Page 166 of Lavish

For a beat, the table was silent. Then Laurene and Noelle burst into laughter, and Gigi groaned, shaking her head.

“A cat?You had me thinkin’ you was about to drop somethin’ serious!” Gigi huffed, crossing her arms, but the smile tugging at her lips gave her away. “Butyou?With a pet? The ultimate pet hater?”

“Hey, itisserious,” I shot back. “Doughboy needs a little sister.”

“I love this for you, honestly,” Laurene said. “Somehow…it fits.”

Noelle smiled softly. “Send me pictures when you bring her home.”

“Actually…”

They all followed my gaze to find Miles coming through the door, a tiny kitten tucked against his chest in the cutest little harness you’ve ever seen.

Ew, did I say cute?

“Oh my God!” Laurene gasped, clutching Daisy a little tighter, frightening the baby that had been reaching for her croissant.

But Miles? He only had eyes for me. His grin was lazy, his eyes warm as he strode across the café, the kitten mewing softly in his arms. Without missing a beat, he bent down and pressed a kiss to my lips before sliding into the seat next to me.

“She doing okay?” I murmured, reaching out to scratch the kitten’s tiny head.

When I saw her at the shelter, I knew we had to adopt her.

“Did great in the car,” Miles said, settling the kitten into my lap. “Didn’t cry once.”

“She’s already better behaved than Gigi,” I teased.

“Rude!” Gigi cried, but she was too busy cooing over the kitten to put much fire into it.

“We’re trying to harness train her,” I explained as the girls leaned in, practically melting over the little ball of fluff. “So we can go places with her and Doughboy.”

“And what’s her name?” Noelle asked, eyes shining.

I looked down at the tiny gray tabby blinking up at us, then back at the table. “Her name’s Elvira, Mistress of the Night.Miles wanted to call her that. I just wanted Kitty.” I shrugged.

“You can’t call a cat Kitty.It’sbasic.” Miles gave me a look of disgust as he snuggled the cat closer.

And just like that, as Miles draped his arm over the back of my chair and the kitten purred in my lap, it hit me. This was our little family.

“Where is Erik? Didn’t you invite him, Lu?” Noelle asked.

She shrugged. “He said work.”

Noelle’s smile faltered, the corners of her mouth tightening just a little. She glanced down at her phone, then abruptly stood, smoothing her dress. “I’m just gonna…bring him something. You know, surprise him.”

“Girl, go ahead and chase after your man,” Gigi teased with a grin, shaking her head as Noelle waved them off and slipped away before anyone could comment further. “Tell him to give me money for my boutique. I know he got the coins!”

And then, right on cue, Daisy let out an impressive burp, followed by a dribble of spit-up right down Laurene’s shoulder.

“Oh, youwould, baby girl.” Laurene sighed with a wry smile, lifting Daisy carefully. “I’m gonna take her inside and clean this up.”

“I’ll help,” Gigi offered, already scooping up napkins and linking an arm through Laurene’s as they disappeared inside the café to the restrooms.

Which left just me, Miles, and Elvira at the table.

Dante kept his word, nothing came back to us, but sometimes I got worried about what was to come.

Miles shifted closer, his knee brushing mine, his arm draped lazily over the back of my chair. “Look at us,” he murmured.