Page 34 of Pack Scratch Fever
Blair snorts. “Maybe,” she repeats. “Maybe, she says. Like I’m not always right.”
I stick my tongue out at her.
I’m scrollingthrough the website at our front desk with Alvin curled in my lap, content.
Then, the front door opens, and I’m greeted by one of my least favorite people in the world.
Kyle.
Blair is in the back changing litter boxes, and I’m stuck with a bowling ball asleep on my lap.
Kyle gives me a grin and walks to the front counter, slapping his hands on the surface obnoxiously.
“Hey,” he says. “Sup, Pipe.”
“You here to finally adopt a cat?” I snap. “Or just here to pester me and distract me from work?”
His scent wafts over me, and this time it’s even worse, like ketchup and rotting potatoes.
Is it because I’ve finally found my scent match?
“Hey, don’t be like that,” he says. “I just wanted to say what’s up.”
I want to knock his stupid backward baseball cap off his head.
Kyle must be in his mid-thirties but still acts like a frat boy in college.
And maybe I’m not the friendliest, but he’sinsufferable.
The only reason I tolerate him is because of his aunt, Mari, but I don’t have any patience for him today.
He’s the last Alpha I want to see.
Alvin peeks his head at him, and Kyle awkwardly reaches over the counter to pat his head while the cat still sits in my lap. It places his face almost eye level at my chest, and it’s the most uncomfortable I’ve felt in a long time.
I scoot my chair back and scowl at Kyle. “Seriously?” I snap.
“I can’t pet the cats now?” Kyle asks, his eyes narrowing. “I’m just saying hi. Don’t you guys want volunteers?”
My temper flares, and Alvin jumps off my lap and hurries away. “You make me uncomfortable, Kyle. I’m done with it. It’s unacceptable the way you talk and act around us.”
I don’t know where my sudden boldness comes from.
He leans back, and his eyes widen. “Wh-what?” he sputters, looking like I slapped him.
“You. Make. Us. Uncomfortable. This whole time, you have,” I add, and his lips form into a thin line. “You don’t care about the cats or the rescue. You come here to bother Blair and me, and that’s it.”
The door chimes behind him, but Kyle doesn’t move out of the way. Instead, he leans over the counter, his nostrils flaring. “So, it’s a crime to talk to you two now? Last I checked, this rescue is open to the public.”
“Itshouldbe a crime,” I snarl, my voice raising, not caring if the person behind us is listening. “If someone tells you to leave them alone, youlisten.”
“Piper?” A low, soft voice asks, and I turn my attention away from Kyle. The minute I see who the voice belongs to, my heart skips a beat.
My anger dissipates as I look into the warm kind eyes of Avery, who’s at the counter to the side of Kyle. He’s dressed in a grey college sweatshirt with a black camera hanging from his neck. His blonde hair is styled neatly, slightly slicked back, and he’s breathtakingly handsome.
“Avery,” I breathe. His sweet chamomile scent washes over me, and suddenly, Kyle doesn’t matter anymore.
I watch Kyle turn away from me to glare at Avery. But Avery’s gaze stays on me, and I can’t help but smile at him.
