Page 27 of A Love Like Pumpkin Spice
Kieran: ??Bestie Goals: Actresses Nic Duncan And Lauren Kaufman Stun On The Red Carpet.
Kieran: Helloooo?
Chapter 8
Henry
“Is it Halloween already? You’re as white as a ghost!” Kieran’s bashful greeting is followed by a more subdued, “Seriously, though. Are you okay, Nic?”
My head whips around when I hear her name and the worry in his voice. Jensen jumps up with a happy growl, thinking we’re leaving, but I gently push him back down.
“Sorry, sorry, we’re not going yet,” I whisper, but my eyes are on the back of her blonde head and uncharacteristically ruffled hair.
“You sure know how to compliment a woman,” Nic answers, sarcasm dripping from her voice, then playfully pushes Kieran aside. “Caleb. I need coffee. Urgently. I ran out, and I’m running on two hours of sleep. Three extra espresso shots, please.”
“Are you sure that’s wise?” Caleb’s brow furrows, his eyes darting from her face to the window as if trying to find an escape route. But she nods and points at his coffee machine impatiently. I catch Kieran’s eyes over the counter, seeing the eagerness to ask her about her job shining in them, and subtly shake my head.
I don’t know why he deems it important. After all, it’s only a job. He wasn’t that surprised when he learned I was a vet or that Caleb owned the café.
“Two. Hours. Caleb. Chop chop, there’s a kitten in my car, and I need liquid consciousness.” She slaps her hand on the counter, then curses under her breath when her palm hurts. “Please.”
Caleb’s eyes widen, and he turns around without another word. And once Nic turns around, his reaction makes a lot of sense. I haven’t seen her in the past five days. Ever since she brought that kitten that could go head-to-head with Mariah Carey at her glitteriest to me, but now she looks … unhinged. Like she’s been through a bar brawl. And lost. Twice.
Her bloodshot eyes appear as though she would set the world on fire with them if she could. She’s got dark bags under her eyes, and the color of her face resembles the milk Caleb is frothing up to make her espresso shots somewhat drinkable.
“Now we’re leaving,” I whisper to Jensen, grabbing my coffee as I get up. Caleb shoots me a glare that’s probably supposed to say, “Don’t do it, man,” but I can’t help it.
I know what’s keeping her awake. And there’s no way I can put the life of tiny kitten into the hands of a woman who had two hours of sleep. When I became a vet, I vowed to devote my life to saving animals—I truly have an obligation to step in. It’s a completely unselfish act of heroism I’m performing here.
“Yeah, you’re not drinking that.” I take the paper cup out of Caleb’s hand as he tries to hand it to her.
“I’m asking this with all due respect, Henry, but do you want to die today?”
Her angry eyes drill into my face, but I don’t relent. I put the cup down in front of Kieran, way out of her reach. Then I grab an empty one from the other side of the counter and pour my own coffee in there, and finally put both into a cup carrier.
“Doyou? You’re about three yawns away from becoming a cautionary tale. Let’s go before you pass out mid-glare. Come on.”
“Give me that coffee,” she complains, but I keep it out of her reach.
“We’re taking my car.”
“The hell we are,” she argues, almost running into the glass door.
“Nic.” I step closer and lean in until my mouth is right next to her ear. “You can barely walk in a straight line. You’re about to fall asleep standing up. Let me drive you home and take on kitten duty. I might not look like it, but I do know a thing or two about what I’m doing.”
“But—”
“No ‘but.’” I put my hand on the small of her back to guide her through the door and to my car. Jensen Ackles follows us dutifully and jumps into the trunk as soon as I open it. Nic isn’t quite as obedient, but after a few more muttered curses, she’s in the passenger seat, buckled in with her eyes glued to the cup carrier in my left hand.
“Do. Not. Touch. It.”
“But—”
My glare makes her shut up and cross her arms in front of her chest. I can’t believe she ran herself to this state for the kitten instead of asking Lauren for help or calling me. My face softens.
She seems so used to doing everything by herself, so determined to handle everything on her own.
But I won’t have her head straight into a health crisis if I can prevent it. I just hope that one day, I’ll have her trust—that I can be the person she turns to when she needs support. My heart warms, knowing I truly did the right thing by sending the kitten home with her. I have no doubts that the two can heal each other.
