Page 15 of Pack Scratch Fever
I nod. “What did they ask?” I whisper, still ashamed of my whiplash of emotions.
I feel like a child, not a twenty-six-year-old.
“They wanted to know if you were single,” she says. “And I hinted that you were. But then the conversation went to what we do here, and they were genuinely interested.”
I nod.
“I also warned them that there might be more kittens, and to give us a call if they find them. They were willing to learn how to trap, too. They’re nice, even if that one guy looked ready to eat you, no pun intended.”
I shiver at the thought of Maddox. He looked at me as if he could see right through me, as if he knew everything about me with one glance.
It was unnerving, but also…kind of hot?
“Hey.” Blair interrupts me. “Go home.”
I frown. “Huh?”
The kitten nibbles at her fingers. “I’ll clean the litter boxes and make sure this one gets taken care of. Just go and do what you have to do. Rest, take a cold shower, whatever.”
I grimace. “Is it that obvious?”
“Your face is flaming red, Pipe. I don’t want to say I told you so, but it’s looking like those suppressants are on their last leg. So just go home and try to take care of yourself.”
I swallow. “Are you sure?” I ask. “I mean, I can stay…”
Blair shakes her head, her high ponytail swishing back and forth. “I’m fine here. You need to take care of yourself.”
I nod wearily.
As much as I don’t want to admit it, Blair’s right.
I screwed myself over by messing with my suppressants.
I just didn’t expect the side effects to be this bad.
There’sa reason that I never have guests over at my apartment.
Never Blair, any other friends, and certainly not my family.
I’m embarrassed.
The building is old, and I’m sure it’s violating a few codes.
It’s a small one bedroom, with my bed taking up most of the room and the world’s tiniest closet.
Half the outlets don’t work, and I’ve had to seal up cracks in the walls with caulk I purchased at the hardware store.
It’s not elegant, but it’s the place I call home.
But every time I step foot into it, I hear my parents’ and sister’s voices in my head.
How could you live like this, Piper?
This is what you get for dropping out of college.
Do you think your grandparents would be proud of you?
Why can’t you be more like Sydney? She has a doctorate and lives in the city!
