Page 54 of Pack Scratch Fever
There’s always a lot of probing questions about my love life and offers to set me up with another pack.
They also bother Blair about it—but Blair shrugs off their inquiries and always makes some type of joke.
Blair never tells them the truth, and we don’t talk about it.
Blair had a pack at one time, and they broke up amicably.
But right after the breakup, there was a car accident, and…
And we don’t talk about it.
Instead, we focus on my dating life, not hers.
Blair gives me a soft smile. “It’s not my time,” she says gently. “But I’ll know when it is.”
Guilt eats at me. Who am I to act like this when my best friend is still grieving?
“I’m sorry,” I admit, “if I’ve been pushing you lately.”
Her eyes widen. “I’ve been pushing you, too! I want you to find a pack as much as you want me to find one. It doesn’t bother me, Pipe, Ipromise.”
I stare at my best friend’s sweet blue eyes a bit longer, looking for any sign of trepidation.
At my look, she sighs.
“Just let me live vicariously through you for a bit, okay?”
I nod. “Okay.”
“Be happy, please. This is a good thing. Let me be excited for you.”
I’m still waiting for the other shoe to drop, though.
Maybe for Blair’s sake, I can try to just enjoy the present.
Pets Expressisa pet supply store that is kind enough to work with the rescue.
Every other weekend, we host adoption events and bring both adult cats and kittens alike.
We chat with customers that come in, educate them about the cats, and hopefully find new homes for the animals.
The manager also makes sure to give us any returned cat food that they can’t put back on the shelf.
The setup is better than we could have imagined.
Blair is off today, so the adoption crew consists of myself, Mari, and a retired mated couple, Gary and Heidi. Gary is a grumpy Alpha that melts around cats, and Heidi is patient, sweet, and gentle.
The cats are displayed in the middle aisle of the store, happily lounging or sleeping in their kennels. Shoppers come by to chat or to hold and pet the cats.
But no adoptions today, yet.
“It will happen,” Heidi reassures me, noticing how stressed I am. “You know it takes time.”
I have a sudden urge to cry.
I’m uncomfortable; it’s hot in here, and no one wants to adopt the cats.
In turn, that makes me an utter failure.
