Page 119 of Rewrite the Rules

I’ve been holding my breath for the past month and a half and I finally let it out. Ibreatheand feel my heart jolt to life as I finally give it permission to beat again.

* * *

It’s almost ten o’clock by the time I make it home. I took a detour for a street taco. There was food at the party, but everything was dipped in white chocolate and pink sprinkles. A girl can only eat and drink so much pink.Yeesh.

I round the corner to my apartment building when I see a little white fluffball wandering down the sidewalk. Snowy white with spots like a leopard.Gasp.

“Hey! I know you! What are you doing out in the street alone, little sweetie?”

I drop my purse and rush over to the kitten. I scoop her up without hesitation. Around her neck is the silver chain collar I picked out, complete with pink charm. Her pink heart matches my pink button. She purrs against me just like Felices. Her tail flicks in a sort-of wag and she paws at my face. I see why these cats are so unique—because they are basically dogs.

“She likes you.” A stranger creeping up beside me would startle me, except I know this cat. And I’d recognize Joel’s voice anywhere. I turn around to face him, with the white puffball still cradled against my chest.

“You let a tiny defenseless kitten roam the city sidewalks alone?”

“I was watching her. We were waiting for you. I swung by your book launch, but they said you’d already left. I came here to congratulate you.”

After all this time, the sight of Joel still makes me catch my breath. He’s overdressed for a book launch party. He’s wearing dark denim jeans and a navy button-down polo, but his sports jacket seems a little fancy for a random Thursday night. I wonder if he is coming from or heading to more interesting plans this evening.

I shiver as the cold night air hits me unexpectedly and here I am, yet again without a coat. As soon as Joel sees me snuggle Kitty closer he slides out of his coat and I’m immediately draped in the fancy fabric that smells like him—earthy and sweet, just like I remember.

“One of these days you will learn to bring a coat, Adler,” he scolds me.

“Doubtful.” I smile.God, he looks good.“But I’m locking my door these days, so that’s at least progress. Right?”

“Definitely.”

“What’s her name?” I snuggle the cat who has become dead weight in my arms. She’s fallen asleep instantly against my chest.

“Kitty,” he says.

“No, her real name.”

“Kitty. I was waiting to name her so I just kept calling herKittyand it stuck. Big mistake.”

I snort loudly. “That’s good stuff. I could not write a better irony than that. I got the confirmation email when they delivered her. Why did you wait a month to name your cat?”

“I was waiting for you.”

My giggles taper off when I see the sincere look on Joel’s face. “We’re all going to freeze out here.” I’m shivering but I suspect it’s not just from the chilly wind.

I handled our breakup perfectly on paper. I cried for a month straight. But I didn’t lose face. And what did it accomplish? Nothing. Standing here with Joel is like being catapulted back to September. The very first night we kissed when I invited him up to my home and he built up all his walls.

“Itiscold…” Joel adds.

“Do you want to come up?” Nerves rush through my veins as the question hangs just as heavy as the first time I asked it all those months ago.

This time he doesn’t hesitate. Joel picks up my purse and gestures me forward. “After you, Baby Spice.”

“What did you think of the party? Have you ever seen so much pink in your life? Not my idea, by the way.” I chatter on but Joel is distracted. He rubs his hands together idly as we take the stairs. Kitty is my spirit animal. She snores just like me—with reckless abandon.

We reach my door and for once it’s locked. My hands are full of white fluff so I look askingly at Joel. He fishes through my purse and pulls out my keys. He knows exactly which one fits the lock. Like a clear memory. Once upon a time he was more than at home here.

Joel flicks on the lights and I make a beeline to the couch to lay Kitty someplace comfy. She nestles into the corner of the cushion and balls herself up so tightly she makes a perfect circle. “She so cu—”

“I read your book.” Joel watches me from the door. He leans backwards, eyes locked on me waiting for my reaction.

“Already? It was put on the shelves this morning.”

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