Page 18 of Meowy & Bright

I stare at the screen. “I do? That’s kind of cool, but I’m not sure how I started doing that.”

“Want me to turn it off?”

“Meh.” I don’t really care. It’s not like I go anywhere too far. It looks as though my life is filled with people who stalk me.

“She doesn’t share her location with you.” He shrugs and hands me my phone back.

An odd look comes over his face. I can tell that Laura tracking my location has made him uncomfortable.

“Because she’s a spy,” I tease again. He doesn't laugh. I drop back in my seat. Of course my brain starts going crazy thinking about why she wouldn't share her location with me.

My phone dings again in my hand. When I look down, I see a new number.

The worried look is gone, and he’s giving me a cocky smile. “It’s mine. Program me in.”

I smile and do just that, putting him on my contacts as “Satan Claus.” He pulls up to the pet store and parks the car.

“I need a pic for my bubble.” I hate when a contact on my phone doesn't have a personal picture. I turn my camera on and get ready to take a picture of him. He unsnaps my seat belt, and before I know what’s happening, he pulls me into his lap. I laugh as I cozy up to him.

“I want you in it.” He kisses me below the ear. “Do a selfie.”

I do. My cherry-red cheeks from blushing show as he snuggles into my side for me to take the picture. He pulls out his own phone to take a picture for himself.

My phone dings again. This one saysSatan Claus is now sharing location with you. “How do I share with you?” I wiggle in his lap, already way too excited about this.

My thighs tingle as I feel the result of what all of my wiggling has done to him. I’ve never been in such an intimate position with a man. I clench my legs together, knowing that we can’t do anything in the pet store parking lot. I smile to myself, though, knowing that I want to.

“I’m your stalker, angel. I don’t need you to share your location. I always know where you are,” he says as he kisses me lightly on the lips, the feeling both new and somehow familiar. “Let’s get out of this car before I do more than kiss you.” I think he’s teasing but the tension in him says otherwise. He opens his door and helps us both out, and I look up at the frosted Christmas windows with images of cats in Santa hats and dogs dressed as elves. Of course the cats are in charge and the dogs are subservient. This pet store knows what’s up.

I look around the parking lot. This place looks really busy. He wraps an arm around me, pulling me into his side. “What are we going to do about our cats being in love? We can’t separate them now. They might get heartbroken.”

“I …” I trail off, because I’m not sure what we should do. I don’t want to break Mrs. Claws’s heart. “Won’t she be sad if she’s not with me, too?” I know I’ve only had her for a night, but I am clearly a clinger. That’s even more evident given how my fingers are digging into the back of Brendan’s sweater so he stays close as we enter the pet store. I feel safe when he’s around. I know he won’t let anything happen to me.

“We’ll work it out, angel. Sleepovers maybe.” He kisses the top of my head and grabs one of the green shopping carts.

Sleepovers? Does he mean just the cats or … I push the thought away. It’s too soon, and I don’t even know my way around friendships, much less real relationships. So it doesn’t matter if the thought of being with him lights me up like a Christmas tree, because the horny little elf inside me is going to have to settle down. At least, that’s whatshouldhappen. In truth, my clinger levels are shockingly high, but I can’t seem to help it.

I walk with him along the aisles as he piles up on everything. I have no idea what a cat needs, but Brendan is all over it. “I’m guessing you want that?” He points to a Christmas cat house on an endcap. I gasp and run over to it.

“It even has lights on it that are safe for the cats!” I flick them on, and they dance with color. “And there’s different options.” I click the button over and over, showing all the different ways the house can light up. “It’s wonderful.”

“Then we’ll get it.” He motions to one of the employees in the store, letting him know that we’ll take it. Turns out they have to be put together at the store and then delivered.

Leaning over, I grab the tag. “Holy cow. It’s five hundred dollars.” I do well, but that seems high for a cat house. Thank God I didn’t suggest getting two. One for each of our babies.

“Merry Christmas, angel.” He gives me another one of those kisses on top of my head.

I don’t know what it is about them but they’re sweet and endearing. He makes all of my insides melt when he gives them to me. I notice as we walk around the store that we look like a normal couple. Like we’retogether-together. I wonder if he’s thinking the same thing. Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself but he sure is acting as though we’re already a couple. Not that I have much experience with any of that. My last boyfriend was probably circa third grade, and I’m certain he cheated on me by holding hands with one of my friends.

The cashier finishes ringing us up, bags up our stuff, and prepares the cat house to be shipped to us. I’m not sure why, but Brendan pays for the entire order despite my protests. We walk out of the store, load everything in his black truck, and head home. It isn't until we’re in the car that I realize how easy being in the store had been with Brendan at my side. Usually, I’d freeze up, especially since there were lots of other customers inside. But I’d barely noticed them. I was too focused on Brendan and his encyclopedic cat knowledge. Oh, and the Christmas cat house that is pretty much the greatest thing ever.

He pulls onto the highway and heads toward our neighborhood, the sun warm in the blue sky. “Did you hear that it’s supposed to snow late tonight?”

“Yeah, it was on the radio.” He glances at the sky. “I guess we’ll see.” Clearing his throat, he asks, “So, how long have you known Laura?” The question comes out casual, but I keep thinking about the odd face he’d made when we were talking about how Laura tracked my location.

“I’m not really sure. Like I said, she just sort of showed up one day, and she’s been coming around ever since.” I look over at him, and even though his eyes remain on the road, I can tell he’s listening closely.

“She come over often?”

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