Page 83

“Oh, he’s just overwhelmed,” Mak says. “It’s a lot of people all at once.”

I nod and stand back, but ask, “Does he have a name?”

“Not really. The shelter manager’s daughter named him Brownie, but…” She makes a face and then her eyes light up. “Oh, Theo! Have you found a new job yet?”

“No,” Theo sighs, sliding the brown cat back into his cage and closing the door. “I’ve been looking, but…nothing good has come up.”

Mak gets a rather devious sparkle in her eye.

“Well, the shelteris looking for a new kennel attendant…” she says slowly, “maybe someone who also has a little marketing experience…to do some website and social media stuff. They don’t have their own dedicated person for that, and I do a lot of it as a volunteer, but…I might have mentioned your name to Aileen. If you’re interested!”

“That…that actually sounds great, Makie,” says Theo, a rush of enthusiasm in his voice. He looks at me and Ben and his face breaks into a genuine smile. “I could use a change from working in an office anyway, I think.”

“Really?!” Mak squeaks, clapping her hands together. “Oh, this is so great! Aileen’s here today if you want to talk to her!”

“Sure, let’s do it.”

Mak whips her phone out and walks away, while Theo moves closer to the cage with the brown cat in it.

“I kinda like this guy,” he says to Ben, looking over his shoulder. “What do you think?”

Ben shrugs. “He looks mangy, but I’m not a cat expert.”

“He’s a bit skinny, yeah,” Theo laughs. “Nothing a little love and kibble can’t fix, right?”

“You do like to take in strays, don’t you,osito?” Ben says, grabbing Theo around the waist and kissing the side of his head. Theo snorts and wraps his fingers through Ben’s. I stand back, watching them and letting the strange human emotions swirl through my stomach and chest.

After a few minutes, Mak returns accompanied by Aileen, the shelter manager, so Ben and I quietly slip away toward the bar. He keeps his tight hold on my hand, and his eyes dart restlessly around the crowd, probably looking for Niko.

“What are all these drinks?” I ask, picking up a short menu from a table.

“Here.” Ben takes the paper from me and scans it. “I think I know what you’ll like.Oh, I forgot. I made you something while I was gone.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small, rectangular plastic card with a photograph of me on it. I recognize it as a picture he took in Theo’s living room one day while he was trying to show me how his phone works.

“This is…”

“A driver’s license, so you seem like a real person. Now, I’m not gonna let you take the car out or anything, but this will at least get you drinks when we go out.”

“You made this for me?”

Ben laughs and glances around. “Yeah, but don’t tell anyone or I could get arrested. If you want me in handcuffs, you just have to ask.” He gives me a wink and my heart skips a beat when I see the name he has printed on the card.

“Annika Keating de la Cruz…”

His grin widens. “Has a nice ring to it, I think.”

“I love it.” I press the card to my chest and go up on my toes to kiss him.

“I do too,” he murmurs against my lips. “Now, let’s introduce you to Fireball, shall we?”

35

Theo

I put another catback into its kennel and take a deep breath. “Hey, Makie. Can I ask you something?”

“Sure!” she replies. “About the job?” My impromptu interview with Aileen went well, and she said I could come in to start some training at the shelter tomorrow morning. As excited as I am, there’s been something else weighing on me since we got to the event.

“No, it’s…about Ben.” I glance behind me to where he and Annie are waiting in line at the bar. She’s all over him, and he has his arm around her shoulders, but he seems distracted, searching the crowd with a slight frown.