Page 62

“Goodnight.” I bit the inside of my cheek as he jogged down the stairs. My apartment seemed empty. Something it had never felt before. Daisy was gone. He was gone. After the crowds at the beach and his full house, life on this side of the inlet felt so lonely. I took a long shower, put his clothes back on. But I tossed and turned unable to sleep. I found myself inside the shelter, perusing cages. An orange Tabby, meowed, pushing herself against the metal trying to reach my fingers. Ginger was new. Sweet. Her owner had passed away and the heirs didn’t want a cat. Just the money. I took her out, cradling her to my chest. Roscoe whined. I caved and took him too. He hogs the bed, sometimes has gas, but I needed comfort tonight. Somehow, we all settled in. Roscoe at my feet and the cat next to me. I stared at the ceiling remembering his kiss in the ocean, how for a second, he let himself sink down on me. My breasts ached. My body thrummed with need. Between my legs the honey was warm and waiting for him. Sighing, I picked up my phone, opening the rental app.

From: [email protected]

To: homeowner1278

SUBJECT: Info

Pink. Light pink silk. And I slept in the room overlooking the hot tub.

He answered almost immediately.

From: homeowner12678

To: [email protected]

SUBJECT: Info

Babe. You’re killing me. I’m here right now. Imagining you in it. I gave my sister the master. We’ve technically slept in the same bed.

P.S.

I kept your panties for court. You know. Evidence and all that.

My face heated. He had my thongs. Groaning, I rolled out of bed. Ginger growled and hissed as the mattress shook her awake. “Ugh cats. You think you rule us humans.”

I took a cold shower. Very cold, using the icy spray to cool all my jets. I thought about taking care of business but decided waiting for Chase would be worth all the sweet torment. I knew Mr. July would set off a firework show the likes of which my body had never seen. I turned up the AC and crawled under the covers carefully as to not piss off the cat. If I couldn’t sleep wrapped in Chase’s arms. The company of a grumpy tabby and an oversized lab was better than being alone with no one at all.

Twenty-Four

It took me a minute to wake up. Roscoe did some weird doggie moan as he rolled, stretching his paws in the air. Ginger blinked, looked offended as my movements jostled her. It was almost ten. I never slept that late. I put my hair in a ponytail, slipped into my sandals and took them both outside. Roscoe did his business while I cuddled the cat.

“Hey.”

Steve was inside, looking at the paperwork on the counter. “Are you okay? Daisy went to a good guy. I did his background check in ten minutes. Your grandmother was on his list of contacts. I thought you’d be fine then I noticed the two empty crates this morning.”

“I got used to her. Loved her. But yeah, I’m fine. I couldn’t offer her a permanent home right now being an undergrad.”

“Here. Your new boyfriend dropped this by. He didn’t want to wake you. Imagine my surprise when I realized he was the guy who adopted Daisy yesterday.”

“I don’t have a boyfriend.”

“Huh, weird.” Steve, smiled.

A bouquet of beautiful blue hydrangeas in a glass sat on a counter next to a card and… my favorite coffee in a to-go cup from the café around the block. Inside the card was three-thousand dollars in cash.

Faster than a check. I’m sorry, too. But I don’t regret how you lit my mind on fire before my body. The flowers are from my garden. I planted them myself. Call me later: 919-208-1550

Chase

I heated up my coffee in the microwave Steve had in his office. “Your professor put in papers for Roscoe.”

“Did she? She joked about it enough. What am I going to do, with all my favorites leaving me?”

“New ones will come. We’ll be full in September just like we are every year.”

I shook my head. “Poor cuties.”

“Go. Get out of here. I’ve got everything covered.” I took my coffee down to the dock, sat on Pop’s boat, dangling my legs over the side. I scrolled through my email until I found the one from the small claims clerk, quickly writing a message that I was withdrawing my suit and that we settled out of court.