Page 19 of Beautiful Crazy

I’m about to point out a quiet orange one near the back wall watching us, when a young, long haired, light gray cat with a super fluffy tail struts right up to Emily and rubs her leg. Emily gasps and picks up the fluffy cat.

“Well, helloooo Lola. How are you, today?” I’m shocked when the cat actually mewls back at her.

“Lola?”

“Yeah.” Emily nods. “Her name is Lola. I named her when she first got here because I just happen to be volunteering the day she arrived.”

“Why Lola?”

“I mean look at that tail. I’m certain she was a tragic show girl in another life which explains all her dramatic tendencies. Her strut. Her sass when you talk to her. She’s all that and a bag of chips, aren’t ya Lola?” Emily rubs the cat under her chin and the cat raises its head, clearly liking the attention.

“Well, it looks like Lola really likes you. Maybe you should take her home.”

Emily turns toward me. “Do you really think so?”

“Sure. We need a little more drama in our life. And if she can provide drama with a little flare, then even better for us, right?”

“What do you think, Lola? You want to come home with us and be our new friend?”

The cat meows at Emily, making us laugh. I reach up and pet the cat on the head and to my surprise, she doesn’t shy away.

“Yeah. I like this one too. Let’s do it.” Emily catches my eye again and I notice hers are watering. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” She nods happily. “You’re really letting me bring one home? Like forever?”

I smile back at her. “Until death do you part, Babe. Someone to keep you company during the day. I don’t like that you’re alone all the time. Lola here can keep you company and fend off any would-be bad guys.”

“I’m sure she’ll take her job very seriously,” Emily says, nuzzling Lola.

Laughing, I put my arm around Emily, holding Lola, and help get them through the door without the other cats escaping. “I have no doubt she will.”

Once we sign all the paperwork and make Lola’s adoption official, we snap a few pictures and then stop at the pet store on the way home for all the cat accessories. I can confidently report that Emily spent more money on our new feline friend than she has on herself in the past six months. Our purchases include, a cat carrier, cat food – dry and wet varieties, food and water dishes, a fluffy cat bed, a litter box with cat litter, several different cat toys, and a conservatively sized cat tree for her to perch on next to Emily’s bedroom window.

A showgirl’s costume may have actually been cheaper, but to see my best friend smile over something I was able to do for her…that feeling is fucking priceless.

Chapter 5

Emily

“Em, we’re gonna be late! Your brother’s never going to let us hear the end of it!” Emmett’s voice travels down the hall to my bedroom as I slide my lip balm into my jeans pocket.

“I’m coming, Emmett. And I’m never on time for anything. You know that by now. Pretty sure Wes had about twenty years with me to figure that out.”

I know Emmett dislikes being late for anything but even he should know by now it’s just how I roll. I always think there’s more time than there actually is. It takes me longer than I anticipate to pick out the perfect outfit. Not that my parents care what I look like or that I need to impress anyone today, but I want to look nice without looking like I took forever to get myself ready. Twisting the cap back on my mascara, I throw it in my makeup bag and then spritz my perfume a couple times.

“Ready!” Making sure my phone is in my back pocket as always, I scurry to the front door where Emmett is waiting for me. “Oooh, did you feed Lola?”

“Well, if you look at the face she’s giving me, you would think I haven’t fed her in a week, but I did indeed put food in her bowl. She just chose to eat literally one bite and walk away from it.”

“Because you didn’t sit and talk to her while she eats.”

“Uhhhh no, I didn’t. Because she’s a cat.” He holds my coat open for me to slip my arms in and then grabs the gift bag sitting on the front table, handing it to me.

“Well, you just remember that the next time you’re eating all alone and nobody is talking to you.”

“No problem. Come on.” He opens the door. “Maybe on the way to your parents’ house you can clue me in on what Lola likes to talk about. Oh, and while it’s on my mind, remind me to call Beck and ask about tux fittings or whatever he’s got planned for the wedding.”

“Aren’t you the best man? Shouldn’t you know these things?”

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