from the occasional mewl and bark. Cosy popped the lights on and let us all into the back behind the employee door where the kennels were.
“There’s three kittens in there, and the rest of the upper kennels are all adult cats…” she waved to the back, “the dogs are—”
She started but the rest of the group were already gone on their way for cuddles leaving August and myself to look at the cats. He walked up and downthe line, completely bypassing the kennel full of tiny fluffy kittens to some of the older cats.
“This one looks friendly,” I said, hooking my finger inside and wiggling it toward the skinny orange cat who looked completely uninterested in my advances. I continued down the row, each cat similar in size but all had different stories and backgrounds. I went to call him over to look at the tabby cat in front of me but August was long gone, his eyes wide at the last kennel in the row and a gentle smile on his face.
“This one,” August said quietly.
I wandered up beside him and looked inside the kennel to find the mangiest cat I’d ever seen with my own eyes. It’s head snapped in my direction with a loud hiss that made me take a step back from the door.
“Auggie, dude. He looks like he has his own brand of fleas,” I sighed.
“He’s been bathed,” Cosy interrupted, “I have the wounds to prove it. We found him in a dumpster, I’ve been calling him Oscar.”
The cat was mostly white, with splotches of orange and dark brown fur that patterned around his ears and ears, spreading out into larger stains along his spine and back legs. His eyes looked old like he had seen some horrors in his long life in Harbor.
“He’s a little grumpy but I think it’s just because he’s been on his own for so long,” Cosy said standing behind August.
I looked at the cat again and oddly enough could see my brother in him. I hated how easily I was swayed by my emotions in situations that had nothing to do with Josh. But at every turn in my life I wanted to do better by him, making things right in the universe that I hadn’t even wronged. And the look on August’s face told me that there was no way we were leaving the shelter without that cat.
“Alright, get me the papers.”
It was a struggle to even get the cat into the travel kennel, that I had to purchase on top of the adoption fees, the toys, the bed, the food… August just kept putting things on the counter and Cosy just kept ringing through.
Arlo was at the island with Josh and Cael when we came in the back door with the cat and a happy August. His eyes narrowed on the kennel and then back tome.Leave it alone.I thought, not saying a word but his lips pursed together and he gave me a tiny shrug.
“Oh shit!” Cael exclaimed, leaning down to peer in the kennel. “What’s this handsome dude's name?” He stuck a finger in the kennel and the cat purred, leaning against the door and welcoming the touch.Of course it likes Cael.
“Red,” August said.
Josh looked around at all of us with the funniest smile on his face, knowing how much they all hated the color.
“Why Red?” Arlo asked, his brows coming together in the center.
“After the Cincinnati Reds.”
“Wow,” I swore under my breath. He had picked the name because he overheard me talking to the press about cheering for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was too smart and too quick for his age. August unlocked the cage and Red sauntered out over the counter, eyeing me carefully before it flopped down and rolled straight into the outstretched arms of Arlo.
