Page 73 of Desperately Seeking Kitty

I thought I heard the squawk of my speaker from the lobby but I was too busy dodging and running and trying to block their paths with the vacuum and the broom and anything I could think of to slow down their flight so I could grab one of them in an attempt to try separating. Then my door slowly inched open just as Princess approached, and I shrieked. I had no clue who was trying to come in, but the door only opened wider.

I stopped dead at the sight of Magnus, managing to squawk out to watch for the cat just as Princess aimed for freedom. Mag bent to snatch her mid-flight, and Lucky took that opportunity to race through Mag’s legs and down the hall.

“Dammit, what are you doing here?” I yelled, scaring Princess enough that she pressed herself to Mag’s chest and peered out at me from under the flap of his snow-dusted jacket.

“Here I half thought when you didn’t answer the speaker, I’d come up here to you naked in bed with your vet. Instead, it’s like kitties gone wild in here.”

“I wish I was naked in bed with my vet,” I muttered as Mag’s eyes flashed.

Ugh.

I shoved my hands through my now-disordered topknot and moved to take my cat from Mag.

Princess jumped out of his arms and ran from me to the bathroom. If she could’ve slammed the door, she would have.

Fuck, I had to get Lucky. Please God, let him still be on this floor.

I ran past Mag and out into the hall, then down the stairs when I didn’t see Lucky anywhere around. My throat tightened and my eyes watered as I tried to sniffle back my tears as I called his name in as pleasant a voice as possible considering I was seconds from letting out my tears of frustration and worry.

Heavy footsteps pounded down the stairs behind me, and I stopped on the landing to whirl around and point at Magnus.

“Why are you here? Why are you being so weird? What happened to my easygoing, non-problematic friend?” There was no keeping the accusation out of my voice as I propped my hands on my hips.

“I’m being weird? You hooked up with some random guy off the net when last I knew, you were barely even leaving your apartment.”

“Can you keep your voice down please?”

“Why don’t you try it?”

“Why are you here?” I repeated, my voice inadvertently rising to match his. “You weren’t invited.”

Dammit, I hadn’t meant to say that. Inwardly, I winced as his jaw locked and I noticed he’d shaved off the light scruff he used to have.

“Look, I’m sorry.”

“I can tell you’re thrilled to see me. I have a feeling whatever you have cooking in there wasn’t for me, since you didn’t know I was coming even though I’d tried to tell you.”

“What? You did not. When?” He didn’t answer me, so I shoved him back a step. “When exactly did you try to tell me?”

“The old Kitty would’ve paid attention. But then again, I never had to fight to rate your attention before.”

I shut my eyes. “Look, I need to find Lucky before he escapes outside. I’m not even supposed to have him. I mean, I took him as a surprise, and I don’t want the surprise to be ‘I lost your cat!’”

“Oh, this is new guy’s cat. No wonder you’re so frantic.”

I let out a long breath. “Will you please help me find him? After I go turn down the Crockpot?” I hurried upstairs back to my apartment before Mag could answer.

I hoped the roast survived this adjustment—but I wasn’t comfortable just leaving an electrical appliance on while I wasn’t home to monitor it. Even if the thing was built exactly for that express purpose.

Bracing, I entered my apartment, prepared to see just about anything at this point—except Lucky and Princess sitting side by side on my sofa, the bag of fishy treats upended between them as if it was a Halloween Trick or Treat sack.

I was so happy to see Lucky, I didn’t even wonder how the treats had gotten out of my pocket or if they’d eat themselves sick. I just rushed over to give them both hugs and kisses, so relieved I couldn’t keep the tears from escaping.

“And you’re getting along too? Clint will be so shocked—” I’d barely said the words before Lucky hissed at Princess and streaked away with a mouthful of treats puffing up his cheeks.

She gave me a cross look as if to saymen.

As I had one to deal with in the hall, I understood completely.

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