Page 37 of Fruit
CHAPTER EIGHT
“Okay, are you ready?” I say. Sebastián raises his eyebrows at me as Nina hops around my feet, trying to get the feathered toy in my hand. “And…go!”
I drag the stringed feather across the floor. Nina leaps after it, just missing the lure, and I lift the toy so it brushes up the wall. Nina jumps towards it, attaching herself to the plaster with her paws splayed and scuttling up the wall.
“Oh my God,” Sebastián says as Nina scales a few feet off the floor. I laugh, grabbing Nina so she doesn’t fall. Nina swipes at the feather, catching it between her claws.
“Told you. Dude, don’t you watch YouTube?”
“Not enough, obviously.”
“Spider cat, spider cat, does everything a spider can.”
“We’ve got an Olympian in our midst.”
“She’s a genius,” I coo, rubbing my nose against her head. Nina purrs, not scratching me despite her nails being out. “Look how good she is.”
Sebastián comes over to rub Nina’s back and smiles as I grin up at him.
“Food?” I say, placing Nina on the floor.
“Food,” Sebastián agrees.
We go to his kitchen and get everything ready. We’ve done this so many times, it’s become a liquid ritual. We move easily around each other until the table is set, sitting down to eat at his breakfast nook.
Nina drags a small mouse toy and bats it around next to the table, keeping us company without being obvious about it.
“Man, wouldn’t it be nice to be a pampered cat?” I say. Sebastián snorts.
“I think you have more of a dog soul.”
“Are you calling me a bitch?” I say, narrowing my eyes at him. He smiles, shaking his head.
“Here we go.”
“For your information”—I point my fork at him—“I would be a badass lioness. Hear me roar, motherfucker.”
“I’m not going to argue with you being able to take down a gazelle.”
“That’s right, and none of this ‘the lions eat first’ nonsense. That’smyfood.”
“Aren’tIthe lioness in this scenario?” Sebastián says, pointing at the food he made. I sniff haughtily.
“I guess you know your place in the pride.”
Sebastián snorts. “Yeah, I’m not going to argue with that either.”
“Although, to be honest, youdohave more of a lone-wolf thing going on.”
Sebastián raises his eyebrows. “I run a youth club for a living. Don’t know if that would qualify me as aloner.”
“Hmm, you’re right. Wild pig it is.”
“Charming.”
“What? Wild pigs are cool.”
“Yoube a wild pig then.”
