Page 98 of The Unhinged Christmas of a Cat Lady
“It’s not like that,” I say.
“Sure it isn’t,” Theo murmurs, sipping his coffee with the expression of a man who’s heard denial before and isn’t buying it today.
They wait. The silence is expectant, filled with the crunch of pastry and the sound of someone behind the counter frothing milk.
“She’s divorced,” I add eventually. “Has an eight-year-old son. SJ.”
Geoff’s eyebrows shoot up. “A child, too? Blimey. Straight in the deep end.”
Theo watches me carefully. “And how’s that going?”
I nod, a little too quickly. “Fine. Good. He’s great.”
But I know what I look like. Theo’s reading me like a book. Geoff, slightly slower on the uptake, glances between us and narrows his eyes.
“You’ve got a face,” he says.
“I always have a face.”
“No, you’ve gotthatface. The one that means something’s bothering you and you’re pretending it’s not.”
Theo leans in, voice low. “You alright?”
I exhale through my nose and stare into my cup like it’s going to offer wisdom.
“It’s just...” I pause. “Her ex showed up. SJ’s dad. Sim-Sim.”
Geoff immediately sits up. “Sorry, his name is what now?”
“Not the point,” I mutter.
Theo leans back. “Ah.Thatlook on your face.”
“Jealousy,” Geoff says. “Classic. Bit retro.”
I don’t answer. Because it is that. Or something close to it. Something messier. Less dignified.
“I didn’t expect to care this much,” I admit quietly. “Not yet. But I do.”
They don’t laugh. For once, they don’t tease.
Theo gives it a beat, then asks, “Are you worried she’s still interested in him?”
I nod slowly, eyes fixed on the rim of my coffee cup. “I asked her.”
“And?” Geoff prompts.
“She didn’t say no,” I say. “She said shedoesn’t think so.”
Theo winces. “Oof.”
Geoff leans in. “That’s... not great.”
“I know.”
“Technically honest,” Theo offers. “But also, vague enough to give you hives.”
“Exactly.” I run a hand over my face. “She said she gets a bit thrown when he shows up. That she remembers things—the good bits, not the chaos. And she gets confused.”
