Page 23 of Absolutely Pucked
He wrinkled his nose and shrugged. “I’m being so for real right now though. Would you?”
I cocked my head to the side. “Nugget might like being a big sister. Or she might hate it, but she’s not evil enough to eat the kitten, so…”
Jonah hesitated. “Do you think the other kittens will be sad if I don’t take all of them?”
With a laugh, I reached out and plucked the yellow-eyed one from his arms. “No. They’re too cute. They’ll be gone in a day.”
“Let’s do this. I’ll make it worth your while. I’ll come over every single day and take care of her.”
“With your schedule?” I said with a snort. “But for you, babe, I would. You’re one of my favorites.”
“I knew I loved you best for a reason.” He eased the kittens off his lap. “Let me go get a salesperson. Stay right here.”
I knew better than to follow him, but I did watch as he made his way out of the room and toward the frontof the store. Jonah had been navigating without sight since birth, so he had a system. But I was unsurprised when the salesperson made a face as he approached.
It was a tall guy who couldn’t have been more than twenty, and he stepped back when Jonah walked up, almost like his disability was catching. I could see their mouths moving, and then, after what felt like forever, Jonah turned.
His face was bright red, and his hands were shaking.
That was my cue. I climbed to my feet and grabbed my cane, doing my best not to step on the disgruntled kittens as I made my way out. Jonah was alone in the middle of the floor and flinched when I touched his arm.
“What the fuck just happened?”
“We need to leave,” he said tensely.
I swallowed heavily and glanced around, finding the sales guy whispering to the woman who had been up at the front before. “Seriously, what happened?”
He took another breath. “I think you know what happened. He said it would be too dangerous for me to adopt a kitten. What if I step on her?” The way he pitched his tone told me he was mocking the guy who said it. “What if I can’t clean all the shit out of her litter box properly?”
Rage bubbled in my gut, hurtling toward my chest. My heart felt like it was going to break out from behind my ribs. “Oh, that is some fucking bullSHIT?—”
“Ford.” Jonah’s voice was very quiet.
All the anger in me dropped to a low simmer. “I don’t want to leave it like this.”
“I do. Like you said, they’re cute. Someone willcome along and love them. It just won’t be me. Not from here.”
I wasn’t asshole enough to fight this battle for him, but Iwasgoing to leave without Nugget’s salmon food. She would learn to love tuna, or I would order that shit online. Whatever happened, I was done with these people.
Because fuck them.
“Do you want to skip the furniture store and go home?” I asked quietly as we passed the automatic doors.
He bowed his head and nodded. “Sorry I ruined your day.”
“They ruined my day. You’ll get your cat,” I said, squeezing his arm. “The best cat. The most perfect cat in the world. Okay? She and Nuggs will be best friends, and they will be the most spoiled babies in the world. We don’t need shit-fuck assholes like those people back there telling us what we can or can’t do. You’re going to be the best cat dad.”
He eventually smiled just as he slid into the seat of my car, and then he turned to me. “And you’ll find someone who makes you happy, Ford. You’re too amazing to go through your life alone if that’s not what you want.”
It wasn’t. But I had a gut feeling my chance had come and gone. I could make this work. It would just be a little suckier than if I had managed to convince a man like Ian to stay just a little bit longer.
CHAPTER
SEVEN
KILLIAN
The riskI was taking being in Turenne did nothing except prove that I was a glutton for punishment. And parking my car at the apartment complex where I’d been the first time was an even more ridiculous and self-centered choice.
